Streetlife of Naples at night.

[bikerider]

I took a number of shots of this guy who was pretty clearly experiencing some mental health issues, he was basically ignored. I hope people are not offended by these as they are not intended to exploit his plight, but to show a few moments in his life. I have a background of working in MH and so have first hand experience of sufferers.
1 he had just gotten a free cup of water from the local gelato bar
http://mrlowlight.smugmug.com/photos/211981614-XL.jpg
2 he dropped the cup whilst fumbling with his papers...
http://mrlowlight.smugmug.com/photos/211981655-XL.jpg
3 what is he appealing for....an explanation perhaps.
http://mrlowlight.smugmug.com/photos/211981697-XL.jpg
I looked away for a moment and he had disappeared?

[Twin-X]

Health issues? He looks drunk to me.

I like the pictures because it has a story in it. Thx for these.

[digidiva]

Health issues? He looks drunk to me.

I like the pictures because it has a story in it. Thx for these.

OK, how does he ''look drunk'' to you? please explain.

[BottomBracket]

Interesting series, Roger. Poor soul, I wonder what his story is.

[vmarcus]

# 2 looks like the guy is throwing up.. nice photos!

[bikerider]

Twin-x apart from the fact of my experience in this area, I saw the guy later in the street and he was definitely unwell. During my days in Naples I saw a number of mentally ill people on the street...not that it's a bad thing, just an observation. Digidiva did you like the pics? Pio thanks, it seems pretty likely from his behaviour that he has schizophrenia....vmarcus thanks for looking, I guess it could look like that.

[Bootsie]

These pictures touch my heart, thank you. It is very difficult to see people suffer when they have no control over it. You just know that water was very important to him. They brought a tear to my eye.

[ElleKelley]

It really makes no difference if he is drunk or he does have MH issues...clearly he is alone and ignored and quite possible unloved.these are touching to me. Thanks for the story.

[modemanual]

I always feel a kind of remorse when I see a mentally handicapped person I do nothing to help whatever their time here a little better, whether its a greeting or something more.

Great photos, very touching.

[AlphaChicken]

It really makes no difference if he is drunk or he does have MH issues...clearly he is alone and ignored and quite possible unloved.these are touching to me. Thanks for the story.

Exactly. We have to remember that even crazy insane unstable people have a reason for being that way, and most likely didnt choose to be like that. I try to take care into consideration from the very start of encountering someone new to me. Its very easy to start out as a caring person and change if you get a bad impression. It also makes you feel alot better later on knowing you gave someone a chance in your own mind and helped them out.

[danisan]

Naples is a really interesting place... lots of contrasting aspects of society all in one smallish place....... and one or two passionate people thrown in as well

[bikerider]

Bootsie thanks for your comment, it is hard to watch the unfortunate suffer....ElleKelly thanks glad you see the story....modemanual thanks too... AlphaChicken that's so true, a lot of life is about our thoughts and intentions...danisan Naples is an interesting place, full of life and energy.

[pakomo]

During my days in Naples I saw a number of mentally ill people on the street...not that it's a bad thing, just an observation.
Okay, I let my curiosity come to your advantage, let's assume it's not a bad thing. How is it a good thing? Or perhaps it just is?

[emma rose]

very nice series

[bikerider]

Okay, I let my curiosity come to your advantage, let's assume it's not a bad thing. How is it a good thing? Or perhaps it just is?

yes what I really mean is, it's better than the days when people just got put in institutions....thanks emma rose glad you like them.

[Village_Idiot]

Technical: Ack! Halos! Looks like a side effect of the PP. Maybe either burn/dodge (I forget which one is darker and which one is lighter) them away or throw a layer on that's dark all the way across and use some masking...that's if they bother you at all.

Non Technical: I like them and the feeling they convey. It's like life as normal. People carry on ignoring those that need help, absorbed in their own worlds and content with the fact that they don't want to change the situation outside of their own.

[marie]

very nice pictures Bikerider

I feel like I'm watching a play in a theatre
am setting all emotion aside as we don't know anything about anything of what we see but just to enjoy the shots. love the colour and the atmosphere in them ...regards lighting effects all over. great threatre presence about


People carry on ignoring those that need help, absorbed in their own worlds and content with the fact that they don't want to change the situation outside of their own.
this is said over and over again when pictures with contents like it come up

nowadays its been mentioned that its best not to be too helpful to some who look desperate as it only encourages begging on the street.
how can everyone rush to help everyone all the time
some who are begging on the streets will never help themselves........ to better their lives , just take handouts and hang around forever doing nothing about anything. while others spend their lives trying to better things by giving up many of their own comforts to those who either need it badly or want to waste theirs (and others) lives
there are many people helping people who seem to have nothing.
some who get help drink their way with any money they get
some gamble. some take drugs.
it does not help to judge people who are passing
it does not mean they do not care, else everyone who wants easy handouts will be on the streets
special help is out there for those who really need it.
thats for sure
many just don't want decent help and as mentioned.... some out there may be ill and need hospital care , not to encourage their life on the streets where they are a danger to both themselves and people trying to live out lives without being a burden.
the attitude of 'the people passing by ' as being the 'wrong ones' is pathetic. no need to put that on them..... feeling they are the guilty party

who knows who is helping who behind the scenes ? good people may be passing by, they who are working hard to help their families and maybe neighbours
not everything is up front and included in a scene we see .
we know nothing

[pakomo]

yes what I really mean is, it's better than the days when people just got put in institutions....thanks emma rose glad you like them.
Oh, then I misunderstood you! I'm sorry. I thought you meant it was a good thing they were mentally ill, again, sorry for the misunderstanding :)

[Village_Idiot]

very nice pictures Bikerider

I feel like I'm watching a play in a theatre
am setting all emotion aside as we don't know anything about anything of what we see but just to enjoy the shots. love the colour and the atmosphere in them ...regards lighting effects all over. great threatre presence about


this is said over and over again when pictures with contents like it come up

nowadays its been mentioned that its best not to be too helpful to some who look desperate as it only encourages begging on the street.
how can everyone rush to help everyone all the time
some who are begging on the streets will never help themselves........ to better their lives , just take handouts and hang around forever doing nothing about anything. while others spend their lives trying to better things by giving up many of their own comforts to those who either need it badly or want to waste theirs (and others) lives
there are many people helping people who seem to have nothing.
some who get help drink their way with any money they get
some gamble. some take drugs.
it does not help to judge people who are passing
it does not mean they do not care, else everyone who wants easy handouts will be on the streets
special help is out there for those who really need it.
thats for sure
many just don't want decent help and as mentioned.... some out there may be ill and need hospital care , not to encourage their life on the streets where they are a danger to both themselves and people trying to live out lives without being a burden.
the attitude of 'the people passing by ' as being the 'wrong ones' is pathetic. no need to put that on them..... feeling they are the guilty party

who knows who is helping who behind the scenes ? good people may be passing by, they who are working hard to help their families and maybe neighbours
not everything is up front and included in a scene we see .
we know nothing

But the guy could also be some one's grandfather, suffering from alzheimer's, lost on the street with no knowledge of who he really is. I know that happened to my grandfather on more than one occasion when he was alive.

[mike ca]

Nice capture! great colors

[bikerider]

Village the halos are intentional, Marie got my intent to present these images as a stage play or theatre (thanks Marie...also for the wise words too), glad you like them anyway. Marie I find most people are not able to observe life, it is by observing that we can decide the right time to act....pakomo no problem at all :)....mike ca thanks very much.

[marie]

But the guy could also be some one's grandfather, suffering from alzheimer's, lost on the street with no knowledge of who he really is. I know that happened to my grandfather on more than one occasion when he was alive.
I understand. sorry to hear about your grandad
even in special care/homes for people suffering from alzheimer's disease, some have 'escaped' and wander off. it happens alot.
other people passing by on the street may not be fully aware that a person they see acting strange has this illness .
some may have reported the person as having been seen and needed help..... but still may not be aware the person has that serious illness...just from what they witnessed
but all that can be a minor thing to those dealing with serious crime issues and it could be left on a list for a while longer then the family of the person wanted.
there are so many odd mannerisms around today in the streets ...of every shape and size its hard to know who needs help and who will be insulted or who will just attack if approached
even 'normal' people can have their angry moments (like forever) if they have had a bad day . why many are left to themselves

hopefully there is caring family around to keep a look out for relatives and report anything astray for those who cannot be watched all the time and whose actions are so unpredictable 24/7.
Alzheimers is a nightmare disease for all concerned

[TTGator]

Does tell a story... pretty neat

[AlphaChicken]

If the general attitude is that we shouldnt waste our time helping someone because it would be such an involving process that it would ruin ourselves then its obvious: How will there ever be a difference made if we all turn our backs. I hope that I PERSONALLY can devote at least something to those in need and make an impression that will drive others to do the same. I just simply dont think its right to turn our backs because we think no one else is out there doing the thing that is right that we just turned our backs on. If we all think that way the situation will DEFINITELY not get better. It only takes one to make a difference and history speaks for that.

[marie]

If the general attitude is that we shouldnt waste our time helping someone because it would be such an involving process that it would ruin ourselves then its obvious: How will there ever be a difference made if we all turn our backs. I hope that I PERSONALLY can devote at least something to those in need and make an impression that will drive others to do the same. I just simply dont think its right to turn our backs because we think no one else is out there doing the thing that is right that we just turned our backs on. If we all think that way the situation will DEFINITELY not get better. It only takes one to make a difference and history speaks for that.
I don't think its the general attitude at all Alpha. nor mine. its just explaining the reality of the situation
some who are on the streets don't want to be approached or helped in a way where they will have to take on some responsibility for themselves

a few times when I was over in London I would bump into a fellow with a dog who was always sitting on the street in the centre of the city (on the footpath) I used chat to him about things
on a later visit I saw him again and he told me he was getting an apartment from 'those who were keeping an eye out' for him and others like him
he seemed to be looking forward to getting housed very much
but months later when I met him again and asked how it went and was he enjoying his new abode (and wondering why he was still out on the streets) he said he left the place and didn't want or couldn't handle it.
maybe he was asked to take a job and help pay something towards the cost. or keep his new place clean
whatever , he let it go, after all the trouble the 'helpers' had gone to.
its never a simple solution in each case

and others who need medical aid need the proper people helping them to have ongoing care in the long term.

in the city here some people have been butted in the head by strangers on the street , for no reason whatsoever. drugs seem to be affecting many these days and no one can account for their unpredictable actions, not even them... when they are zonked out of their minds
the people who are dealing and wheeling in drugs have so much to answer for , especially destroying young lives

:confused:
sorry Bikerider for all this on the post

[bikerider]

no problem at all Marie, don't mind at all I'm happy that my images stimulated such interest and that is a good aim in photography. As an aside, random and planned acts of violence are on the increase worldwide and the homeless and vulnerable are the targets. Feelings of powerlessness take many forms.

[AlphaChicken]

What a sad world.... So much wrong. No obvious solution. But its my opinion that one should try to be found. Because there has to be one.