Funny Homeless man

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

They are always interesting to photogragh:confused:

[sorashell]

Great photo. At first glance he does look like a funny homeless man, but on that closer crop the eyes stand out better and I see a bleakness there that makes me see him as a human being that has gotten a raw deal in this life. He looks lost.

[anokastealth7]

I feel almost like I know this guy, like I've seen him before

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

I know, he is kinda cute in a way...

[lomond]

I'm sorry about getting a bit heavy Marcus but this kind of thing troubles me.
What's funny about it. ?
It's one thing to show the poverty or hardship people may have landed in and portray that in a reportage sense
but to describe him as a "Funny Homeless man" ...........well, I don't get it.
Does he even know he's being lampooned around the world as a "Funny Homeless man" ?

Sorry for the rant but I couldn't help it.

Have a rant back, I can take it. :)

[BigBlueDodge]

Take it easy Cameron. I'm pretty sure the OP used "funny" as a way to describe his expression , or maybe hair, and not his current disposition in life.

[JMAS]

I'm sorry about getting a bit heavy Marcus but this kind of thing troubles me.
What's funny about it. ?
It's one thing to show the poverty or hardship people may have landed in and portray that in a reportage sense
but to describe him as a "Funny Homeless man" ...........well, I don't get it.
Does he even know he's being lampooned around the world as a "Funny Homeless man" ?

Sorry for the rant but I couldn't help it.

Have a rant back, I can take it. :)

Cameron,
if you don't mind I'll sign under that also.


Nothing against you Marcus, and maybe you didn't mean it that way, but it did sound like a cold statement.
...or maybe I'm to sensible...

[Titus213]

We shouldn't be so easily offended. He looks like an individual that, for some reason, has fried his life on alcohol. I look at his eyes and see a man that was intelligent at one time, alive and productive. But now it's all gone. Nice photo. Natural light well exposed and to hand hold 200mm at 1/50 and get this result is pretty good.

[Skip Souza]

Funny Homeless man.
It doesn't necessarily mean funny humorous, it could also mean funny odd or unusual or unexpected.
We all must be careful not to blame the photographer for our own feelings when we view an image. We must take responsibility for our feelings and not project blame on others.
IMNHO this is an excellent capture. It evokes emotion, passion, and empathy. It also allows us to read into it our own interpretations.
I see a man with a thousand yard stare who is attempting to find solace in his bottle of bitters. But I could be wrong.

[super912]

He looks like a black einstien

[JMAS]

Funny Homeless man.
It doesn't necessarily mean funny humorous, it could also mean funny odd or unusual or unexpected.
We all must be careful not to blame the photographer for our own feelings when we view an image. We must take responsibility for our feelings and not project blame on others.
IMNHO this is an excellent capture. It evokes emotion, passion, and empathy. It also allows us to read into it our own interpretations.
I see a man with a thousand yard stare who is attempting to find solace in his bottle of bitters. But I could be wrong.

Skip,
I understand your comment and generally you know I resist to voice my opinion so strongly, but the smiley marking the thread was what drew me in it, and just to discover the thread was not an amusing one. Quite the contrary.

And the comment by the OP They are always interesting to photogragh:confused:
...
"They"?
Being homeless is supposed to be a condition. Hopefuly a short term condition. Not a charateristic.


...well maybe I'm feeling touchy today, so I'll get a good night sleep, wishing the best to the OP and the person on the photo as well.

[WhatEyeSee]

he looked like someone I have seen before also...funny (lol - no pun intended) (now I see it - he reminds me of one of my moms boyfriends - Looked nothing like him, but the eyes, cheek and hidden features are similar)

I'd also like to add my interp.

This man is homeless and dishelved, but his eyes are not DEAD - they are staring off at a glance, but they are not dead. The corner of his mouth is slightly turned up - he still has the essence of joy hiddened under his gruff appearence. It is kind of like it is hiddened just for the one who will look long enough to see it, but to other people who are not daring -err willing enough to make eye contact all they see is a sorry homeless man.

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

I actually know the guy so you negative people have proved u have no idea about how to read a photo...have u not heard of photo journalism, or are u to afraid to go and take pics other than those of your family members or landscapes? every pic tells a story, go and step outside the square u live in...there's a whole new world out there, and it's reality!!! There are homeless people out there whether you like it or not, and whether I take a pic or not, they will still be there. This is a happy man, and he seems happy everyday I see him and he was thrilled that somebody wanted to take his photo...

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

Funny Homeless man.
It doesn't necessarily mean funny humorous, it could also mean funny odd or unusual or unexpected.
We all must be careful not to blame the photographer for our own feelings when we view an image. We must take responsibility for our feelings and not project blame on others.
IMNHO this is an excellent capture. It evokes emotion, passion, and empathy. It also allows us to read into it our own interpretations.
I see a man with a thousand yard stare who is attempting to find solace in his bottle of bitters. But I could be wrong.

thanks skip, at least your saw into the soul of the photo, nobody made fun of the poor man except the comments made by the negative people that wouldnt even know how to capture a persons moment in time, let alone appreciate somebody elses moment in time...

[lomond]

I actually know the guy so go screw you all...have u not heard of photo journalism, or are u to afraid to go and take pics other than your inbred family members or landscapes? every pic tells a story

A true Aussie. :lol:

[JMAS]

Marcus,
I have no issues regarding the photo itself. I preffer the tighter crop than the 1st pic, though the tighter crop hides the botle making the photo loose some meaning. Good B&W conversion and exposure.


Now that I had my good night sleep I still abide by every word I wrote, though I believe I was polite and did not offend you. I also see you decided to rephrase the initial reply. I believe you took a good decision but maybe not enough.

It is not the photo that was shocking but rather the approach you took when posting, and now also when replying.

[peatoire]

I started reading this thread siding slightly with with marcus although the criticisms are certainly valid but the retort about inbred family members not only wildly missed the point but is shocking behaviour and totally uncalled for, thankfully quite rare on POTN.

[Kevin]

After all the different philosophies have been expressed I have to say I like the composition in both shots. These shots expose the true reality of life. Nice work and thanks for sharing.

[Belmondo]

This is the sort of discussion that always seems to ensue when we get away from the topic of the photo itself. Let's be careful on that.

I love the photo. He's an interesting subject regardless of his circumstances, and the B&W is brilliantly executed. Well done.

[Art Rodriguez]

These two photos, espcially the second, are great. B&W does work well here. Nice captures.

Art

[Sean-Mcr]

I like the shot, but i'm not wearing that the funny part (with a smiley i might add) was funny-unusual. What's unusual about a homeless guy drinking & looking disheveled? Sadly that's not unusual sadly that's all too often the reality

I've shot homeless you can check my space out. So yes i've heard of PJ but i've never heard of such a shot being described in a such a way. There's nothing funny about it either in the haha sense or funny strange sense


He may seem happy everyday, but well people with nice homes and nice jobs seem happy every day. Well that's just surface, and the man in your shot has a drink problem and has no home.

I think i saw the soul of it it's in his eye's you seem to have seen a man who "seems happy"

[condyk]

I think i saw the soul of it it's in his eye's you seem to have seen a man who "seems happy"

Spot on ... and I notice the guy doesn't have a name here in this thread. He is 'happy homeless' and both are empty labels - I suspect for mostl people somewhat incongruous when put together. Doing 'happy' can be as much a coping strategy as 'depression', alcoholism' and 'drug addiction'.

But they are still very good shots.

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

Spot on ... and I notice the guy doesn't have a name here in this thread. He is 'happy homeless' and both are empty labels - I suspect for mostl people somewhat incongruous when put together. Doing 'happy' can be as much a coping strategy as 'depression', alcoholism' and 'drug addiction'.

But they are still very good shots.

there are probably more happy homeless people out there than rich homed people, money cant' buy love, or happiness...

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

Well, we all have one thing in common...we own CANONS!!!!

[Belmondo]

Last chance........

Limit comments to the photos, or this thread will be infected with the Ebola virus, and you will all die.



Or, I might just lock it.

Please. Stop worrying about the thread title.