Photographing Homeless Downtown Dallas

[bcornett72]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on this subject, or might have experience doing this sort of shooting. I would like to capture some shots of various subjects, but don't know if I should approach them and explain what I am doing or shoot from a fair.

Any and all help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you have some images or areas you have shot before, please let me know.

Blessings,
Brian

[auddii]

Depends on what you want. If you ask, they may say no, but often they say yes. However, you're more likely to get a pose and a smile. If you want rough/tough life on the streets, you might just want to try shooting from the hip so that no one notices that you are shooting at all.

Honestly, they're all over downtown. If you really want to get to know some, try volunteering at one of the shelters downtown.

[rph]

Use caution and common sense. I spend a lot of time dealing with them, in Houston. Many of them suffer from mental illnesses and fear contact and photos. I've met quite a few that believe that people...agencies...men in black...are using security cameras and red light cameras to monitor them. A church group went into one of the camps down here, to sing to them, and was threatened with a knife because one of the men believedthey wanted the stuff in his cart.

Contrary to PC belief, most are homeless for some reason other than losing a job. Those exist, but they tend to move off the streets faster. Most of the truly homeless I know are either suffering from mental illness or drug/alcohol addiction. Others are, literally, wanted...for anything ranging from petty crime to murder. Even then, most of them actually have a home, be it in a friend's shed or a halfway house or a crack hotel.

For the truly homeless, you need to look for the bags and grocery carts. They have nowhere to leave their things, so they carry them everywhere.

Donations will get you somewhere. Food or money. Talking to them will clue you in to their state, pretty quickly. If they're agitated, leave them alone. Quiet withdrawal is best. Logic is wasted. They may be hallucinating and actually see you as the devil. They may hear things you can't. You may be competing with several other voices, any one of which may be telling them to kill you...or that you're there to kill them.

Keep a friendly-looking companion with you, to watch your back. Be careful where you follow them. It may be best to get involved with an outreach program, or just get references to safe subjects from one of the more involved social workers. Approach them slowly and keep some distance to react to them. Move slowly. Talk slowly. Accept that you're entering their world and space and behave appropriately, until they trust you. Accept that their reality may change, daily, so every day means starting over again.

As an example, a guy walking his dog in the park decided to smoke a cigarette. He saw a homeless man, with his cart, sitting nearby, watching him. He thought the homeless man might want a smoke, so he offerred him one. The homeless man began to grunt and chant about poisoning the air and killing everyone...and the dog...with cancer. Offended, the guy decided to let the homeless man know what was what...that's his right after all...he's not the crazy one. 5 seconds later, he's running for his life after the homeless man pulled 2 giant hammers from his cart, climbed onto a rock, screamed that he was the god of thunder...the mighty Thor...and that he would save the dog from cancer by smiting him with his hammers. The guy grabbed the dog and ran...Thor in hot pursuit. Thor wound up in jail, after attacking a nurse that offerred him water (it was poison) and then attacking the police officer that took him to the hospital.

Moral of the story is that they might not understand your intentions, even if they're good.

I saw a great exhibition in Tallahassee on this subject. Lots of access and trust. That photographer volunteered, got to know her subjects, and spent time...even nights...on the streets with them, IIRC.

Just be careful and respectful, for your sake...and theirs..

[bcornett72]

Thank you guys so for for the advice. I have already considered a lot of these things already. I know Dallas pretty well, as well as, the homeless scene. I was at one point homeless myself, but thank to the Lord and his guidance am not anymore. Been gainfully employed for the past five years, got married, and have started back into expressing myself through my art and photography. There is an exhibit coming up in November with one of the groups I belong to, and the subject is people, their expressions, and doing things. I just thought that along with some of my other ideas for this exhibit, that I might pay some homage to where I was years ago, as well as, those still out there.

I am still looking for any and all advice still on this subject, and really if there is anyone here that is from the metroplex that has ventured into the field of shooting, I would like to hear from you. Thanks again for all the help and guidance.

[rph]

Brian,

Knowing, now, what you went through makes this very interesting. Your perspective would be phenomenal to see in pictures. You could, if you're able, visit some of the places you frequented and shoot them as you see them. THAT would be interesting. I've been doing a phone camera series, just for me, of lonely places I find, at work and moving through Houston.

[bcornett72]

rph,

That sounds interesting! I would like to see some of those pictures when you get them up and posted. Very interesting perspective coming from the phone. As soon as I get time to start shooting some of these images, I will surely post them up.

[Angelo]

Brian, shooting from the hip is the best way to capture the natural expressions of the people.

[PatrickONeill]

Some general advice, not directed at bcornett72. Just some mental notes to toss out there to others who might be thinking about photographing the homeless.

be careful photographing the homeless.

Make sure you are photographing them for the right reasons. Do you want to photograph them because of a cause, because you care about their situation, or because you think it would be a great photographic subject?

If its the last reason, walk away.

Don't expect to approach them and walk away with great material in one evening. projects such as these can take years or a lifetime to approach.

Photographing the homeless can be a cliche trap and can verge on exploitation.

However, if you approach you subject with humility; listen to their life story; photograph them, not their situation. Be a compassionate person first, a photographer second. In fact; approach a single person, gain their trust and leave the camera behind for a few encounters. When you feel that they are honest, open and willing to collaborate, then can you take out the camera. Present their life in a respectful and dignified manner.

Read up on ethics and look to photographers who have approached this subject in the past.


And remember, they are people, not a photo-op.

[bcornett72]

Patrick ONeill,

I look at it more of a cause and care about their situation. If you bothered to read all of my comments in this string, you would see that I have been in their shoes before. A vast majority of the homeless in Dallas area are vets. Being a Marine Corps veteran myself, I have great sympathy for my fellow brothers and sisters that are stuck in this vicious cycle.

I would never exploit these people in any way, and don't believe in that. I am a Christian and do have a heart to me. I do thank you for taking the time to reply and comment, and take some of what you had to say to heart.

[bcornett72]

Angelo,

I am starting to realize from reading things here, and doing research on the net, that your suggestion is a widely used one. I think I will try a lot of different approaches to this subject. I would like to shoot from the hip and capture some of those missed candid moments, but would also like to get in close and capture the depth of the moment and persons.

Thanks also the the reply, and appreciate all that have taken the time to comment here.

[Angelo]

Brian, I began practicing "from the hip" shots years ago in China. It takes a bit of practice but when you become proficient at it you can do almost anything. the most important thing is to be prepared, always.
And thanks so much for your comments in giving these brothers and sisters the respect they deserve. As the Good Book says Charity is the Pure Love of Christ.
Thanks my friend.

I forgot to say, let us see some of your work.

[PatrickONeill]

Originally Posted by bcornett72

Patrick ONeill,

I look at it more of a cause and care about their situation. If you bothered to read all of my comments in this string, you would see that I have been in their shoes before. A vast majority of the homeless in Dallas area are vets. Being a Marine Corps veteran myself, I have great sympathy for my fellow brothers and sisters that are stuck in this vicious cycle.

I would never exploit these people in any way, and don't believe in that. I am a Christian and do have a heart to me. I do thank you for taking the time to reply and comment, and take some of what you had to say to heart.

I did read all of your comments. My post was not directed at you, but rather, to other photographers who are reading this thread and might be inclined to photograph the homeless. I hate seeing photographers chasing cliches that are exploitive.

[auddii]

Random thought. I read a blog about a "study" that someone did about handing out prepaid charge cards to homeless, and he wanted the cards brought back to him after they used them to discuss what having the card was like. There were no restrictions on what they could spend the money on. It was a really interesting article.

What if you bought some disposable cameras and passed them out along with taking your own photos. Might be interesting.

[bcornett72]

Angelo,

I will surely post any shots I get when I can. My work schedule is kind of hectic, but I will get around to it when I can.

[bcornett72]

Patrick,

Sorry that I might have mistaken your post somewhat. Please forgive me if I came across harsh. That wasn't my intention. :)