Ed was fascinating. He taught me how to live off of a dollar or two a day just by watching for sales at certain Walgreens around Sacramento. I found him getting hot water for an instant soup at Starbucks.
This photograph is worth easily 1000 words...
It speaks volumes.
I have also been thinking of just traveling around town, taking photos of people.. Love to see more of your work.
Very nice work. Expressive portraiture.
I am curious how you approached him and other homeless folks. I have a few shots but have been thinking about a series as well.
Scott
I agree about the crop, but I like the horizontal comp. Consider placing him further off-center by losing some of the blank brick wall on the right. (I like the doors, I'd rather get rid of the brick)
Drawn in easily by his face, lines, and his life from staring at them.
I'm not sure of the background if it adds, or detracts. A different crop like suggested? In the end, I do leave the image wanting to get more focus on his face.
I love the image of him and especially his face. But I find my eye traveling in a triangle between his face, the coffee cup and the handicapped sign in the background. I'm not sure the handicapped sign adds anything to the overall image. I would clone it out. I think the coffee cup does add interest to the image.
Sbeme: I tell them I'm tired of photographing paying clients and ask if I could take their portrait. I tell them that I would rather they know I'm taking it (instead of taking it voyeuristically) and sign a model release. Then, I tell them I pay all of my models and if they would like to be paid for their work, I'll pay them as well. They usually agree. The rate is $1 a minute.
BK: nice to see you man.
Mike: off camera flash to camera left was the trick. Then some high pass to tighten details up.
Rather: I like the sign in the shot because I think it hints at one of the problems of the homeless. Many of them are handicapped (mentally) even if they look whole. The triangular composition between face, cup and sign are sort of intentional.
I always enjoy your work, Aaron. Glad to see you posting a few more pictures lately. I love how the kinda modeled light on him, matches the modeled light on the wall.
