W/NW Beggar's dignity

[knut_schwinzer]

What do you think about this one, either in technical and ethical

terms?

I think there's always a thin line to not to abuse of people you do

not know, especially if they are in more or less precarious life

situations.

As asking permission is normally altering the expression of a

person,making her/him switch from internal to external attention

(pose), I'd rather prefer to surprise my "victims" by anticipation

and quick camera action.

However, this time I entered his game: a little donation, a little

question: May I portrait you?

Fortunately he did not change in his calm, almost meditative aspect,

enjoying a sunray reflected from a windowpane opposite.

Then there's a locked door, he's sitting litteraly on a threshold,

the "Birdie"-Graffito...

 

Good light to all of you!<div></div>

[stuart_richardson]

It's a tough call, and one that I think each photographer has to make for themselves. My

own decision is not to photograph people who might be in distress. I figure that there are

people out there who are better at it and are doing it for a concrete purpose. It is not a

genre that really draws me, so I stay away. As for average people on the street, I will often

ask for permission if I feel it is necessary. If I feel that I can take a decent photo without

being particularly intrusive, then I will just go ahead and take it without permission. It is a

judgement call which depends not only on the situation (distance, circumstance, location

etc), but also on the subject and their likely reaction. I tend towards timidity in my street

photography, so asking someone who does it as a primary focus would likely give you a

much more proactive response.

[joe_blow32]

I like it alot. His expression reminds me of medieviel saints paintings. Very nice aesthetically. My only quibble is that 'I would' crop it to 2x3 dimensions to get rid of the white thingy in the lower right corner, which IMO distracts the eye just a bit. But its really a beautiful shot however you print it.

 

As for the exploitation angle, I don't see it. I think the picture gives the subject a great amount of dignity. Well done.

[Alex_Es]

Importantly, he is posing for you. I don't think there are any ethical problems so far. If you sold the photo to a soup company and he wound up on a can there would be a major ethical and legal problem. I think this a beautiful photograph. You brought out the best in this man.

[Alex_Es]

Here isd a fellow I met in San Francisco. He asked me to photograph him.<div></div>

[fran_ois_courtois]

Excellent topic, and very interesting. I also performed this exercise while visiting Manhattan : "a little donation, a little question: may I take a picture of you"<p>I am still wondering whether I should have done it or not, ethical wise<p>Here is the picture, nevertheless<p><center><img src="http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8211/nyclochard7lh.jpg"></center> </p> <center><i>Beggar in New York</i></center> <p>By the way, I very much like the pictures posted sofar

[terry_rory]

Never mind your problems with the ethic, what am I (the viewer) supposed to get out of knowing the subject is a beggar?

 

I like the last picture, but because of the character. It is unecessary to know he is a beggar or what pangs of conscience the photographer is having.

[roger_sen_montero]

Knut,

 

where did you shoot the picture?

[Troll]

I see in indication that he's a beggar. Just an elderly man (clean) in a nice looking leather jacket (clean, no tears), looking up a little.<div></div>

[anupam]

Not a Leica, but taking this photo <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/3756910">gave me the opportunity to talk to this woman</a> - and that seemed more worthwhile than the photo itself.

 

-A<div></div>

[jtk]

IMO unless one is photographing to accompany written journalism, one is probably being predatory when photographing victims/beggars etc...

 

If one adds dignity to them and engages them human-to-human, as Knut and Anupam did (even though neither photo proves that contact), the photography is elevated rather than degraded. I agree with Francois that he's got an ethical issue in his otherwise handsome photo.

[jtk]

Alex, that's a handsome gentleman. Did you also make a shot without that newspaper?

[nathaniel_pearson]

I think it's patronizing (perhaps inadvertently so, but all the same)

to demand that we don kid gloves in photographing 'beggars' per

se. If each person is indeed unique and inherently worthy of

respect (such sentiments are often invoked in censures against

'exploitative' picture-taking), then the decision to photograph

need be based simply on those facts and the rest of the details

of the scene. If, instead, we simplistically classify a potential

subject as 'beggar: do not exploit', we risk pigeonholing both the

subject and the potential image, despite any kind impulse that

underlies a reluctance to shoot in such a situation.

[fran_ois_courtois]

Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar

[EricM]

if you go out and view these 'down and outers' as easy prey for snaps then i'm dead against it. if you demonstrate an ability to photograph anyone and their dog on the street then i don't mind seeing the lesser faucets of soceity creeping into one's portfolio.

[kent_tolley2]

Ask yourself if there is not a lot of unacknowledged judgment in the idea that a beggar, as you call him, is any more or less than any other person you photograph. Hey, I'm a predator. I admit it. So are you the last I looked. Photography has more than a bit of the hunt to it. Photographs of people tell stories that I am interested in. Good photographs get inside you and stay. The fact of poverty and homelessness in American cities is remarkable. To take a good photograph of homelessness in America is precisely what is needed. It cries out to you. Look what Dorthea Lange did with that story.

[kent_tolley2]

<center><img src=" http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3214117-lg.jpg"></center><BR>

[knut_schwinzer]

Roger, it's taken in C.Pelaio, Barcelona.

John, thank you, and: are you not much more driven to be a "predator"

when you are doing this kind of pictures on assignment?

You know, I'm many times just out there looking for beauty, and therefore I took the picture.

I do as well with radiating loving couples, the difference is, then

I "pay" with a smile of a complicity, understand: If something touches me deeply.

Happy about the evolution of this tread: Knut. Cheers.

[Alex_Es]

Thanks John! Actually the gentleman insisted on being photographed with "Health Tips." It

was important to him.

[roger_sen_montero]

Knut,

 

I know I had met this guy before! Next to Jordi Bas Photo. Great picture... as someone who has seen the guy and the picture, I think you did a great job!

 

Are you living in Barcelona?

[knut_schwinzer]

Holan Roger,

si, vivo aqui. Si quieres, tomamos un caf頪untos?!

Tel. 666971280

 

Un saludo,bona llum!

[joseph_mcconnell]

Egypt March 2005<div></div>

[brambor]

Good pics especially Anupam's.

<p>

<img src="http://www.widereach.net/rodina/images/pnshots/oldtown.jpg">