We're not supposed to photograph the homeless

I find these days I am not easily moved by street photograohy or pictures of homeless people. but these images are really sad. I think it is because they are so young.
 
The homeless or otherwise displaced people in OTHER countries are always ok, just not in "first world" economies.
I've always found this hypocrisy ridiculous. We can't shoot them here (USA in my case) but we can go to India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, UAE, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Iraq, all over Africa or wherever else there is suffering in the world and suddenly it's acceptable because somehow those photos take on some different kind of meaning overseas. Maybe they change on the plane flight.
I think it is a case of the system not quite working right and so the depiction of homeless in our respective countries (again, I'm in the US here) is discouraged because we are "profiting" from those photos. Sure some people do make a profit off photos of folks living on the street or in subway tunnels. Others choose to help. Regardless, the people are people and they all have stories to tell wherever they are. I think the more these stories get out, the more someone might pay attention. The US just might be embarrassed that it has such a high number of homeless and recently displaced people who are Americans that fell victim to an inefficient system.

Phil Forrest
 
I find that a lot of the homeless pictures you see on flickr and maybe here are just cheap and easy. Homeless people make an easy target for a random photographer looking for drama with out much effort. I usually find most pictures of homeless people rather useless. However, the ones in this post moved me. The photographer is incredibly thoughtful.
 
I prefer to call them houseless vs homeless. streets are their homes, so yes, in a way one invades their privacy when taking their pictures.
But...
One can also produce meaningful, deeply profound work with houseless people as their subjects. I would think this would require an honest and insightful relation between the photographer and his/her subjects.
Definitely nothing that one can do with a tele and sneaky attitude.
 
What if you ask them first? I think that it's an arbitrary rule. They're people. Talk with them. Buy them lunch if you feel so inclined. Most of them are good people in my experience.

p202816211-4.jpg
 
I'll ask him if he wants a copy the next time I see him definitely. Dennis is a good guy. He almost died earlier this year from pneumonia.
 
Well as some one who was homeless in a so called first world country I have no problem with the photographing of the homeless. Except where people go out of their way to portray them as all drunks or junkies. One of the highest group of homeless in my nation are ex forces, yes people who put their lives on the line for all of us. In any nation it is a tragedy, in a nation where they are talking of £60m+ boats for special people it is disgusting.
OK rant over
 
lawnpotter said:
I find that a lot of the homeless pictures you see on flickr and maybe here are just cheap and easy. Homeless people make an easy target for a random photographer looking for drama with out much effort. I usually find most pictures of homeless people rather useless. However, the ones in this post moved me. The photographer is incredibly thoughtful.
Click to expand...

Exactly correct. Bingo. Wanna be a "street photographer"? - Then grow a pair, and don't exploit "easy targets". Confrontation is part of the game when shooting people in the street. Makes you uncomfortable? Shoot architecture or trade in your M for a Toyo or something and shoot landscapes. Shoot something else. (Anything but stupid "mannequins".)

That - or get some charm and walk up to someone and ask if you can take a photo.

Shooting homeless is a scoundrel's game.
 
NickTrop said:
Shooting homeless is a scoundrel's game.
Click to expand...
I'd say sometimes yes, sometimes maybe no. This one:



http://www.flickr.com/photos/argentia1/6795292281/

was taken by a classmate of mine in a photography course, recently (another classmate was offering the money, but it wasn't posed as such). I think it shows some respect for the person and tries to show there's a dignity there despite what most of us perceive as reduced circumstances. This guy's doing the opposite of looking for a handout. (And, no, it was not a course about "photographing the homeless. This just happened.)

You may disagree, of course, but I see nothing of the scoundrel in taking the photo or presenting it.

...Mike
 
Phil_F_NM said:
The homeless or otherwise displaced people in OTHER countries are always ok, just not in "first world" economies.
I've always found this hypocrisy ridiculous.

Phil Forrest
Click to expand...

A lot of things in this country are hypocrisy ridiculous. This is just a small example.
 
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