EHN! Project #16

I see this guy in Brick Lane all the time. His head is always in this position, he barely lifts it and most of the time it looks like he's sleepin'.



End Homelessness Now! - Project #16

[IMG]http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/paulyrichard/offlicensebricklane1of1deeplow700bo.jpg[/IMG]

Love the B&W...seem to make the subject clearer

Paul, For me this doesn't exude the quality of your other homeless portraits. While it is, as ever, a beautifully crisp well taken shot and skilfully converted into B&W, I feel it needs your explanation about the guy barely lifting his head to make it work. And, as Malo1961 wrote about one of my photos a while back, images that need explanation are usually failing in one way or another. I've come to agree with Martin. This would work in the context of a collection/exhibition where an explanation to explain its relevance would be appropriate. However, as a stand alone image it doesn't work so well IMHO.

I've jus spotted this reply. Mhuni, this is part of a collection as you know.
Why does it need an explanation? This is a document of life on the ole strasse, what more do you want me to say?
Other than that his details are pending at the moment, 'cos he cannot talk, and I don't know his name.

As my name is mentioned, let me comment. In this case I don't agree with your comment, Andrew.
I remember the first picture of the EHN project very well. Paul and I had a argument because I didn't understand
the deeper meaning of him posting it here. It shocked me and it took some discussion to open my eyes.
Now I look forward to every new picture Paul takes to build up this marvellous statement of what is wrong in our "modern society".
It's Raw, Emotional, Evocative and......very needed.This particular picture sure earned it's place as a part of the series.
Even on it's own it delivers the message, if you know were to look for. The body language, the rolled up trousers, the fag,the coat......even the words on the window. They all tell the story. The same shameful story.....Paul is sharing with us.

Carry on with the mission, Paul.

Hear hear! Very well said.

I think the problem here is that I've commented on the photo as a standalone image, which as you point out Paul it's not. Part of the reason for my posting the comment was because, unusually for your photos, this had elicited such little feedback - in fact none until Darlene's, posted some days after the image was originally uploaded. I wrote the above partly because I thought it might be useful for you to have an explanation (mine at least - these things are of course subjective) why this photo hadn't got the attention and praise that others have.

My instinctive response to the image - initially ignoring the context of your project - was that it's a beautifully shot image of a guy who's not exactly ideally positioned to be photographed. And that it required your explanation about how the man is always in this position to indicate what the 'point' of it was. Funnily enough the more I look at it - and still ignoring its wider context in your project - the more the position of the man actually raises interesting questions in my mind. But then initial responses are as important as more thought out ones, in that if an image doesn't immediately command attention the viewer won't dwell on it long enough to form a more nuanced response. Perhaps - and this is more a speculative than a conclusive comment - this explains why the photo up to now hasn't generated the usual quantity of feedback associated with your posts.

Of course, when most forum members are fully aware of your project, the question is whether this photo should be viewed 'out of context', to which the answer - as borne out by the comments from you, Martin and Tim - is probably no. As a part of your wider project, of course this image works - but you don't need me to tell you that!

Thanks Martin, Tim and Mhuni.

I agree with you about explanations Mhuni, I forgot to mention that.