streetwalkers as art

This is a prostitute who is homeless and living on the streets of NYC, she did some very

interesting poses for me in a deserted alley

Every time I revisit this photo, and others from this project, I find myself experiencing the same conflict between my conventional sensibilities - empathy, sentiment, a romanticized view of the human condition - and the incredibly powerful, disorienting sensations produced by these photos.  I feel that  I *should* dislike them, yet cannot dismiss them.  No matter how I try I cannot find an absence of empathy or compassion in your approach, which would enable my comfort in feeling self righteous indignation.  Instead they are simply honest, unblinking, unapologetic, without any bias or sentiment or judgment or disapproval.  Possibly the most powerful set of photos depicting prostitution I've seen.  And I've seen this same misery in other women I've known who escaped this life - it haunts them forever.  I've never been able to photograph them.  You took that uncomfortable step where most of us would hesitate and trip over our own tangled sensibilities.