Hardened

[xj0hnx]

I really wanted to upload the full image, but it's 9+MB Anyway, one of our cities downtown residents, real nice guy.

 

[The_Traveler]

What more is this photo telling us than this guy has had some tough times?

 

[LShooter]

Sometimes that's all it needs to say. I for one love street photography and have posted quite a bit here. I however like to do street portraits and talk with the folks, and compensate them some how, so as to not just exploit them.

 

[The_Traveler]

What happy horse crap.
This is exploiting this guy's hard luck, exposing his face to the world, to pump emotion into a picture which otherwise is nothing.
This is homeless porn.

 

[Braineack]

I've seen homeless porn, this is not that.

 

[TWright33]

I've seen homeless porn, this is not that.

This just made my Monday morning. Thank you sir

 

[xj0hnx]

What happy horse crap.
This is exploiting this guy's hard luck, exposing his face to the world, to pump emotion into a picture which otherwise is nothing.
This is homeless porn.

What's being "exploited"? Why does there need to be more to it than what it is? Did he have tough times? Or did he make bad choices? Were his hard times a result of his bad choices? Or vice versa?

 

[DiskoJoe]

Why did you take his pic? Did you find out his name or his story?

 

[NikonO4K]

I am really surprised at the rebuttals coming from those who want to be seen as taking up for the homeless man. By acting incredulous toward the photographer you are actually saying that you (and the photographer) are better than this homeless man (how else could he be exploited if you did not think he was beneath you). News flash. No one is better than anyone else and I think the photographer knows that.

 

[The_Traveler]

I am really surprised at the rebuttals coming from those who want to be seen as taking up for the homeless man. By acting incredulous toward the photographer you are actually saying that you (and the photographer) are better than this homeless man (how else could he be exploited if you did not think he was beneath you). News flash. No one is better than anyone else and I think the photographer knows that.

If this man was your son or brother or father and he was having a really rough time with life, would you take his picture and put it on the Internet so people could see just how bad he looked?

Rather than thinking I am better than him, I think that photographers should show some compassion to those having a difficult time and not exhibit people like this.
There is nothing to be learned from this kind of situation-less photo except to look at him and make the comparison between the subject and our own situation.
That's where the exploitation is.

 

[scotts2014se]

I am really surprised at the rebuttals coming from those who want to be seen as taking up for the homeless man. By acting incredulous toward the photographer you are actually saying that you (and the photographer) are better than this homeless man (how else could he be exploited if you did not think he was beneath you). News flash. No one is better than anyone else and I think the photographer knows that.

If this man was your son or brother or father and he was having a really rough time with life, would you take his picture and put it on the Internet so people could see just how bad he looked?

Rather than thinking I am better than him, I think that photographers should show some compassion to those having a difficult time and not exhibit people like this.
There is nothing to be learned from this kind of situation-less photo except to look at him and make the comparison between the subject and our own situation.
That's where the exploitation is.

And I doubt that man would be proud having this moment exploited, but throw a couple bucks his way and he'll let it slide. (Watch it be just some hard working billionaire).
I do think it is a very good photo, but I know I wouldn't be happy with the attention, I'd probably put up with it for my next meal, but I wouldn't be happy about it.

 

[robbins.photo]

I've seen homeless porn, this is not that.

You worry me. A lot.

Lol

 

[The_Traveler]

And I doubt that man would be proud having this moment exploited, but throw a couple bucks his way and he'll let it slide. (Watch it be just some hard working billionaire).
I do think it is a very good photo, but I know I wouldn't be happy with the attention, I'd probably put up with it for my next meal, but I wouldn't be happy about it.

You've hit an important point. He could probably be bought off for 'a couple of bucks' and that's some indication of how he feels about himself and his situation.
Is that what we should be doing, taking advantage of someone because he is in such a low situation that he holds himself cheaply?

And all for a single, easy to forget picture that shows nothing, tries to show nothing except one person's pitiful state and capitalizing on that.

There's no way in the world that I could rationalize to myself taking advantage of someone in that situation.

 

[scotts2014se]

And I doubt that man would be proud having this moment exploited, but throw a couple bucks his way and he'll let it slide. (Watch it be just some hard working billionaire).
I do think it is a very good photo, but I know I wouldn't be happy with the attention, I'd probably put up with it for my next meal, but I wouldn't be happy about it.

You've hit an important point. He could probably be bought off for 'a couple of bucks' and that's some indication of how he feels about himself and his situation.
Is that what we should be doing, taking advantage of someone because he is in such a low situation that he holds himself cheaply?

And all for a single, easy to forget picture that shows nothing, tries to show nothing except one person's pitiful state and capitalizing on that.

There's no way in the world that I could rationalize to myself taking advantage of someone in that situation.

I have the title for this, "Prostituted Pride".

 

[Austin Greene]

If this man was your son or brother or father and he was having a really rough time with life, would you take his picture and put it on the Internet so people could see just how bad he looked?

Rather than thinking I am better than him, I think that photographers should show some compassion to those having a difficult time and not exhibit people like this.
There is nothing to be learned from this kind of situation-less photo except to look at him and make the comparison between the subject and our own situation.
That's where the exploitation is.

Cannot agree more. I've seen some fantastic, and tasteful portraits of the homeless. No offense, but this is not one of them. Is it homeless porn, perhaps not, but it certainly doesn't tell a good story, and if not that, then what is the photo for?