20: Street Photography -- The Less Fortunate

Back on Image 3 I introduced one of my pet peeves about modern so call street photography, today I hit the other, the less fortunate. Most people who shoot street have images of the homeless, shown in some less than desirable situation. These types of photographs have become some of the most recognizable images from true street photography, such as Dorothea Lange’s
Migrant Mother. The difference is Ms Lange took the time to learn about the subject and the surroundings. Most modern photographers snap off an exposure and think how lucky I am and how unlucky the subject is, and go on. If we take the picture we need to know the story. And the desired results from the image.



Meet Buggy. I met Buggy several months ago as I was making inroads into the homeless community, as was my Christian duty. It would be unfair of me to diagnose any issues concerning Buggy, but in my opinion it would be impossible for him to hold a job, yet his personality precludes him being institutionalized. Buggy is one of many unfortunate individuals who have fallen through the cracks in our system.

The middle of May he was picked on an FTA (Failure to Appear) warrant, the original charge was an “open container”. He stayed in jail over thirty days awaiting trial. At the trial he was given 15 days as a sentence. He then served another 15 days, no credit for time served, and got out yesterday. Also yesterday Maggie another member of the homeless community had been missing several days, returned to the camp. It was time for celebration and Buggy celebrated a little too much. The image above is Buggy early this morning. I checked late this afternoon and with a little of the hair of the dog that bit him, he is feeling much better.