Photojournalism attempt - critiques/comments?

[Samriel]

I too noticed the cigarette but that did not take away from the impact of the photo for me.

My wife goes to a gym next to a food bank, folk lined up smoking & stinking of booze waiting to get in.

I know this is supposed to be talking about photography but I think this picture is a subject worthy of respectful discussion.

I'm sorry if I came over the wrong way - I didn't mean that the cigarette took away from the impact of the photograph, just that the impact (for me) was at a different point. I also didn't mean to sound disrespectful, just to emphasize something which for me constitutes the strongest impression of the photograph.

 

[crashcart]

Wow. I guess I can take it as somewhat of a compliment that the photo has generated this much discussion. Technically, I'm not too sure of what I'm doing, but I guess the message/story/feeling I was trying to capture must have been caught to some degree.

Thanks for all of the input and discussion so far.

 

[50two]

have you noticed it looks like the sign was written by the child? i dont think this person is really neglecting his child, its a great subject but i sort of agree with snyder. it just looks like you took a pic of the hobo then moved on, theres alot i want to say about this picture but i cant articulate it cause my grammar is just too stupid D: but anyway this person has a GREAT street photography, these two are my favourite pictures from him, maybe you could see what im trying to say?
http://mart1980.deviantart.com/art/Happiness-92909099
http://mart1980.deviantart.com/art/Forgotten-Soul-92907202