Who is that masked man?

[nelsonfoto]

Not yet noon, July 3rd in Albuquerque, NM, on my way to Camera & Darkroom, I passed this fellow standing in the median, across from the entrance to the university. The sight of him is arresting - what in the hell is this person doing standing in 90+ degrees, in such an outfit?



John's been hawking the special for "years" he says. The pay is peanuts. He's  sweating, but polite - "Most people don't bother to ask if they can photograph me. They just shove cameras at me, not even a 'hello!'."



He asks where I'm from, what I'm doing in ABQ, where I'm headed next. I worry about the guy, wonder how any human could withstand brutal heat and sun inside of that get-up.



"One more.", I say.

"No problem," says John, "but if you could spare a few coins...."

His voice trails as a car passes with horn honking.

I tell him I can do that, head back to my car, drive by him with a fistful of quarters which are dropped into his palm with a simple "Thank you!"

[sandeha]

"There, but for the grace of god, go I."

Glad I ain't in his shoes.

[connealy]

This presentation raises more questions for me than answers.  Perhaps that is your purpose?  
    Is it important to consider all four together, or are you wanting to select one over the others, or do you want them to be ranked by some criteria?  To me it seems they might also be presented in the reverse.  The last picture portrays the man somewhat impersonally as he might be glimpsed by a passing motorist.  Going up from the bottom, the viewer enters into more intimate contact with the subject as would be provided to a pedestrian.
    The second from the top seems the strongest composition to me.  It has a somewhat hazy, low-contrast look that is different from the others.
    I don't think there is enough information in the pictures alone to draw any firm conclusions about the fellow's outlook on life and his position in it.  I recall the pictures from another presentation, and that you indicated you had spoken with him and gained some insights from that.  Sometimes, a presentation of linked images can gain some strength from a sense of ambiguity.  A combination of pictures and words is also legitimate expression in my view.  For these pictures, I think the possibility of multiple interpretations adds some interest; if you should add words, I would think it desirable to do so in a way that supports that multiplicity.

[nelsonfoto]

I've worded and re-arranged. It was intended and hopefully stands as photojournalism...the lack contrast, flare off the J8 on the Kiev 4a. Hood and filter and still flaring - sun too strong.

[sandeha]

All four of them comes across as street portrait to me, and though the degree of close up and background is different in each, his pose, gestures, and garb say pretty much the same thing.  #2 and #4 strike most closely as there is the appearance that he is looking at the lens but either one of them would be enough to tell this part of his story.  Well, I guess that depends on what the story would be, as only #2 gives full info on the ad.  Eitherway, working as a sandwich-board (is that what you call them?) has to be one of the most desperate of occupations ...

My first comment was because I remembered the heat from the previous posting.  Oddly enough (though not so odd really) the other day I took some shots of a Scot-Aussie bagpiper on the street in Swansea.  When I asked if I could take some shots, his reply was just the same, "Yes, of course you can, and thanks for asking.  Most people don't even say hello".

One other point - good footwork, Craig.  I'd been assuming you used a zoom for these.

[Rockford]

Love that last shot.  I have a thing about hands in a photo, and so many of my potentially good shots have not been so good because I have croped them out.  Also, I admire your shooting philosophy.  I seldom shoot anyone I don't talk to first.  I shot a pic of a man in Jamaica selling carvings off his back after offering him a dollar.  He said, "Respect, Mon!" and bumpted nucles with me.  Once, twenty years ago in Nassau, I was at the warf and wanted to give a conk fisherman a dollar for a pic.  He said, "No, but I will let you shoot my picture all you want if you will buy a conk and try it raw."  He assured me that it was good, and ordered me to spend a quarter on lemons and a red pepper.  It was good.  I still have the picture.  Rockford

[Gene M]

Well done CE. Life is tough. You need to wear your sneakers.