Shooting up, Seattle

[Sailronin]

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Leica MP w/50mm Summicron on Ilford FP 4+ in HC 110 H for 7.75mins at 20 C

 

A woman shooting heroin on the sidewalk in Pioneer Square, Seattle.

This is one of those shots that I am always torn as to shoot or walk on by.  Street photography is new to me, really just began when I moved to Seattle and worked in a downtown office. I walk at lunch time to get out in the world away from A/C and artificial light. In three years this is one of the most depressing things I've come across, a woman shooting heroin in the middle of the day in public.  

[A miller]

You were right to shoot this, and show it publicly.

Every little bit of enhanced awareness will help

Edited September 18, 2016 by A miller

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[stuny]

I agree with Adam.

[Sailronin]

Thank you both.  The housing problem for the homeless is a serious problem in Seattle, as evidenced by the tents on the sidewalk in the background of this image. The city has set up "tent cities" ala "Hoovervilles" from the Depression but he number of homeless is increasing and the tent cities keep growing, even around City Hall.  

This is my first time working in an urban office after many years at sea and then ashore in an office on the water in Fort Lauderdale so maybe I'm naive but really had no idea of the magnitude of the problem of the homeless/mentally ill/addicted population.

I've started a "Street Photography" gallery at my sailronin.smugmug.com website and have been surprised at the number of views, so maybe a bit of exposure (not much but maybe it can help) for the problem in Seattle.

Dave

Edited September 18, 2016 by Sailronin

[Robert M Poole]

Thank you both. The housing problem for the homeless is a serious problem in Seattle, as evidenced by the tents on the sidewalk in the background of this image. The city has set up "tent cities" ala "Hoovervilles" from the Depression but he number of homeless is increasing and the tent cities keep growing, even around City Hall.

This is my first time working in an urban office after many years at sea and then ashore in an office on the water in Fort Lauderdale so maybe I'm naive but really had no idea of the magnitude of the problem of the homeless/mentally ill/addicted population.

I've started a "Street Photography" gallery at my sailronin.smugmug.com website and have been surprised at the number of views, so maybe a bit of exposure (not much but maybe it can help) for the problem in Seattle.

Dave

The problem isn't just Seattle, it's everywhere in the Western world. In Britain we call it, 'austerity'.

 

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[A miller]

For us Americans, this has been a hot topic in the news lately.  Just last week this photo of a couple - oversdosed on heroin - in the front seat of a car with a 4yr olden the back seat went viral.  The photo was taken by a police officer on the scene.  It is absolutely sickening, and there is a lot that can be done to stop it.

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[XVarior]

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For us Americans, this has been a hot topic in the news lately.  Just last week this photo of a couple - oversdosed on heroin - in the front seat of a car with a 4yr olden the back seat went viral.  The photo was taken by a police officer on the scene.  It is absolutely sickening, and there is a lot that can be done to stop it.

 

are those people dead Adam?!

[XVarior]

You were right. Excellent reportage work. This helps awareness and you did a great job capturing it. 

[A miller]

are those people dead Adam?!

No, they had overdosed on heroine and would have died if they hadnt been stopped by the police. The man plead guilty and is servi g a one yr jail sentence. The woman pled not guilty and is awaiting trial. Poor kid:(

[Toshack10]

Thanks for posting this - it does add so much perspective

 

The BBC - if you can get access - did a documentary recently on heroin in suburban Ohio and linking the rise in use in part to prescription (opiate based) painkillers. It was hard viewing (as is the photo). There but for the grace of...

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0457122/smack-in-suburbia-americas-heroin-crisis

[Louis]

No, they had overdosed on heroine and would have died if they hadnt been stopped by the police. The man plead guilty and is servi g a one yr jail sentence. The woman pled not guilty and is awaiting trial. Poor kid:(

 

... and as you can see in the rear seat, there was also a child in the car!.... How crazy can anyone get!... So sad!

[fotografr]

As long as I live I will never understand how a person puts that needle into their arm for the first time, knowing full well how it will drag them down for the rest of their life.

Edited September 22, 2016 by fotografr