Street Girl!

[ricohcam01]

Well walking on Barrington Street in Halifax this girl asked me for some change so I asked if I could take her picture. Tell we what you think.

[ricohcam01]

This one is out a bit but I still like it. Has a street feel.

[almo]

Nice shots. I like the first one best, but the third does have that gritty street vibe to it.

I'd give her some change...http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/almoagain/Misc/sexywink.gif

[ricohcam01]

Oh yes I gave her tree loons for her trouble.
I had no problem with that.

[almo]

I think I'da given her a ride to the 24 hour love chaple too...What a cutie...http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/almoagain/Misc/sexywink.gif

[garbidz]

she is still defensive...the second time around you'd probably get her more relaxed, more out of her than jus " a street girl" ...most of them have a name...

[mrclark321]

These are nice shots but whats her story? Nobody should be on the street! Just remember as in another touching post " She's somebodys daughter "

Dan

[ricohcam01]

Ok, Sounds like it should have been better if I just took her picture without her knowing it. I could have taken the pictures with my 75mm-300mm and she would have not known. Not to mention the $3.00 I gave when most people just walk by her. WOW, I think I hit a nerve here.

[garbidz]

you did the right thing and you can make it better...

[BottomBracket]

Nice shots, I like the way you processed the pics. I wonder what her story is, she doesn't have that downtrodden look that streetpeople in NYC have.

[Dubsta]

Dude, I'm from Sydney...

Is that the same girl that they gave her a job..and she quit to go back bumming...check this out...

"In regard to D.F. Ouellette's Aug. 27 letter "Professional beggar," I heartily concur.
I began giving this girl money in February 2004. In April 2004, Peter Duffy did a column on her and I thought I could help, so my son gave her a job at a very busy waterfront restaurant. Within two weeks, she asked to change her shift to evenings. No problem, right? The next morning, there she was begging again!
I was furious, to say the least. When she was asked about it, without any hesitation, she said she can make $50 or $60 a day without having to pay taxes on it.
At the restaurant, she was making over $7 an hour and getting the maximum hours allowed before overtime.
It was only three or four weeks later that she began being late for her evening shift, blaming late buses. After a few days of this, one of the managers decided to check out her corner and, lo and behold, there she is! She quit after that and has been out there ever since.
This really was a kick in the teeth for me. I felt I had helped someone in need, only to have it thrown back in my face. Give this girl a one-way ticket back to Ottawa. Unfortunately, this experience will forever taint my willingness to give my hard-earned money to anyone with a hand out."

[garbidz]

whoo-a
getting to know who you are shooting is the ABC

[ricohcam01]

Thank you for your comments. I think the sepia adds to the images. I love to shoot people even if it portrays the harder parts of life.

Regards,

[DocFrankenstein]

Working at minimum wage to cover rent and food may be no better than bumming.

[Ballen Photo]

You've captured a nice series of Her. Thanks for sharing. :D
-Bruce

[drisley]

Great pictures.

Working at minimum wage to cover rent and food may be no better than bumming.
There is a weekly TV show called "30 Days" produced by the guy who made the movie "SuperSize Me" (Morgan Spurlock).
In the first episode, Morgan and his girlfriend both started minimum wage jobs and got a new apartment trying to see what it was like for 30 days.
Even though they both worked multiple full-time jobs, and scrimped and tried to save, they had no money saved at the end of the 30 days. Great show.

[CRE@TE]

Looks too clean to be a street kid.

[charlesu]

Dude, I'm from Sydney...

Is that the same girl that they gave her a job..and she quit to go back bumming...check this out...

"In regard to D.F. Ouellette's Aug. 27 letter "Professional beggar," I heartily concur.
I began giving this girl money in February 2004. In April 2004, Peter Duffy did a column on her and I thought I could help, so my son gave her a job at a very busy waterfront restaurant. Within two weeks, she asked to change her shift to evenings. No problem, right? The next morning, there she was begging again!
I was furious, to say the least. When she was asked about it, without any hesitation, she said she can make $50 or $60 a day without having to pay taxes on it.
At the restaurant, she was making over $7 an hour and getting the maximum hours allowed before overtime.
It was only three or four weeks later that she began being late for her evening shift, blaming late buses. After a few days of this, one of the managers decided to check out her corner and, lo and behold, there she is! She quit after that and has been out there ever since.
This really was a kick in the teeth for me. I felt I had helped someone in need, only to have it thrown back in my face. Give this girl a one-way ticket back to Ottawa. Unfortunately, this experience will forever taint my willingness to give my hard-earned money to anyone with a hand out."

Thirty some years ago my stepfather organized the downtown churches in his city to form a sort of urban ministry and provide shelter in the winter for the homeless. Most of the people involved had pretty horrible stories with drug and alcohol addiction, crime, mental illness, etc. in their backgrounds. Most really were incapable of taking care of themselves and lived very marginal lives. Many of them got disability payments from the SSA but also took an odd job here or there or accepted handouts.

Today we have professional beggars all around us. They stand or sit at highway exits and street corners with signs meant to tear at our heartstrings. "Will work for food" "Homeless, need help" "Disabled veteran, God bless" and the like. However, if you stop and engage them about REAL help (shelter, food, employment, etc.) they don't want it. They just want a fast handout. The local news followed a few of these folks as a story. I remember specfically one guy they followed packed up at the end of his workday, walked two blocks to his car and then drove to his apartment. Oddly, while he took money from them on the corner, he refused to invite them in or even talk to them from his apartment. (I don't think he was at the same spot the next day).

The sad thing is, these folks aren't just hustling us, they are distracting from those who really need help. They are taking money, time and sympathy from those who really do live at the margin of life.

[Ballen Photo]

The sad thing is, these folks aren't just hustling us, they are distracting from those who really need help. They are taking money, time and sympathy from those who really do live at the margin of life.I couldn't agree more. A few years back around December I think, I was pulling off the freeway when I spotted a guy with a dog that was holding up a sign saying "Please help me feed my dog". My conscience hit pretty hard when I saw this, so I went to the market and bought a small bag of dog food, The good stuff, not dry. I next pulled through a drive through picking up a hamburger, fries, & a cup of coffee. I then doubled back to make my delivery, and when I presented the food, he looked at me like I was crazy and saying He only wanted money. Not even a thank you. I was so miffed that I never even thought about doing that again.
Now, If you really want to find people living a marginal life, that probably need help, look along side the freeway, and down the embankment. I took a hike through an area like that one day with a friend, and was amazed to find people living in small tents, inside an old camper shell that had apparently blown off a truck, etc. I wish I had a camera with me to document this, but I dont think I'd want to go through there alone with one. :shock:
-Bruce

[Salleke]

Love the pictures and the lady has a nice pose and is enyojing herself.

[tupe]

Nice shots of someone who's very likely not homeless. I'm sure she has more spending money than I do.

[daclozer]

Reminds me of last year when I was in Key West. There were 2 teenage boys, both very clean looking, wearing Tommy jeans, Tommy Shirts, Nike Air Jordan shoes, Nike caps and each had a pair of Oakley titanium sunglasses(about $200). They were sitting there with all these expensive clothes and begging for money. When I walked by they asked me for some money, when I politely declined they started insulting me and saying things like"Oooh mr rich guy with his $1000 camera can't spare some money so we can eat".. They were little jerks and obviously just trying to take advantage of peoples generositiy. So I offered to buy a pair of their $200 plus sunglasses for $25, plenty enough for a good meal or two and they started cussing me out...

[PEACHMAN]

Working at minimum wage to cover rent and food may be no better than bumming.


Hmmmm..Do the words "self esteem" ring a bell?

[charlesu]

Hmmmm..Do the words "self esteem" ring a bell?

To say nothing of integrity. How about compassion for the folks who really need help and from whom she is effectively stealing.

[PEACHMAN]

so as not to detract from the merits of this photo I have started a new post" street girl in india" where all venting regarding beggers is welcome" (sorry for the intrusion to this topic)

[DocFrankenstein]

Political topic?

I'd love to talk about good and evil over a beer (proverbial or literal)... but not on the forum. Its' too much typing and OT for the thread.

[charlesu]

Sorry, you guys are right. As for the environmental portraits, they are very good. I'd almost rather see her in color as I think she's fairly attractive and would probably not look as much a street person as she does (though not even that much) in mono.

[ricohcam01]

Hey Gang:

If I may.

I would like to add just one more item to this thread.

If anyone ever tells me that photography is not powerful, I will have to say you have not seen it yet.

If I have learned anything from this forum it is truely that.

I for one am glad that photography is powerful.

[daclozer]

I agree totally...

[DSMITH131]

Love the pictures and the lady has a nice pose and is enyojing herself.
yea what he said and for her to be a street lady she sho is cute