Junkyard Angels Nostalgia

My buddy Mo was haranging me for quite a while to go out one night and get a cover shot for his band's new album "Out of the Junkyard Onto the Curb." He finally caught me on a night when I really couldn't come up with a good excuse, so we had a couple beers, smoke, and went a wandering.

We found the homeless guy, photo on the left, finishing a sandwich on this stoop. While debating whether to ask him to lie down for a minute so we could take a couple pictures, he put away his food and layed down entirely on his own. We waited for a couple minutes then crossed the street. He was out like a light. I put the camera on a fire hydrant for stabilization and Mike hailed a cab to light the scene. The cabby flicked on his high beams I shot about five frames bracketing I don't know what, Mike slapped the cabby a fiver and we were off.

We shot Mike lighting the cigarette with another sleeper in the background after we found this nicely lit Virgin Mary.

Mike passed away about two years later around this time of year. I'm always glad he was so persistant in getting me to go out and do these pictures. It was a great time we had together, and this little triptych is in his honor. Just thought I would share that with you. Thanks, DL

comments welcome

There are a lot of photos in my collection that represent a personal emotional record. I often try to capture an emotion and fail. Reading your account of the happenstance that led to these images makes them more appealing to me. This frequently happens when I know something about the artist or the event that is being recorded. Probably a beaten-to-death question but...: Does knowing the story behind these images improve the images? Comments?

Reed, the answer is without a doubt "No." The image, as I see it, has to stand on it's own merits, not everyone can read. I'm sure there are plenty of times when one could argue differently, but...if it needs words, the 'package' becomes a story or an editorial piece, no longer a stand alone photo. I like showing stuff like this because it don't get seen otherwise. Thanks for the comment, please re-tort.

I believe that as well. However...your story begged me to take a closer look. I tried to find a hidden meaning in the images. It's pointless. I didn't know Mo and the shots carry a sentimental value after the fact. You're intent was as an album cover. The shots - I like. That you created an alter piece with the Virgin Mary flanked by cultural decay and vice while being shielded from the two with protective screening makes a poignant statement. I particularly like the Virgin Mary. I play a visual trick with it. I imagine her image as graffiti painted in photo-realizm on a brick wall. You gotta love critiques - people love to bend their minds around other peoples stuff.

Ha, I like it. My first thought was "Wow, this guys cruisin'." I like the idea. You certainly gave it more thought than I did when I put it together the other day. I like your analysis. Why is it that other people see things in our pictures that we don't? Hey, I liked your boys school photos, would have liked to have seen them before the contractor moved in right?