Earlier this month, Nick over at I Love Franklin Avenue posted a four-part series on his experiences as a juror in a recent homicide case. While I’ve always found his Crown Heights-centric blog provocative and thoughtful, this series is exemplary — citizen journalism at its finest and its most heartbreaking. He tells the story of how Steven Ingram, a homeless Vietnam Veteran, was beaten to death near the Albany Houses in Crown Heights — all because he was a convenient target.
Nick speaks at eye-opening length about the prevalence of violence against homeless populations in Part I; the continued victimization of the homeless has catalyzed the National Coalition for the Homeless to seek protection under hate crime laws. But what he concludes is wholly unsatisfying and disheartening, but true: that “it is our collective apathy, a crime of disinterest, that allows this hate to find expression so easily and so frequently.”
The whole series is a must-read if you can spare the time. And if you’re a photographer or a writer: use your tools and talents! They’re invaluable. The words and images you create are indeed powerful and speak volumes when others cannot.
“Executive Clemency,” by Reuben Radding:
Untitled by Vitaliy Piltser, and “Woman on C Train” by Natalie Behring:
“Homeless Woman: Coney Island,” by Rob Hoey:
“New York’s Somethingest,” by [mementosis]:
Ed
1 year ago
This is an extremely sensitive subject and I beg the question – photography of the homeless, for what purpose? The documenting of that specific story could lead to better protection for them but how? It is yet to be seen whether the catalyzing of the NCH will do any good as the linked article points to their motions being initiated in 2008. However, the stories like these have at least been used to powerful effect that may bring some change for the better.
On the flip side just photographing the homeless because it could make a good picture to me is a bit callous. You are photographing someone at their lowest point of dignity, exploiting them for an image. Unless of course you intend that image to be part of a wider debate on the subject. Because I am uncomfortable with this I do not like to photograph the homeless, despite there being plenty of opportunity to do so in New York. Many photographers I come across have $2 portrait projects, where they give $2 to a homeless person in recompense for taking a few images of them and maybe telling their story. I find this disingenuous. How does that help the cycle of someone’s situation? $2 just to get a picture does nothing to help that person in the wider scheme of things. Maybe some food would be a better option, or promoting their story to the correct channels, not simply through flickr or a blog.
But to come back to the point where it can be used for good. There was a fantastic photoessay on Lens recently (Here is the link: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/showcase-190/) where Andrea Star Reese took her camera with her to photograph the community of people living in the subway and sewer tunnels of Harlem. She patiently had to gain the trust of these people before she could make meaningful images. The story has gained a decent amount of exposure through Lens and a photofestival, but as one commenter asks “The question is – now what? If photojournalism calls attention to these horrific conditions of our fellow humans, what can we do to help? What is being done?” Hopefully, as in the case you blogged about here, something is now being done.
This has been stewing in me since I took up my camera in earnest and I thought it was a good time to open it to wider debate.
Vitaliy
1 year ago
I agree with you, Ed and I don’t have the answer. Both sides of the coin that you speak about is something that I have thought about also. But what if there’s no purpose other than to get the picture and to document the scene/person/perhaps their story in one frame? And not to sound too preachy, but isn’t photography all about capturing the moment, regardless of how sad and unpleasant the circumstances may be. Sure, if the photographer profits from taking photos of people down on their luck without giving back, there’s something obviously wrong with that.