Chris Calohan
Well-known member
There But for Fortune... Chris Calohan
There But for Fortune... Chris Calohan
"Dorothy Lange-oid" depression appearance.
This is a great picture. I'd also work on local contrast to being out her ragged dress and Dorothea Lange-oid" depression appearance.
I don't want to start a long discussion on the subject but I suggest that the readers of this thread type "Dorothea Lange" in google picture search. Then you will notice an essential difference: all the people she photographed during the depression face the camera. Clicking here should work.
Taken all the suggestions to heart.
...
Raised the fence, pushed her away from the fence a bit and worked some of the contrasts in her clothing.
It took Lange many months to gain the trust of these families which allowed her the ability to get up close and personal shots. In a street shot such as this and given the skittish nature of the homeless, one gets a quick shot at best. I didn't want to miss the shot, but also didn't want to have to deal with an angry group. There were about 20 others like her waiting for a free meal from one of the local church groups.
I think you got my point.
Asher, your signature reads: "Our purpose is getting to an impressive photograph.". All I read here are excuses for not getting to an impressive photograph. I should know: I am using the same excuses myself when I lack the guts to engage people I want to photograph, which happens more often than I care to admit.
Need I say more? We all know what should be done to get impressive photographs of this subject.
I think you add these modifications being aware that you leave the realm of reportage photography. It adds drama, but from my point of view this is not required.Raised the fence, pushed her away from the fence a bit and worked some of the contrasts in her clothing.
Mental health issues amone homeless people are way higher than in the rest of the population, but putting all the blame on mental health issues is a very simplyfied (and in my eyes misleading) view of a more complex theme (pdf).By contrast, likely as not, the modern homeless N. American woman is on the street as the direct result of failure of society to provide long term mental health care for those in such dire need.
Chris,
This is a haunting image.
I think you add these modifications being aware that you leave the realm of reportage photography. It adds drama, but from my point of view this is not required.
The initial photo has it all and it is more on the sober side while showing fair enough of the dire straits.
Best regards,
Michael
"There but for fortune.."
Unfortunately, at this point in time, long past when this type of subject was maybe new or news or provocative, it now just says "exploitation" and nothing else. Seems like everyone thinking "street photography" for the first time ends up with these subjects as though it is a right of passage.
Rather than pity or sympathy for the subject, I end up having pity for the photographer.
"There but for fortune.."
Unfortunately, at this point in time, long past when this type of subject was maybe new or news or provocative, it now just says "exploitation" and nothing else. Seems like everyone thinking "street photography" for the first time ends up with these subjects as though it is a right of passage.
Rather than pity or sympathy for the subject, I end up having pity for the photographer.