"Quietly now, don't disturb them
there are people who live like that
the artists of tomorrow
in pleasant despair..."
Japan || Despair
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People often feel loneliness in the city. There are lots of people around there, but nobody exists...
6 Feb 2011 7:03am
A poignant image...there he is clutching tightly to himself his despair. And in the background is all the light, activity and people without which or of which he despairs.
6 Feb 2011 7:14am
@DULCIE: Thanks so much Dulcie...appreciated.
A hope for tomorrow in the words, as I understand it. But your picture really tells us despair by its composition and your fantastic work with the light and the BW.
6 Feb 2011 7:42am
How cruel we can be. I, myself, meet some of them in Paris... and I must confess that sometimes I do not look at them. How difficult it is to cross their eyes, and I know that compassion or mercy cannot relieve them at all. There is a guy at the metro station I daily take to go work, I often give him money, that's the minimum I can do, talk to him as well, inviting him for a coffee. But I cannot do that for all, they are so many, living around us, in a total indifference. But believe me, I am in anger against a society that mistreats its citizens that way.
6 Feb 2011 9:15am
@Florence: Thank you Florence for your comment. Actually, in this case this man was very well dressed, he had a carry case beside him and he was just sitting here. I watched him for a few moments before I took a couple of shots. I'm not sure was was going on in his world, but set against the lights of the street, I liked the shape of his silhouette, bent over as he was.
You have created a wonderful and powerful message with this shot Sharon! His pain and despair are palpable yet noone has reached out with a helping hand. The bright lights and pedestirans are near but unreachable to this wraith! Well done! ;-)
6 Feb 2011 1:52pm
a sad scene we often see in our modern cities life !
6 Feb 2011 4:52pm
@Anna.C: True. In this case, this was not a homeless person -- but instead he just sad on the bench bent over. I generally don't take photos of homeless people, unless a portrait study, in which case I would give them money :)
Someone said poignant and that is the perfect word. But I would also like to priase the composition and the tonal range.
6 Feb 2011 5:40pm
Oh I've though he was probably homeless but from here, difficult to see the difference with such a tense and suffenrance. All his body talks for him.
6 Feb 2011 5:49pm
@Florence: Yes, I figured that was the case, which is why I wanted to clarify :) It was the sadness (despair) I wanted to capture as his body language was so strong against the light. Thanks Florence!
A scene that shrinks the soul. Whenever I feel a great sadness to find similar scenes in my city. I hope everything is going to solve for many others. Best regards, Adela
6 Feb 2011 6:16pm
it almost hurt the heart just look at it.
great shot, very effective
6 Feb 2011 6:40pm
I guessed he was just a sad guy which had problems, not inevitably a homeless, loneliness is a great problem in modern societies ! I'm just like you, I don't photograph homeless ( without they see me ) except if I can speak with them, give some money, a smile, a warm moment to share !
6 Feb 2011 7:01pm
@Anna.C: :) Thank you Anna, I'm happy you were able to tell.
He certainly seems out of touch with the life around him that we can see. Nice tones in this beautiful image.
We had a Future Shop here years ago but, I believe the chain went out of business in this country.
6 Feb 2011 8:21pm
What a great caputre.
This is a scene that is becoming increasingly common in nowadays.
6 Feb 2011 8:24pm
A strong picture, as strong than the dark light.
Kind regards
Jean
6 Feb 2011 8:41pm
Despair or just tired? Maybe your title is a little bit directive....
Anyway, the shot is great.
6 Feb 2011 9:16pm
@Gérard Beullac: I'm guessing probably just tired, or perhaps sad. Of course my title is directive...it's part of what I like to do, tell stories from what I shoot :) Thank you Gérard!
sure is a strong image you have here now.. that guy looks pretty sad.. great catch.. :)
6 Feb 2011 11:43pm
A great shot, well photographed and processed. I like the relation between the quote in your comment and the "Future Shop" sign.
7 Feb 2011 1:55am
great street scene, I really like the powerful emotion in this shot
7 Feb 2011 5:56am
i think this a sad situation, but photo is simply awesome, compliments
7 Feb 2011 6:17am
There is 2 seats left at his side, hope someone will stop & sit & maybe ask Are you okay, Mister ? But at the same time i guess he needed to pause & recollect his own thoughts or feelings to be in such a posture, as if craddling himself. Very moving, and very human, it touches me because he dares doing what he does feel, even in the middle of the street, i guess it's stronger than him, he needed to let the despair express itself, hopefully he was able to stand up in a better (a little relieved) mood.
7 Feb 2011 9:08am
@k@: I was tempted to ask him if he was okay, but his body language was so "closed" that I didn't want to disturb him. I agree, sitting there in that position for such a long time, was really a good indication to leave him with his thoughts.
Una mala noche la tiene cualquiera, pero que duro parece con esa apoteósica explosión de B&W.
Muy buena.
Cordiales saludos
7 Feb 2011 9:28am
Une image très forte qui parle d'elle même !!
Je pense que tout a été dit !!
Très belle photo !!
7 Feb 2011 7:45pm
The darkness of night, in spite of the street lights, contributes to the gloominess of the pic... great shot!
7 Feb 2011 9:44pm
What a powerful and poignant image, 5 stars.
8 Feb 2011 2:56am
Yes, despair. It's all too obvious. Sad shot, but good that you show it.
8 Feb 2011 3:58am
Emotional capture, I am feeling his pain as well... When a person's body shrivel up like, it's never a good sight. I hope the person is alright...
8 Feb 2011 9:04am
I can almost feel that clenching in his stomach. Sad photo but well done.
8 Feb 2011 9:25am
Sharon, sometimes we all have this feeling to be lost in your own pain!
Anyway, strong image!
I found all your images in the gallery!
Amazing processing of black and white!
My compliments!
Best regards from Romania!
You have my vote!
8 Feb 2011 3:22pm
Absolutely awesome black and white image ... !
8 Feb 2011 3:31pm
Even before reading your caption, despair came to mind. Very emotional capture.
8 Feb 2011 3:47pm
Very beautiful scene created with the emotional pain I've only been time to be successful.
8 Feb 2011 3:50pm
I've read all the comments and see that there is a lot of honest emotion and concern for the man in this photo. This kind of image makes our hearts hurt because we wish we knew if help were needed, what we could do, and how it would be received. A lot of people carry scars, troubles, confusion, and anguish. Life is hard--but it's good to see that there are people who care--even enough to look and ponder. Thought provoking photo, Miss Blue.
8 Feb 2011 9:59pm
At first glance I thought he's a homeless man, then I read the comments and your answers...
Maybe he just got laid off and wondering how he would tell his wife and kids...
Maybe he just got turned down from a job interview, another wishful bubble burst...
Maybe he just got kicked out by his wife for whatever reason...
Myabe he just had too much to drink after happy hour with his co-workers...
Maybe he just got so tired after a long day's work...
Maybe....
Maybe....
.....
Do you think he'll still be there by the time I get there at the end of the month? Sharon? :-)
9 Feb 2011 3:39am
@Ti: Or maybe all of the above. Naw...he's long gone, I've been by this way dozens of times since and he's nowhere to be seen.
Wow -- powerful image there! Well captured.
9 Feb 2011 4:43am
Most possible.....the man was drunk! It happens so very often that it makes us insensitive to such silhouettes, whether at night or at daytime. It offered you the chance for a photo op, but.....I think he is the only one to solve his problems, no matter what those problems are....
9 Feb 2011 5:33am
A great photograph of a really disquieting and touching moment!
9 Feb 2011 10:48am
The body language and surroundings make this an enchanting image.
9 Feb 2011 11:15pm
un noir et blanc superbe, et une très belle composition, avec cet homme au premier plan, seul au milieu de l'animation de la ville.
13 Feb 2011 9:17am
The solitude and the despair disturbs the consciousnesses ;
It's necessary to show it not to close eyes in front of the evidence.
23 Feb 2011 8:31am
NIKON D700
1/5 second
F/4.0
ISO 200
50 mm