Homeless

[rexbobcat]

These are technically decent shots, with a distinctive style and a specific subject matter, and they carry some of the emotional weight of that subject matter. I don't think anyone could as for anything more in a documentary project. They hit the assigned target just fine.

There are pretty serious ethical and artistic issues with photographing the homeless, and more generally the oppressed and disadvantaged.

Ethically it's pretty much impossible to do it without being essentially being complicit in their situation. Sure, you didn't make 'em poor and sick, and you even helped out with a bit of food and cash. Good onya. Nonetheless, you are converting their suffering into a grade on a project, and ultimately into part of a degree, which degree will presumably give you advantages in life. No amount of exchanged money or other atonement is going to change that fact. Now, we all oppress one another all the time, so it ain't just you, and you're not a bad person for it. But the issue's there.

The artistic problem is that everyone does this and nothing changes. We have far more pictures of homeless people rattling around out there, making whatever artistic and social statements they make, than we do actual homeless people. Ultimately these pictures don't have any impact any more except to make the viewer say "oh how sad" and -- maybe -- donate a little something to the food bank this year. Art doesn't have to drive social change, but this kind of art is frequently justified as an attempt to drive social change. Often enough that even if you haven't the slightest intention of driving social change, your photographs will tend to be interpreted as an attempt to drive change, an attempt that won't work. Pictures of the sad and ruined faces of the homeless are, whether we like it or not, all citations of one another. They smash together into one giant ethically problematic useless ball of sameness.

All that said, the photos are fine, they do what you were asked to do and they do it well. They just happen to exist in a sort of sticky corner of the world of photography.

I think it is admirable that you care so much... however, he did not make these people homeless... I think you are putting too much of the burden on him and his project.

It is not unethical in my mind to document them... would be a whole other issue if he went and made a million dollars on their images and did nothing in return for homeless people.

I still think it's slightly unethical that he purposefully made them gritty and HDR-ish. Doesn't the processing kind of ruin the photos for anyone else?

I'm not sure that I agree that you should have paid them with food and money, though. Even though, from the average bystander's point of view, that would have been the right thing to do, from a photo journalistic side of things I'm of the mindset to not tamper with the reality of things so that I can document as truthfully as possible. True objectivity is an unachievable goal though, so...I dunno. I guess I'm not very altruistic when it comes to photography...

 

[ThornleyGroves]

Here we are;

These two images are pretty much the originals just with a tiny bit more contrast and clarity. For me they aren't as strong as the PP ones because i feel they're just a bit too bland. Let me know if you think these are better then??

 

[runnah]

I like those better.

 

[ratssass]

I like those better.

...as do I

 

[oldhippy]

like the said

 

[cgipson1]

yes.... REALISM! Not cartoons!

 

[ThornleyGroves]

yes.... REALISM! Not cartoons!

okay! well thank you, and i'll bear that in mind for my next project!!! I'd never really had a proper go at PP until this project and i think i may have gone overboard with it! ha ha

 

[invisible]

I think it is admirable that you care so much... however, he did not make these people homeless... I think you are putting too much of the burden on him and his project.

It is not unethical in my mind to document them... would be a whole other issue if he went and made a million dollars on their images and did nothing in return for homeless people.

It's become pretty obvious that he did it for the TPF glory. I'm glad someone was able to see through Thornley's evil intentions. I'd be ashamed if I were him if you ask me :roll:

Haha! I'm not on here often, so I presume that was a joke!

Yes, it was sarcasm. There's a small but active group of people around here that will only find faults in the work that's posted. It doesn't really make a difference what the subject matter or the technical skill or the level of artistry are – you just know that if they find your thread their feedback is going to be negative. To make things even more amazing, the photography of some of these people is – for the most part – underwhelming. If they liked some photos and disliked others (like the vast majority of us), then I wouldn't be writing this. But the fact that they seem to dislike 99.9% of other people's photos is what bugs me. Yes, your processing might be a bit heavy-handed and undoubtedly some of the subjects seem distorted, and I can understand people bringing that up. But to question your intentions by just looking at your photos? That's just too much.

A couple years ago there was a poster here that was out of control in his negative criticism of other people's work. Some of the regulars back then (me included) left the forum because of him. In my case I can't even claim that he provided me with his "feedback" – he never posted on any of my threads. But the environment he created with his posts was so toxic that is still resulted in me leaving for a year or two. Others never returned. What's going on around here these days is nowhere near as bad as it was back then, but the similarities are obvious.

 

[ThornleyGroves]

It's become pretty obvious that he did it for the TPF glory. I'm glad someone was able to see through Thornley's evil intentions. I'd be ashamed if I were him if you ask me :roll:

Haha! I'm not on here often, so I presume that was a joke!

Yes, it was sarcasm. There's a small but active group of people around here that will only find faults in the work that's posted. It doesn't really make a difference what the subject matter or the technical skill or the level of artistry are – you just know that if they find your thread their feedback is going to be negative. To make things even more amazing, the photography of some of these people is – for the most part – underwhelming. If they liked some photos and disliked others (like the vast majority of us), then I wouldn't be writing this. But the fact that they seem to dislike 99.9% of other people's photos is what bugs me. Yes, your processing might be a bit heavy-handed and undoubtedly some of the subjects seem distorted, and I can understand people bringing that up. But to question your intentions by just looking at your photos? That's just too much.

A couple years ago there was a poster here that was out of control in his negative criticism of other people's work. Some of the regulars back then (me included) left the forum because of him. In my case I can't even claim that he provided me with his "feedback" – he never posted on any of my threads. But the environment he created with his posts was so toxic that is still resulted in me leaving for a year or two. Others never returned. What's going on around here these days is nowhere near as bad as it was back then, but the similarities are obvious.

Wow, cheers for that! Yeah it's like any site nowadays there will always be people doing the trolling, and when it comes round to them to show their work, more likely than not it will be seriously underwhelming. However that only applies to the ones who are trolling and not giving their honest opinions, as i really do value what the mass majority of people say; as i am not the one buying my own photos!

 

[Rick58]

Hey, I think I saw these two guys on the TV series "Deadlest Catch" making $50k in 6 weeks fishing.

Seriously, if you REALLY want to do a photo essay on the homeless, spend time around them so you earn
their trust, then grab shots of them in their day to day mode. I work daily in a downtown district and the homeless I see are not posing for a portrait.
I see them digging through dumpsters for supper.
I see them going through ash trays for a cigarette butt that may have one more drag on it.
I see them digging through trash cans for aluminum cans to cash in for that next drink.
I see them starring hopefully into space

That's the life of the homeless. Not posing for portraits.

 

[Mully]

Look into the eyes of the man with the hood..you see a world of hurt and suffering..... take him for a nice meal and get to know him as a person and that image of him will mean so much more to you... you will be Blessed by doing so.

 

[Photographiend]

The originals are very nice. At any rate, in my little fantasy world where I can suggest things and people actually do them... It would be completely awesome if there was a way to turn "Photographing the Homeless" into funding local homeless shelters and/or soup kitchens.

 

[deeky]

If I may direct things slightly different - for me pictures 4 and 5 of the op stand out as different. To me, those two individuals have a sparkle in their eye and a slight smile on their lips. Those are unexpected to me when looking at images of the homeless. I agree with spending time with them before shooting to get the story, trust, etc. But I would be interested to see documentation on the happiness in the homeless. I don't think it would be exploitation as much as understanding. It's simply something most of us don't see and don't expect.

 

[Rick58]

Look into the eyes of the man with the hood..you see a world of hurt and suffering..... take him for a nice meal and get to know him as a person and that image of him will mean so much more to you... you will be Blessed by doing so.

They are people with life stories. Some are self induced homeless due to drugs, prison etc. Others may have lost a high paying job and lost everything as a result. I've encountered both.

 

[terri]

yes.... REALISM! Not cartoons!

okay! well thank you, and i'll bear that in mind for my next project!!! I'd never really had a proper go at PP until this project and i think i may have gone overboard with it! ha ha

Then you've come away from this project having learned something. Perhaps more than how *not* to PP certain types of portraiture, but how the act of the "documentary style" of photography affects people in various ways, as demonstrated by this thread. Some will applaud you, some will eviscerate you, some will nod and pass on, seeing little beyond the given image.

I cannot help but think your instructor(s) will be pleased with what you have learned. That's why you're a student, right?

Keep on with your journey.