Comments on: Empathy or Exploitation… http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html Everyday Pictures... Every... Day Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:58:06 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Drew http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html/comment-page-1#comment-29952 Drew Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:43:13 +0000 http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html#comment-29952 Dale, I totally understand the desire not to soapbox. Your point was well... to the point. Thanks very much. Dale,
I totally understand the desire not to soapbox. Your point was well… to the point. Thanks very much.

]]> By: dale http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html/comment-page-1#comment-29932 dale Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:47:55 +0000 http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html#comment-29932 G'Day, I don't want to soapbox this issue however, I think he's making homelessness real. He's showing the humanity of homelessness. I think he should be commended. cheers dale <em>dale's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/littleredplanet/~3/312970603/' rel="nofollow">Rugged Up for a Winter’s Walk</a></em> G’Day,
I don’t want to soapbox this issue however, I think he’s making homelessness real. He’s showing the humanity of homelessness. I think he should be commended.

cheers
dale

dale’s last blog post..Rugged Up for a Winter’s Walk

]]> By: Drew http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html/comment-page-1#comment-29760 Drew Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:29:48 +0000 http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html#comment-29760 Eddie, Heck I don't photograph anyone unless I know them. I am not that adventurous to go out and talk to someone I don't know. The Sans Houses blog is very interesting and looks like it is not without merit. I think that the money isn't really the motivation with Hawk but rather to spend some time with a person and treat them as a human being. And I agree stereotypes are ridiculous. Eddie,
Heck I don’t photograph anyone unless I know them. I am not that adventurous to go out and talk to someone I don’t know. The Sans Houses blog is very interesting and looks like it is not without merit.

I think that the money isn’t really the motivation with Hawk but rather to spend some time with a person and treat them as a human being.

And I agree stereotypes are ridiculous.

]]> By: Eddie Christy http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html/comment-page-1#comment-29658 Eddie Christy Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:48:22 +0000 http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html#comment-29658 Here in downtown Nashville, we have an estimated 1500 homeless within one square mile. I once had a warehouse apartment across from a shelter and it was absolutely amazing to see how many people gathered for breakfast. I've learned a lot of names, faces, and personalities, but I think the thing I've best learned is that every single person has their own story. You never know where they've been or what they've been through. I think, too often, people try to generalize and stereotype those who are homeless, and it's just ridiculous. It's much the same reasoning I don't care to debate politics. People are too quick to generalize "liberal" or "conservative" when in truth there is so much in between. While Hawk's work (or other's) may not be exploitive, there are plenty of individuals being outright exploitive and it really is a fine line. Here in Nashville it's a big no-no but you still see people doing it. An example of one person who did it the right way is <a href="http://sanshouses.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">San Houses</a>. There hasn't been a post in quite some time, but it's beautiful stuff. It's a collection of images and interviews that actually did something positive without any gain for the artist. Imagine that... a selfless act! I never photograph folks who are homeless and don't plan to ever do so. I'm certain there are better ways for me to help than by trading someone $2 to take their picture. <em>Eddie Christy's last blog post..<a href='http://www.eddiechristy.com/eddiechristy/2008/06/weve-come-a-lon.html' rel="nofollow">We've Come A Long Way, Baby - Photo A Day #54</a></em> Here in downtown Nashville, we have an estimated 1500 homeless within one square mile. I once had a warehouse apartment across from a shelter and it was absolutely amazing to see how many people gathered for breakfast. I’ve learned a lot of names, faces, and personalities, but I think the thing I’ve best learned is that every single person has their own story. You never know where they’ve been or what they’ve been through.

I think, too often, people try to generalize and stereotype those who are homeless, and it’s just ridiculous. It’s much the same reasoning I don’t care to debate politics. People are too quick to generalize “liberal” or “conservative” when in truth there is so much in between. While Hawk’s work (or other’s) may not be exploitive, there are plenty of individuals being outright exploitive and it really is a fine line.

Here in Nashville it’s a big no-no but you still see people doing it. An example of one person who did it the right way is San Houses. There hasn’t been a post in quite some time, but it’s beautiful stuff. It’s a collection of images and interviews that actually did something positive without any gain for the artist. Imagine that… a selfless act!

I never photograph folks who are homeless and don’t plan to ever do so. I’m certain there are better ways for me to help than by trading someone $2 to take their picture.

Eddie Christy’s last blog post..We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby – Photo A Day #54

]]> By: Drew http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html/comment-page-1#comment-29489 Drew Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:49:26 +0000 http://www.benspark.com/empathy-or-exploitation.html#comment-29489 Narissa, The thing I have noticed about Thomas is that he doesn't take harassment. He firmly stands up for things. I think that he's a bit braver than I because you really don't know someone's motivations and could be in danger. I think the promotion and announcement is less of self promotion and more of motivation for the people who follow his work closely. Many people who follow his work in photography are taking up this mission too and they are certainly not as popular as him. Narissa,
The thing I have noticed about Thomas is that he doesn’t take harassment. He firmly stands up for things. I think that he’s a bit braver than I because you really don’t know someone’s motivations and could be in danger.

I think the promotion and announcement is less of self promotion and more of motivation for the people who follow his work closely. Many people who follow his work in photography are taking up this mission too and they are certainly not as popular as him.

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