Normally I start with the photo. But Stranger No. 46 is difficult, and I wanted to give the background first.
Where I live, the sight of poverty is common. In photography, I think it’s a subject that requires care. I try not to take advantage of human suffering just to “get a good shot” – I’ve seen photographers snap shots of people digging in the trash, or sleeping in filth, or other demeaning situations. There are times this may be appropriate to photograph, but I think it’s pretty rare. Other people may have different views on this.
In the case of this gentleman, I was walking across a bridge where he was begging. However, he was doing so in a way that seemed to maintain his dignity and pride. And everyone who went by stopped and gave him a few coins, which he politely accepted and thanked them for. So I snapped a couple of photos in profile. Then I decided I should go and talk with him, ask if he would let me shoot a more deliberate portrait. He agreed. I thanked him and gave him a decent donation to compensate him for his time. But in the end, the photos I took with his permission somehow weren’t as flattering, and didn’t convey the dignity he expressed – even while begging – before I had asked to photograph him. So I’m posting both – you can decide.
This is Mohamed.
