Saturday, October 29, 2011

Alone in the city


I'm always embarrassed when I take such photos, because even though they have that kind of dramatic atmosphere that helps making good photos, they also contain a lot of suffering. There is not much to add, I'm afraid.

13 comments:

  1. It would be embarrassing to pretend such suffering does not exist. The fact that it does exist is more than embarrassing.

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  2. So sad. You're always good at making photos, Eric. You can turn anything into beauty or humanity. This one struck me because I was expecting something happier. This loneliness has also touched me, of course. I'm not a very connected person but I know how sad it feels when I miss loved ones or even just one person. One does not pretend it does not exist, that's very true. It is easier to hide the truth. Easier I'm not sure but 'doable'.

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  3. I agree with you. Although these situations provide great pictures, the situation itself is very sad.

    A great shot.

    Greetings from Roberto, Brazil

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  4. Every city has these people now. I wonder if they were more rare when I was a kid or if I just didn't see them?

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  5. Hi, Im just back from Paris and wanted to say a big thank you to you for "educating" me before I went. I was able to give a pretty good explanation to most things I saw because of your blog. I think we saw more people begging this time than we did 2 years ago - I don't like the way our world is turning. xxxx

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  6. Read again Les Miserables from Victor Hugo and you'll see, there has always been terrible misery in our world, though beside valuable guys. Great book too.

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  7. Someone criticised my taking of this photo, or maybe these, I can't remember, for profiting from others' misery and being callous and cynical.

    Although everyone is entitled to their own opinion I was annoyed, more than hurt, because I was, I felt, sensitively recording 'my' city, the place and the people I live amongst every day, and I didn't feel some stranger had the right to tell me how I felt and how I was appreciating the situation.

    Far from 'exploiting' these people, my aim was to raise awareness, perhaps, but I claim no worthy mission, create some form of meaning out of sadness, and just do my thing. It's a delicate issue in any case, that's for sure.

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  8. Living in a small community so far north, we don't see this very often because the weather makes it impossible. However, it is a part of life and though we wish it wasn't, there are those who love and help others in this situation, and that is quite wonderful.

    I always wonder if the person chose this life (which I've heard some do) or was it thrust upon him? Backstories are so interesting.

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  9. I understand your feeling, Eric—but I appreciate that you share all aspects of the city with us.

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  10. @Petrea Funny, I was thinking the exact same thing. I never noticed that many homeless people before the mid to late 80's. There were a few scattered hobos, and some gypsies, but not what you see nowadays.

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  11. Exactly, Alexa. The 80's. I even remember where I was and what I was seeing when the realization hit me that it was different than it had been before.

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  12. Eric, I was out of town over the weekend and have been meaning to come back to this photo to comment. It has been 10 years since I visited France. I simply have not had the funds, starting a new life, trying to build up a business. My passport expires in 2013 and I told my husband, that's it, that's the deadline. We HAVE to go back by then. Now, we sadly joke that by the time we get to Europe, it may indeed be affordable with everyone in breadlines.....Keep taking photos like this. The world needs to know and see the real pictures of what's happening to the average person.

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  13. Nice post.Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! I've been looking for books ** this nature for * way too long. I'm just glad that I found yours. Looking forward for your next post. Thanks :)

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