Photographer Profiting from Homeless??

Great photos plagued by over-Photoshopping. I looked at that article on CNN a day or two ago-- I clicked on two or three images, and moved on. Not my thing, but I expect others to enjoy them.

Personal aesthetic preferences aside, I appreciate the efforts of the photographer and his decision to switch from sports (blah) to this project-- humanizing a group of people often ignored by society.

Like it or not, I am glad the popular images getting exposure are not of celebrities or politicians...
 
Well, back on topic.

The question was is the photographer benefitting (profiting) from the homeless? Not a question about money, necessarily. Not a question about anything so singularly specific. Nor is it a question about right or wrong?

I have no opinion other than I love the work. But as to the topic, I see a lot of ways to think about any project with the homeless.

The responses have been interesting and appreciated.

More to the point, the photographer himself, Lee Jeffries, has joined in this thread and he is appreciated well.

The cool thing about RFF is that we have had so many published photographers joining in our discussions and, even with so many differing opinions, it is always good to have them join us.

Forums are not for thin-skinned people like me, 😛 but I hope they enjoy the input anyway.🙂
 
dave lackey said:
are you saying that your experience leads you to believe these people are living on the street by choice? That they would not better themselves if given a chance? With my limited experience with the homeless in my area, I cannot fully understand what you mean but, of course, that is my problem for a lack of understanding and would like to know more about what you mean.
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http://www.homelesslondon.org/details.asp?id=LP115

imo you have to make a conscious decision to stay homeless in London. Sure some of that lifestyle is a drag but so is the Monday morning commute. afaik, full state benefits once they turn 26.

I quite like the pics, good technique and composition but if you look at photographs of adults from the Great Depression, it seems to be only those in work that can face the camera.

they would not better themselves if given a chance? Maybe they already have bettered themselves by opting out of a greedy and corrupt system? Whatever their reasons, it suits them for the moment.


Being homeless in the USA I would reckon is wildly different.
 
jm51 said:
http://www.homelesslondon.org/details.asp?id=LP115

imo you have to make a conscious decision to stay homeless in London. Sure some of that lifestyle is a drag but so is the Monday morning commute. afaik, full state benefits once they turn 26.

I quite like the pics, good technique and composition but if you look at photographs of adults from the Great Depression, it seems to be only those in work that can face the camera.

they would not better themselves if given a chance? Maybe they already have bettered themselves by opting out of a greedy and corrupt system? Whatever their reasons, it suits them for the moment.


Being homeless in the USA I would reckon is wildly different.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the enlightenment. Even though I worked a short period of time in Wales and did come across the homeless, I did not learn a lot about them. Even less here in the U.S. but afaik, there are no legitimate ways to make a living as a homeless person except to work. Sure, there are some programs for food and health care but they are minimal at best. Handouts are there also, but adding all of these "freebies" together is not an incentive to be homeless, IMO.

But, since I know very little about the situation, I suspect it is quite complicated and addressing solutions (as a city planner/adjunct professor for the last 40 years) is a life study and challenge in itself.🙁

I agree, these are terrific photographs. So, back to the OT, did the photographer benefit/profit from this project? I certainly think so in many different ways. In a similar way, we benefitted as well. Those depicted? I have no idea.

I appreciate Lee's hard work and especially his talent. Thanks, Lee.
 
dave lackey said:
Thanks for the enlightenment. Even though I worked a short period of time in Wales and did come across the homeless, I did not learn a lot about them. Even less here in the U.S. but afaik, there are no legitimate ways to make a living as a homeless person except to work. Sure, there are some programs for food and health care but they are minimal at best. Handouts are there also, but adding all of these "freebies" together is not an incentive to be homeless, IMO.

...
Click to expand...

Begging on freeway off-ramps seems to be a very popular occupation.
 
i think there are still lots of old-fashioned hobos among the "homeless." that is a lifestyle choice, and off-ramp/on-ramp begging can be profitable.
many among the homeless are people who should be on medication, but who choose not to take their medicine, and so end up in the street culture.
a good friend of mine has an adult first cousin who is entirely functional, but who normally refuses his medicine and chooses to live under an interstate exchange. this is no myth or joke. every now and then family can talk him into coming home for a while, getting cleand up and medicated. after a few weeks, it's back off to the exchange.
no, the family cannot have him packed off to a mental hospital where he would be clean, medicated and safe. when on his medication, he is entirely logical, so free from state interference.
 
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