Homeless guy

[william l. palminteri]

<blockquote>

<p><em>Mike Dixon , Sep 20, 2009; 09:54 a.m.</em><br>

<em>Don't expect any response from me on any level until you stop using that word.</em><br>

<em>Okay then: I've explained the rationale for why your proposal that there is a "right to privacy" when in a clearly-visible public location is "1 : ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous."</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>And had you been reading this thread with anything more than a desire to be RIGHT, then you would know that I've given many reasons why 'the law' has no bearing on certain homeless pelople.<em> </em><br>

To quote myself again, since you don't seem to read anything I write.....</p>

<blockquote>

<p><br /><em>"I just wanted to point out that there is personal safety at stake here, who's got 'rights' and what those 'rights' are becomes irrelevant pretty quickly when 'street rules' take over at the hands of an intoxicated psychotic."</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p><br />Get it ?</p>

<p>Bill P.</p>

<p> </p>

[william l. palminteri]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=2002499"><em>Brian Shaw</em></a><em> </em><a href="../member-status-icons"><em><img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></em></a><em>, Sep 20, 2009; 10:31 a.m.</em><br>

<em>If I were to be writing the story to accompany this photo, it would be the story of a tired college kid who stayed up for three nights studying for finals. Then, after they were over, he put his dirty laundry in a bag and was taking a bus to the laudromat... but fell asleep due to exhaustion.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Brian, that's pretty much what I said.<br>

To quote myself.....</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>"I agree, "That not right". Also, the guy is probably sleeping off a hangover. Look at his jacket, sweats, and sneakers. He might be homeless in Beverly Hills, but where I come from, guys dressed like that are far from homeless."</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>It sure didn't go over too well.<br>

Let's see who says what about your response.</p>

<p>Bill P.</p>

[GerrySiegel]

<blockquote>

<p>Well living in Los Angeles and New York, I have seen so many homeless people in my travels that I am used to them. I don't think it "is right" but, it is a fact of life. There are worse things in the world then being homeless, I can assure you.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I think David raises an irrefutable fact. When I last visited Boston I was overwhelmed at the number of panhandlers on streets and subways. Some might feel this "interaction" by them towards me is improper or intrusive. But it is legal ( far as I know.) It is not illegal to be homeless,for sure. It is not illegal to "interact" with someone by photographing them if they are asleep in a public place. When you feel a tingling feeling of discomfort now, or regret, then you choose: 1) not do it anymore 2) do it, leave a couple dollars of change on the bench. ( a kind of model fee:-)( Or, having your consciousness raised, do something to volunteer with a social welfare agency. They need you now more than ever. Compliments to you for being compassionate and sensitive. Not a simple issue, check the archives. Wishing you well, N. gs</p>

[neesha_lin1]

<p>Response to <strong>John Kelly</strong> : Thank you for your kind words<br>

Response to <strong>Jacques Emanuel</strong> :I don't know for sure weather he was actually homeless or not but there were some pretty high indications. Such as blood and dirt on his cloths, His crutch under the bench. Of course you saying theirs no way I knew or anyone else knew he was homeless...That is stating a obvious.<br>

Response to<strong> Brian Shaw:</strong> Same as above. It is doubtful he was a college going person and most likely he was homeless or a addict of some kind.</p>

<p> </p>

[davidaten]

<p>Quite honestly Gerry, I can tell you after being in Bosnia, there is no one I have ever been scared to talk to at any time of the day pr night in any city.</p>

<p>I have pictures taken in Crenshaw at 4am of some local drug dealers who posed for me, complete with guns.</p>

<p>Everyone is a person, regardless of who they are or what they are worth. If you can learn to talk to everyone, you will be able to be with everyone on any level.</p>

<p>I talk to heroin addicts the same way I talked to Donald Trump when I photographed him.<br>

Actually, it was more like, "Hey Donny, so let's get you sitting right over here..."</p>

<p>Oh well, he got over it quick when he realized I wasn't going to drop to my knees and...</p>

<p>I have a friend of mine who is homeless, he started by choice and now is just homeless. I see him occasionaly when I go to NYC. He never asks me for a penny and I have never given him one.</p>

<p>It's respect.</p>

[d_f11]

<p>Neesha, give yourself a break, and some credit too. You had a chance encounter with something - and followed through with it. After awhile, you started to have regrets. It's a learning experiance. You could've walked right by and kept camera in bag. So, next time, you may decide not to. You're on your way to becoming a documentary photographer. Keep it up, and good luck.</p>

[rick_helmke1]

Nessha I'll give you full marks for starting a great pissing contest. It's good to see that you are giving thought to your actions when most don't. How close are any of us to being there, really. For myself, I don't ask permission to photograph those who appear to have homes, why would I ask someone in less fortunate circumstances? I generally won't offer money but will offer a meal. You'd be suprised how often it is turned down. None of us will 'solve' this problem because there is not a solution. If we help a hungry person get through another day once in a while then it's to the good. If you produce even one lasting image you are ahead of nearly all of us.

 

Rick H.

[hjoseph7]

<p>What is so interesting about a homeless person ?</p>

[Ray House]

<p>How close are any of us to being there, really? Well, I've been there and done that.</p>

<p>What is so interesting about a homeless person? Oh, the stories I could tell! Lots of well intended answers in this thread, problem is that you just can't categorize all homeless into one group and have an answer that fits all. I think you would have walk a mile in "their" shoes, and that would be alot of miles and shoes. Most responding here don't have a clue.</p>

 

[william l. palminteri]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=555571"><em>Ray House</em></a><em> </em><a href="/member-status-icons"><em><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub7.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></em></a><em>, Sep 22, 2009; 03:01 a.m.</em><br>

<em>How close are any of us to being there, really? Well, I've been there and done that.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Ray, I was REAL close.<br>

I was dead broke once, in Florida, a thousand miles from home.<br>

That was a feeling that I have actively avoided ever since, and that was 1970.</p>

<p>Bill P.</p>

[tholte]

<p>Many of us have photographed the homeless, they are easy targets (especially if they are sleeping). As we grow photographically and get a more sophisticated vision, we tend to be a little more discerning in what we photograph. </p>

[tomwatt]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=555571">Ray House</a> <a href="/member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub7.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></a>, Sep 22, 2009; 03:01 a.m.</p>

 

<p>How close are any of us to being there, really? Well, I've been there and done that.</p>

 

<p>What is so interesting about a homeless person? Oh, the stories I could tell! Lots of well intended answers in this thread, problem is that you just can't categorize all homeless into one group and have an answer that fits all. I think you would have walk a mile in "their" shoes, and that would be alot of miles and shoes. Most responding here don't have a clue.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Actually, I have been homeless twice in my life. Most recently was about 8 years ago and I managed to live out of the trunk of my car for about 6 months until I found a place to live... a gym membership provided me with shower facilities to stay clean. A friend was once surprised at my reaction in seeing a homeless person with their life packed in a garbage bag, as I remarked that it was too bad they didn't have a backpack or a duffle bag instead of a garbage bag. Thanks for making presumptions and casting aspersions, pal.</p>

[justb]

<p>Did anyone take the time to mention...nice shot Neesha.</p>

<p>My take - if he/she is sleeping and you can't ask permission for the shot as you would anyone else, take the shot for the opportunity. If there is an opportunity for you to help financially, do so as well. If they are awake, ask permission. It's only wrong if you don't care.</p>

<p>B</p>

[Ray House]

<p>You're welcome, Tom.</p>

[j_ju]

<p>The idea of invasion of privacy has long been debated in photography- regardless, this is a great shot. I try to make it a habit to take my DSLR with me everywhere I go. Mostly I just take my point and shoot for ops like this. I use one similar to this:<br>

http://adwido.com/view_content?vkey=fc4b107964d4529b76953226fe1abf0d</p>

<p>Were kind of camera were you using - just wondering?</p>

[nogub]

<p>It all depends on the purpose you have while making the picture, but that's the work of photojournalism, if you take a look through any gallery from any of the big photographers of all time you'll surely find some homeless guy. Manuel Alvarez Bravo has even pictures of dead people, which I consider disrispectful, but I guess that's how art works.</p>