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Tough times
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Excellent portraits Merv, very engaging.
Lots of character in the shots.
What are their stories? By “tough times” do you mean they are homeless, or just down on luck?Martin
Martin, Thanks for the comment and asking!
The 2 guys out of doors where looking for money, empty paper cup in hand type of thing. I made some small talk, gave a couple of dollars and asked could I take their pictures. I prefer the “engaged” shot rather than the true candid as it gave these guys an oppertunity to look at me, or should I say at me via the camera, and I had an instant to capture whatever emotion or feeling they had. I realy liked getting the eye contact.
The indoors guy had a pile of stuff with him, I think he was sleeping rough. He had just bought a chicken meal from KFC or similar, and was eating so fast I was sure he had not eaten in a day or so. I made some small talk, and asked if he would mind if I could take his picture. He said no, I thought that as it and put the camera down, and then he smiled, and said “no, I dont mind. You go right ahead there son” and went back to eating. After I took the shot, wandered off, and was going to bring him another plate of food but when I turned around, he had just vanished.What I noticed about a lot of these guys is that they did’nt have that drugged up look, they did’nt smell to high heaven, and they were articulate and polite. That’s why I did’nt take too many “sneak” shots of them.
Took loads of sneak shots of tourists and business folks, but that’s a whole different thread :-)
Merv.
Interesting to read how you interacted with them.
I’m a bit shy to go up and talk to homeless people. It is nice to see this approach.
Over here there are a lot of homeless, and they are of a similar demographic, older men. They keep to themselves and are very polite and neat.A lot of good can come out of this type of photography, especially when the photos are accompanied by there stories.
I saw an exhibition in the V&A a few years ago about Irish down and outs in London, from the doss house on Arlington road in Camden if I remember, your shots remind me of it.Martin
Merv,
Really do like these photos. First one is my favourite, followed by 3 and then 2.
I think that the fact that did you engage with them (not at all easy!) adds to the
images.As a set, would they work even better if all in b+w ? Just a thought as I have
a b+w bias :)Anyhow, well done on them
Again another compliment on actually engaging with these folks and asking permission. I would like to be able to do this, but sometimes the rough exterior of these poor guys puts me off. although the real story is that they are just down on luck and quite friendly.
First one works best for me
DeeExcellent pictures Merv, they really are very emotive.
The second in particular, such a range of emotions in the guys face and the indirect eye contact, thats very gripping,
the kind of picture that stays in the head all day.The others are great too, really love the contrast in the first and the story in the third, but the second has the most impact for me.
Tough times indeed.
Sinead
Just echoing all of the words already spoken, but wanted to comment anyway – truly engaging shots,
poignant and touching.
The colour shots are fine – realistic!Thanks folks!
I think asking for permission adds something to the shots, they are that little bit more engaged, and it also looses something, you have altered the situation just by asking permission.
There were few I was afraid to approach – roaring, shouting, pretty drunk, semi agressive behavior, And that was just me! (Kidding, you know what I mean).
I’ll probably do a b&w set for competiton, I did ok with b&w last year so I’ll give that a go.
Merv.
I love the first one.
The colours on the second one look a bit strange on my monitor but that could be due to the ambient neon lights on the street maybe.
I really like that you actually engaged with these guys. Many times shots like these are taken using a long zoom lens from the other side of the street paparazzi style. Kind of cheap since homeless & poor people are dime-a-dozen in every city. Getting up close and talking to them is a welcome change.
Is it only me or does the first one kind of look like Robert Deniro – “you looking at me?“
Great work there, can’t add much more to the positive feedback, except powerful portraits. I especially feel that number two is engaging. Artistic as well as environmental impact and significance. The stories and the faces in these types of images are always a beacon for us all, reminding us how safe our own world is. I really think that the eyes are the first and lasting impression of photojournalism. These men command attention and maybe even demand a response, make me wonder what the truth is that they carry. Big thumbs up.
Hi Michella,
I agree, using a wider lens from up close is a very very different type of shot, much more intimate and engaging. I brought 2 lenses out with me that day, a 17-40, and a 135. I’m not sure if I used the 135 at all.
And yes, #3 needs to be color corrected, it does look a bit weird!
Merv.
These are brilliant Merv. Really good. Love the eye contact and basically I agree with everything that’s been said already.
Hi Merv,
Stunning shots!!!
Keep going to page admiring them. All the more interesting after reading the background of how you took them.
I think it’s a fine line in a person’s life – everything being “honky dory” or alternatively things getting unfortunately difficult like it is for these people.
Well done,
John
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