[AGL] a homeless man does not a street photograph make

[Donna Bobb]

Oh, I'm no expert but I love old photos.
Well, I was born in Blythe California in the
1960. We moved all over.  First time I was aware of homeless was age 4 when
I came upon a dead alcoholic behind a grocery store in Blythe.
Father was an alcoholic so my mother always worked. Our time  in Vegas in
the early 60's I had the privilege of sitting in he cafe where my mother
worked and served John Wayne and Clark Gable breakfast every morning. I was
also priveleged to see the inside of a biker bar where my father spent most
of his time and decisively placed me on the back of a motor cycle and sat
me next to female patrons while he played shuffle board! That's until my
mother found out. They worked the Highview Hereford Ranch in Texas,  and Hi
Neighbor Ranch in Colorado. The most memorable time was in Arizona. We
lived in a Sicilian neighborhood and I sold fruit to Joe Bonannos who lived
two house down. My father worked for a company of his. Seen a lot of 'war'
with the old mafia Don's at that time. One witness had his yard blown up
down the street and he never did testify on a federal case . He left the
state! Lol.
I'm was in Los Angeles during the Watts riots in 1965. Bloody wars! We
rushed an eight year old boy to the hospital because they had cut off his
ear.
America has certainly been through the peeks and troughs of feast or famine
and it's been my experience that whenever we move into a new era and change
comes about, people will be displaced, like your photos, having been there
myself a couple of times!
I was thrown out at 15.
I have seen it.  You spoke about homelessness.  What's their story?
With Dorothea, posed or not, it's the expressions that tell me that they
are there and aware you are there but they could care less about any of it.
For me, the facial expression and vacant stares speaks .  Dirty clothes, no
running water due to travel, etc. I think I am explaining it right.
I did see the irony in these photos but I would like to see the stories
they have to tell in today's time. What happened ....Because I care about
those who are being kicked to the curb like these that are so young!
Write the story! That's what I am really saying when I say heart and soul.
Forget about what's sitting behind them or the juxtaposition of something,
I want to know their stories.
With all the fake political news cornering the market I would like to see
the old school journalists out there doing the real work.
And if you go down the street where the Sheriton Gunter Hotel resides in
San Antonio at night and look in the brreezways of the shops as you make
your way to the River walk you all find old men asleep there at night to
get out of the cold.  Some passed out.  Street photography like some of
these people you mention.  Homelessness in it's purest form.
On Apr 22, 2017 12:11 AM, "telebob" <telebob at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Donnabob-
>
> Dorothea Lange was in no way a ‘street photographer’.  She was a
> journalist with a job to do.  Much of her work, just as with many of the
> FSA photographers was posed or at least cajoled out of the subjects.
> “Working” with her subject in no way diminishes from the power of the
> images.  Studying the contact sheets of the photographer will tell you a
> ton about how the shots are or were obtained.  There are thousands of ways
> of approaching the ‘shot.'
>
> Her work and any comparison to ‘street photography’ is only similar in
> that they are both done with cameras.
>
> The homeless guy with the sign saying “Single” is supposed to be ironic.
> Sorry if you don’t see the sad humor of it.  You ‘see’ it.  You shoot it.
> That’s it.  Move on.  Cartier-Bresson ‘stalked’ his shots sometimes for
> hours to get what he termed ‘the decisive moment.’  (A lot of pretentious
> horseshit as far as I can see. Though I do admire the “Behind the Gare St.
> Lazare” photo, one of many that made him famous.)
>
> And ‘no heart’ in the bus station photo of the sleeping guy with the old
> “Puts more fun in the going?”…. well….  not sure how much you ever had to
> travel by bus in the old days. I used to ride the dog or Trailways now and
> then, and my heart went out to the guy.
>
> I sympathize with your chemo issues.  I went through my cycle of that
> stuff a couple of months ago.  They grabbed a kidney out of me too.  My
> taste buds are starting to come back and the tinnitus caused by the chemo
> has subsided.  Nasty stuff, platinum based. Ooog.  Now we’re all better.  I
> hope so for you too.
>
> telebob
>
>
>
> On Apr 21, 2017, at 9:27 PM, Donna Bobb <dianenwade at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> If I may interject, lol, you are all wrong. Dorothea Lange captured the
> very essence ; heart and soul of hardship during the great depression.
> You know, I can see where Vera obtained her larger than Life stubbornness
> and why she spoke so often of you guys. I use to think it was the Italian
> blood but I can see it's definitely a Texas thing! Lolol.
>
> And as a casual observer, the deaf guy photo looks like an advertisement
> for a date and the two photos you displayed looked like a bus stop except
> the litter that accumulated in the area. And what's up with the cell phones
> with two subjects who are homeless? No offense intended. Just no heart in
> these photos you guys have been bantering over.
> And I would have gotten back to you sooner on reading you paper but my
> chemo is finally done so I can concentrate.  Jawbone.
> On Apr 21, 2017 9:02 AM, "Michael Eisenstadt" <eisenstadt0 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> look at the pic again. look at the deaf-mute's face, he is
>> situationally aware that he is being photographed. which
>> makes the pic NOT street photography.
>>
>> calling the viewers attention to the wit of the photographer
>> by juxtaposing otherwise unrelated things may delight
>> some, while turning off others.
>>
>>
>> <f430618162ce9b9e406086e4aa786d42.jpg><1023-great-depression-
> lange-migrant-mother-collage.jpg><07ff7d3a3f83ca8ddeedf86ad52095f1.jpg>
> <Mezzanine_258.jpg>
>
>
>
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