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Can we ban?


earleygallery

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1. You don't know how dirty or clean his "rags" are.

2. It was about 23:00 on a Saturday night in central Paris.

3. Homeless people tend, in my limited experience, to have bags of possessions, albeit limited.

4. They do not tend to live on the Metro. They live in arches UNDER the Metro or other sheltered spots, not liable to the intervention of the Metro police.

 

I really don't know why I am explaining all this to you. You live there.

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Bill's subject is just a guy who's had too much to drink. He's neither homeless nor derelict.

 

I'm not sure that makes any difference at all does it? If you were pissed, comatose and got photographed in a compromising position, or just less than flattering position, hoe would you feel about it?

 

Erl, I don't really have a point of view. It's just a question.

 

Cheers

John

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This image was shot in Delhi in 2009. It was used as a Xmas card that year.

 

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Paraphrasing the printed message: 'Santa', last seen in Delhi. Hope he makes it to your place for Xmas. Enjoy your Xmas, because you can!

 

He was happy to be photographed and posed for a series. I paid him handsomely and we chatted with limited common language. He seemed happy. I judged him to be a professional beggar. We both went our separate ways happily.

 

I did get some feedback on the Xmas card. I believe at least one family contributed to an Indian welfare fund.

 

I did shoot other 'street' people, unobserved, and used some in a book on India. I believe my actions to be positive. I know the reality is not comfortable with some people, yet they eat meat without confronting their own demons regarding slaughter. I have confronted that one as well.

 

I the end, we should only do what we can manage.

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... 2. It was about 23:00 on a Saturday night in central Paris....

Was this mentioned anywhere before? It a small detail that makes a big difference. And even if the man was dead drunk, does that make a difference?

 

Some time ago, I saw a woman in a train station who was loudly crying because somebody had stolen her wallet from her. I also sometimes passed by people who were searching trash bins on the street. Another day there was a man in the métro that had an incredibly weird nose and I once met another that had all his upper teeth, in a very poor state, hanging outside his lips. I had my camera but I didn't photograph them. I don't want to do this and I stick to it. I wouldn't photograph someone because he is handsome and sexy or she is beautiful and hot either. ;)

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Was this mentioned anywhere before? It a small detail that makes a big difference. And even if the man was dead drunk, does that make a difference?

 

... I don't want to do this and I stick to it.

 

 

 

song(e) song(e) bleu ..... blah blah blah ! .... You _ do _ not _ practice _ what _ you _ preach!!!

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There was a man who went through our neighborhoods (college town) picking up aluminum cans which he turned in for scrap value in the evenings. We struck up a conversation as I was walking to work one Winter day. He lived in an abandoned car by the river. He was a psychological wreck, and limped badly. After a while I met with him a few times on my walks. I learned he was also an alcoholic. And a military vet (20 years in). He commented upon my camera and said, "I don't mind if you photograph me. You should see how I sleep in my car. I left my foot out of the blankets and it's never healed." He absolutely refused any help finding housing (which we do have for the indigent) because, I finally learned, that accepting housing was his very last lost freedom. The only significant control of his life was collecting cans and living in that abandoned car.

 

He disappeared three years ago.

 

And he came back a few months ago a new man after a lot of therapy at the Veterans Hospital where he finally took a job for the last two years. "I'm kinda glad you didn't take my pictures now" he said. So was I. Oh - that limp - frostbite. He lost a few toes, but it was the last straw that finally put him in the hospital. Thank God. He has an apartment, heat, food, and yes, a few beers from time to time. He's a real joy to share a walk with now. I feel I'm walking with a minor miracle.

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pico - your story is just in time to illustrate some points which have been missed in another one which happened to be derailed into the direction of this one.

 

I think you illustrate very nicely the difference between exploiting ones rights and showing courtesy and wisdom. Thank you so much.

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What about photos taken purposely to show your anger?

Anger, because millions are spent yearly on this and that when at least, some this money should be spent more wisely to seriously help those in need !!!

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What about photos taken purposely to show your anger?

Anger, because millions are spent yearly on this and that when at least, some this money should be spent more wisely to seriously help those in need !!!

 

That would be a great challenge. Begin by going to Wall Street. Attend parties of the very rich. I have a photo from the later that shows obviously wealthy young couples, well dressed, on the deck of a large sailing ship with the Chicago skyline in the background - and the couple in the foreground have a lost look, something you might find in the dispossessed. I would not show the picture for the same reason I did not photograph the homeless man - things change. Or am I losing courage?

 

For Wall Street the story is in its inner-workings. I grew up marinated in banking talk. My late father was a journalist, then an econometricist (the terminal degree of his time) then an economist. I've learned how they create wealth from nothing. Making a loan is almost like printing your own money, but you are saved from even the labor and materials. Derivatives - don't even get me started.

 

This is becoming depressing. Time for a good bike ride.

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All's fair in love, war and viewfinders.

 

I think the issue here is "easy meat" - a busker or a sleeping vagrant is hardly likely to object to your taking their photo. By that token, perhaps we should ban all architecture, flower photos, etc etc... ;) Personally, I wouldn't want to see anything banned (with the possible exception of living statues and French mime artists).

 

In fact a moderator was standing right beside me when I took this one, a few years ago... :D

 

[ATTACH]280883[/ATTACH]

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

I like this photo a lot. The man was sleeping right under the poster "Le Bon Marche" on Rive Gauche! Such irony and stark reality.

 

Tri:)

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Bill wrote, in part: Personally, I wouldn't want to see anything banned (with the possible exception of living statues and French mime artists).

Is it legal to shoot Mimes if you use a silencer?

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Geez, still talking about the homeless?

 

For every post about the homeless, go give them a dollar instead. They're gonna get rich!

 

Photographing them and talking about them creates awareness. Surely that is necessary and desirable, as a beginning.

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Geez, still talking about the homeless?

 

For every post about the homeless, go give them a dollar instead. They're gonna get rich!

 

 

We all end up in one place six feet below .... rich or not !

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