Street Portrait

This is another homeless guy I met on the streets the other day, in London.

I have had some good news after my appointment with Crisis. There will be an exhibition in London by photographers past present and dead, this is the one in 2010 at the Proud Gallery in London. The exhibition is called 'A Positive View'.

I will find out more and post links in the future, its still early days.

Photographers are welcome to submit images and do not have to be documentin' the homeless.
The images that will be shown within the gallery will be up for auction at the end of the exhibitions run. The money made from this will go straight to a homeless charity of which Prince William is patron.

Andrew Page has also told me havin' viewed my images in his office, i've shown here on this forum too, that he wishes to run and exhibit solely my own work in a gallery also. To try and raise funds and recognition for the homeless.

This has given me even more inspiration (I already had enough to begin with), to highlight these guys plight, in the hope that changes will be rung.

I'm sorry to be so bold and state this to you guys but this is such good news for me (somethin' like this has never happened to me before), I reccommend you guys to do somethin' similar in your own countries. It can do a lot of good, and you will surely be recognised for your efforts through the proper channels.

Jerry

I'm drawn to the out of focus stubble on his top lip.
Will you be documentin' the guys that choose to be homeless? Even a homeless guy can find a bit of string and do his shoe laces up, but I bet that just isn't cool.

'strikes me you have a captive subject with these guys and it would be easy to take the moral high ground when actually you may just be furthering your photographic career?
I reckon it's a knife edge you are on there Paul.
Obviously you won't agree...

I give up with you guys!

Of course I am fullly aware of those that choose to be homeless, as well as bein' fully aware of those that don't.

I don't care about a photographic career, its jus' nice to be recognised for doin' a little bit of good.
I don't seek any monetary gain at all either.
Do I really need to point out the amount of money I have given these guys in trade for their picture and story so far, and also the amount of money I spend in travellin' to the other side of London?

Its a knife's edge if you say so. Is that a good reason not to do what i'm doin' then?

I will point out that the passion and joy in takin' a picture is my reward, I am an addict in this respect.

You are so cynical, really!
I have stated that Crisis are on board with this project and yet you still choose to proffer the knife under my nose, i'm waitin' for it to be driven in now.

I have already stated enough my intention with this project. I don't need the negativity.

I am definitely cynical
I actually asked whether you would be documenting this other side?
I wasn't suggesting, 'don't do it because it was a moral knife edge', I was saying be careful of your motivation etc. I think you are, so that's fine.
Very worthy bunch I'm sure (far too cynical, I agree) the idea of some earnest media luvvie buying a picture of one of these guys to show how caring they are makes me recoil - I know, I know... too cynical. I wonder if they take it down again after the dinner party... "stop it Mark"

I'm not sticking the knife anywhere, I'm just not going to sit back and accept all this on face value. Some of those guys have more than us in a lot of ways. I'm sure most people out there have wanted to leave the rat-race and find themselves.
It takes a lot more than comfort, wealth and good health to make a society.

Congratulations! It sounds like a wonderful exhibition, for a great cause, and it's great you are getting some recognition.

A bit of an issue here Paul.
I enjoy viewing about 90% of your images, and if you get to exhibit in London I shall certainly make an effort to get there.
Problem is; just about every time you post an image you seem to get into a political wrangle. This is getting a bit tedious.
YOU are clearly passionate about what YOU are doing,but i think you have to accept that some of us just view the images you create without thinking about the deeper issues behind the image.
Clearly you are a talented photographer, and clearly you are putting a lot of time and effort into your project, but I think you need to accept that some of us MAY not realy care about the deeper issues.

Davex.

Personally, I care! I just don't necessarily agree.
I did forget to congratulate you on the recognition of your images Paul. seriously, well done.
I think davex is right and you are distracting people with your rhetoric.

My god!

No homeless photographs are to be sold, only photograhs from the 'A Positive View' exhibition which will contain general photography not necessarily of the homeless. Didn't you read that or understand what I said.
And anyway, the act of buyin' a 'homeless' photograph and therefore givin' money to the charity is in itself a charitable act buy the buyer.

Your own mental picture of somethin' like this happenin' is beyond me, and indeed cynical! Surely you should think again about what your sayin'!

Some people do want to live homeless, doesn't mean that everyone of 'em does! There is no law against vagrancy.

A lot of people do leave the rat-race and find themselves, they jus' don't go homeless to do it. This point and your last are freakin' insane!

You really need to be educated when it comes down to the homeless.

When I look at this photo, I am not drawn to the out of focus of the chin, I am drawn to the person, the hard and weathered lines on his face and the pin sharp eyes that could tell a tale of two.

Paul, I understand the angle that you are intending to capture and I like all your shots, and if I could I would love to come and see the exhibition that you are holding.
Your shots are very different from what is seen on this site, they are hard hitting, that's what I think people are struggling with - or it's purely that they don't understand.

Keep up the good work and I hope that the exhibition is a great success.

Paul

Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you.
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you.
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore.
Strike another match, go start anew
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

Bringing it All Back Home
Bob Dylan
1965

Keep on doin' what you're doin', Mr Abbot
And best of luck with your gallery prospects etc

Dave, I know it happens everytime, I get crucified.
On another forum of which I post the exact same initial comments with my images, I get nothin' but positives, seriously.
So I cannot understand it on here.

Paul, Malcom - thank you so much.

Malcom, what can I say about Bob Dylan that hasn't been said. Nice one.

There should be room here for many different points of view and I think you've all put them across. Don't forget to agree to disagree!

Absolutely!
But Paul, you're wrong about the insane bit

OK.

No hard feelings, I hope.

I will post links in the future about the 'A Positive View' exhibition, so that you guys can enter.