Street Dignity Photo

Photographer’s Note

This man is selling newspapers on the street in north Berkeley, but not an ordinary publication. He is selling copies of Street Spirit a publication of the American Friends Service Committee.

Street Spirit has been dedicated to empowering poor and homeless people and giving a voice to the voiceless, at a time when the voices of the poor are virtually locked out of the mainstream media.

Selling copies of Street Spirit is intended to bring dignity to folks who might otherwise be forced to panhandle. Despite the fact we are among the richest countries in the world, we find ourselves increasingly confronted by folks with cardboard signs asking for money. Here is a man with a folding chair, astutely positioned next to a busy coffee shop on a busy commercial street offering a newspaper for sale. (Check out the workshop and note the portable chair on which he sits.)

I'll be posting a number of photos taken on the streets of Berkeley, a city often referred to as Bezerkly for the radical and occasionally bizarre behavior of its residents. Hope you enjoy the view!

kaud, AmiBe, Isabelle, pamastro, lestans has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

geist_21 (652) 2005-06-29 2:45

Nice composition, where the subject is put aside to let us have a view over the background. Also the natural expression where the man doesn't show any interest on your camera is also good. Good choice for B&W

kaud (1838) 2005-06-29 2:58

(+)
Composition
DOF
Unattended expression
Sepia tone
No Vertical loss
Title

Furachan (0) 2005-06-29 3:38

Nice POV, beautiful B/W tones and excellent composition with the blurred figure coming down.
I like the notes to that really ut eveything into context. good work! Francis

AmiBe (6042) 2005-06-29 5:20

Hi Curtis,
very good portrait, excellent POV and DOF.
I like to see the man in the background.
The b&w works well hee.

hamster (1045) 2005-06-29 5:22

Very good photo showing the real life. The key to success is the composition of your picture. I like the blurred background which could symbolize the rest of the world.

Regards,
Grzegorz

naxius (16679) 2005-06-29 5:32

Hello Curtis,
I like the compo, excellent DOC zith that men been well focused.
Alex

zig (2450) 2005-06-29 9:46

Your photo also giving a voice to voiceless, by showing this fact to the world. I really love this shot. More than a composition and colours and technics, I am amazed with these facts For both the journalistic messege this shot has and how he smiles and watches straight up.

pamastro (7213) 2005-06-29 23:54

This is another good person shot Curtis. And as in the musician you've captured a dignified expression here, also. Again the profile view really helps with adding to the old image of a bust or a bust on a coin. And again crisp and sharp. the dof certainly offers the background and lets us have an idea of it but keeps us on the subject. I look forward to seeing "Beserkly".

cobraphil8 (11652) 2005-07-13 4:34

Pretty title for a beautiful portrait of the street... The composition is very good with this sitted man and the other behind plane which descends the street. Well done

Joli titre pour un beau portrait de la rue... La composition est très bonne avec cet homme assis et l'autre en arrière plan qui dévale la rue. Bien vu

Philippe