A Banker Whose Photos Tell the Stories of Bronx Prostitutes

Araakii said:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2...tories-of-hunts-point-one-portrait-at-a-time/


What do you think of this? Do you feel that the subjects are being exploited?
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"Pardon me ma'am, but do you mind if I take your picture with my camera that costs as much as you make in three months while you, ahem, 'holla for a dolla?'"

To a certain extent what he does is exploitative. On the other hand, he does ask permission. However, the story of Nina, the 17 year old prostitute that he paid $20 to take her photo. I would call that exploitative. That girl didn't have a choice but to take that $20, and I can guarantee that it didn't do her any favors. Instead, it just reinforced her position as a street worker. It wasn't an opportunity to change her life, it was just another John paying for her services.

A part of me feels like this guy is pretending to be a NatGeo photographer in an urban jungle, giddy at the idea of showing his privileged friends his most recent adventures into the bad side of town. So, what happens when his friends see his work? Do they decide to help? Do they say "oh gee, that's terrible, someone who isn't me should do something about that." Or, does he actually inspire people to help make a difference?

The other part of me wants to commend him for his boldness. What he is doing does not come without risk. He could be assaulted by a pimp, or robbed. He is likely not immune to attack just for befriending a few of the girls on the corner. Then again, maybe he fancy's this idea as a form of gratification for what he does so that he can say, "look, I took a risk and I paid for it with blood."

I think what it boils down to is that he pays for their time. In the end, he is just another John supporting and exploiting their way of life. He really isn't helping them. What he is doing could put these girls at risk of assault from their pimp's or worse. They carry that risk after he retires to the comfort of his privileged life. While he sits at home editing his photos, those girls are still down on the corner, putting their life on the line, and their lives are no better for having pandered to his whims.
 
Creagerj said:
"Pardon me ma'am, but do you mind if I take your picture with my camera that costs as much as you make in three months while you, ahem, 'holla for a dolla?'"

To a certain extent what he does is exploitative. On the other hand, he does ask permission. However, the story of Nina, the 17 year old prostitute that he paid $20 to take her photo. I would call that exploitative. That girl didn't have a choice but to take that $20, and I can guarantee that it didn't do her any favors. Instead, it just reinforced her position as a street worker. It wasn't an opportunity to change her life, it was just another John paying for her services.

A part of me feels like this guy is pretending to be a NatGeo photographer in an urban jungle, giddy at the idea of showing his privileged friends his most recent adventures into the bad side of town. So, what happens when his friends see his work? Do they decide to help? Do they say "oh gee, that's terrible, someone who isn't me should do something about that." Or, does he actually inspire people to help make a difference?

The other part of me wants to commend him for his boldness. What he is doing does not come without risk. He could be assaulted by a pimp, or robbed. He is likely not immune to attack just for befriending a few of the girls on the corner. Then again, maybe he fancy's this idea as a form of gratification for what he does so that he can say, "look, I took a risk and I paid for it with blood."

I think what it boils down to is that he pays for their time. In the end, he is just another John supporting and exploiting their way of life. He really isn't helping them. What he is doing could put these girls at risk of assault from their pimp's or worse. They carry that risk after he retires to the comfort of his privileged life. While he sits at home editing his photos, those girls are still down on the corner, putting their life on the line, and their lives are no better for having pandered to his whims.
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... I'd have typed that if I had the patience :)
 
It does mention that he volunteered at some community service before he started doing this so it could be that he does have some compassion towards the street workers, but the way he simply stops them and pays them for photos makes me feel like this is just some weird fetish that a rich guy with a lot of free money has.
 
You know it seems kind of lame. Something about it just isn't that interesting. I kind of feel like this guy got coverage of an over-covered topic. Also.. poignant portraits? eh. I'm no pro but I put this in with covering the homeless. Is that effed up?
 
So, a few of you are saying that the guy's day job makes it worse?

Also, he seems to be a trader more than a banker. It's been some slim years for a lot of traders... not all traders are good or make a lot of cash. Some traders are very nice people believe it or not. Not everyone on Wall St. is scum... plenty of average wage workers on Wall St. However, it appears he does make some cash based on the fact that they had to say "spacious" about his apartment. ;)

I work on Wall St (Regulation) and don't make six figures. I do live in Manhattan, but in a small studio apartment. I don't own a car, a house, or anthing else worth any cash... besides a M9 and a few lenses. People who aren't from this area tend to look at someone's wages without considering the cost of living in that area (yes, NYC is very high). I'd like to think that I'm still a decent person despite the fact that I work on a particular street.
 
People are exploiting other people all the time without even realizing it (especially those who type from their high speed internet on a made in somewhere where a the worker got paid $1 a day laptop in a climate controlled abode in first world countries that run on oil provided by totalitarian governments). Those examples are kind of ridiculous but it serves the point because where does "exploitation" begin and end? Just saying, to single out one person for taking pictures of prostitutes is kind've naive. The fact that hes a banker doesn't matter at all. That means anyone with a 401K cannot take pictures of hookers either since their retirement is based on the gains of corporate vampires exploiting others.

The photographer seems sincere and besides a flickr stream doesn't seem to be putting this stuff out there or doing this for any sort of personal gain.
 
Since this guy is financially successful, is he limited for to what photography projects he can have ?
Nelson
 
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Well, getting prostitutes to document the work life of wall street bankers would both be more interesting and more of a help in getting them off the streets...
 
sevo said:
Well, getting prostitutes to document the work life of wall street bankers would both be more interesting and more of a help in getting them off the streets...
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If they are smart, the prostitutes do documents their exploits with bankers in some form... but keep those documents for when the time is right... :D
 
jsrockit said:
If they are smart, the prostitutes do documents their exploits with bankers in some form... but keep those documents for when the time is right... :D
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Ha!

And speaking of Hunts Point, jsrockit, we need to go back soon to "exploit" the decrepit urban landscape. Im actually glad the hookers are still sleeping when Im there :)
 
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