Homless Shelter wants Photographer with no Ethics?

[unpopular]

I'm still not really sure what the difference is. What would the photo you want to take look like? What would the photo you think they want look like?

This is exactly my point. What should any portrait look like? It depends on the subject.

I think the previous posts about them not responding because they thought you were going to be difficult are probably correct. Why wouldn't they want them shown as individuals? If I were running a shelter and wanted photos for promotion and to get donations, then shots that made them look like individuals and real people are exactly what I would want.

Then what's the problem?

It's almost like you have something against the shelter and are offended they don't want your help at the same time.

If I could help the homeless in the community, my views on the shelter itself is of no consequence. I'm not sure where you even got that one aside from what I have gathered from some of the homeless I've spoken to in the community.

Also, there's a good chance they are busy and just haven't responded yet.

Yes, there is.

 

[Solarflare]

Just for the record - being a politically active person, I know only too well that much of the charity in the world isnt really honestly trying to help.

For example, donations of old clothing have destroyed the clothing industry in many developing countries.

 

[The_Traveler]

I don't think photographing homeless environmental portraits is any more dehumanizing or degrading than glamor girl bikini photography.

pretty much, neither do I.
at least with glamor girl stuff, the woman gets something out of it.

 

[molested_cow]

The mistake you made is that you made a point about yourself without opening yourself up to them first. What I mean is, you should have just sent a letter of interest stating that you want to find out more about this opportunity, then let them do the talking. Then you will find out what they really want and you negotiate from there.

Try this at any job application and you will get the same response from them, which is none.

 

[Carny]

I'm still not really sure what the difference is. What would the photo you want to take look like? What would the photo you think they want look like?

This is exactly my point. What should any portrait look like? It depends on the subject.

What is your point? I'm asking what the photos would look like, not what your point is. How would the two photos be different?

I think the previous posts about them not responding because they thought you were going to be difficult are probably correct. Why wouldn't they want them shown as individuals? If I were running a shelter and wanted photos for promotion and to get donations, then shots that made them look like individuals and real people are exactly what I would want.

Then what's the problem?

You tell us what the problem is, as you are the one that apparently has one.

 

[DiskoJoe]

You probably got no response, as others have stated, because you showed potential for being difficult. Also, they are in the business of helping the needy. They need to illustrate what they do in order to get support from people. I am sorry, but showing me a bunch of pictures of people smiling, and having a grand ole time without any reference to economic status, doesn't scream to me "I need help." As a photographer, you should know the importance of story telling in your photos.

... photograph their economic status or themeselves as individuals.

Tell me how these two photos would be different. I'm not really sure what you mean.

There is a difference between telling their story honestly, and there is poverty porn. Poverty porn says nothing at all about a person aside from the fact that they are homeless. It's those black and whit epictures of homeless people, taken from half a block away using a telephoto lens. The intention it to say "this is homelessness" without any consideration to who they are as people.

It's like photographing a Mexican family for the sake of the fact that they are Mexican, or a Black family for the sake of the fact that they are Black - and seek to represent all Black people and all Mexicans through these images.

If they were looking for "I need help" that's fine. But I am not going to use an individual to say "We need help". If the shelter cannot understand or appreciate this, then it shows a lack of compassion and understanding for the individuals they help. If they see me as problematic, then I'm OK with that.

Faces of Addiction - a set on Flickr

 

[kundalini]

Perhaps your quasi high ethical stance is slightly misplaced. The whole reason to volunteer to whichever cause that holds a persons' interest or internal driving force is to give back and add value to that cause. The fact that you are a Fine Arts photographer is well and good, but has little bearing to the task at hand. It seems to me the mindset should be one of contribution rather than one of personal agenda for artwork. In my mind, volunteering removes self from the equation. Had you not set boundries without even hearing what the shelter's intent is, then perhaps you could have combined the two pursuits.

I volunteered at a local animal shelter for a while. Reason being is that I have a soft spot for animals in these conditions and have adopted a few cats and dogs from this very shelter, including the cat I have now. My intent for volunteering was for a photographer's position because I had seen their website and knew I could add value to their presentation of the animals that potential adopters would view. The typical photos were taken from outside the kennels with the chainlink gate prominent, the animal barely distinguishable and looking imprisoned rather than the adorable pet they could be. After speaking with the administrator with regard of the wanted outcome, I began asking further questions and relayed my vision of how this can be accomplished. Yep, I had a vision.

So instead of just going up to the gate and snap-snap-snap, I would enter the kennel and spend the first 5 to 10 minutes to get to know the animal, pet it and try calming their nerves. Most were very nervous because it was a foreign environment for them, removed from familiarity, loud and a pungent odor loomed heavily. For that small amount of time spent, not only did the animal receive comfort and soothing, I was filled with a great sense of returned love and satisfaction that my contribution made a positive impact. I was told later that my photos were a contributing factor for nearly a 100% adoption rate. That was my goal and intent. The bonus was honing my photographic skills.

I believe your assesment of the shelter exhibiting a lack of ethics, without any communication, is premature at best. Just my 2¢.

 

[unpopular]

Faces of Addiction - a set on Flickr

While it is true that the overwhelming majority of homeless are addicts, it is untrue that most addicts are homeless. Finding drug and alcohol addicted homeless people and using them as the icon of addiction is precisely what I am talking about here.

I can't help but feel this photographer is using the homeless to illustrate all drug addicts, rather than the stories of homeless addicts to illustrate their own addiction.

 

[unpopular]

I believe your assesment of the shelter exhibiting a lack of ethics, without any communication, is premature at best. Just my 2¢.

What assessment?? If the shelter wanted a photographer that sought to humanize the subject, then I wouldn't have been difficult. This is only an issue if they wanted a photographer who didn't mind taking exploitive images. How is that an agenda?

I agree that I should have voiced concerns only after they arose. But come on, if they saw my request as "problematic" then it's a cause I can't get behind.

 

[Overread]

What assessment?? If the shelter wanted a photographer that sought to humanize the subject, then I wouldn't have been difficult. This is only an issue if they wanted a photographer who didn't mind taking exploitive images.

They probably haven't got a clue by what you mean as "humanizing" the subjects (Esp as they are humans already). Like many others have said your proposal to work for them sounded too complicated and threw in conditions and clauses that the average person can't discern the real meaning of (heck most of us here it seems can't even work out what you fully mean).

Honestly you're making a big deal over not being chosen and also somewhat putting words into their mouths based on the fact that they've not contacted you back. I'd either let the matter rest or go to them and show them (in person) the work you produce and ask them what they want produced. Actually showing up at the shelter (or offices that run it) and showing an active and keen interest in what their needs are (not yours) might actually get a more positive result.

 

[unpopular]

The fact that they didn't understand what I was saying should say something, just like those who don't understand what I am saying now can't seem to think of the homeless as anything more than "the homeless".

I did approach this wrongly, but I don't understand why some people just can't see my POV on this.

 

[DiskoJoe]

Faces of Addiction - a set on Flickr

While it is true that the overwhelming majority of homeless are addicts, it is untrue that most addicts are homeless. Finding drug and alcohol addicted homeless people and using them as the icon of addiction is precisely what I am talking about here.

I can't help but feel this photographer is using the homeless to illustrate all drug addicts, rather than the stories of homeless addicts to illustrate their own addiction.

Just wanted to show you that what you want to really do can be done exactly the way you described it being done.

 

[unpopular]

It can be done, and I appreciate your support. But I am not sure that posing random homeless drug addicts in nearly identically is really what I had in mind.

The blurbs are interesting, but without them ... idk. Was this guy just unable to find a single addict who lives in an apartment? He found a couple who are in recovery who do.

Whatever. Feel free to discuss this, but I'm getting too emotional at this point to keep up the discussion.

 

[chuasam]

^^ ok. sure.

but for crying out loud, it's unpaid work that has been advertised for over a year now!! if they want to be choosy, they should hire someone, but I'm not going to donate my time to a project I don't agree with.

exactly! Money is a great way to sooth any difficulty.

 

[Carny]

The fact that they didn't understand what I was saying should say something, just like those who don't understand what I am saying now can't seem to think of the homeless as anything more than "the homeless".

I did approach this wrongly, but I don't understand why some people just can't see my POV on this.

My lack of understanding has nothing to do with "the homeless". I can't see your pov because you've never really said what it is.

Please just answer this question: How would the photos you want to take be different than the photos you think they want you to take? If you can't describe post examples