Floris... I don't care for the subject... in my mind, there is no way to make a picture, of a homeless person (sleeping in a cardboard box!), attractive (appealing). A subject of that nature can only have a negative impact on a photo in my opinion. Even the tell-tale buggy to the right hiding in the dark is a negative for me. But that's me! :o)

The title is appropriate. It was your request that got me to look at your image closely. Hopefully somebody who can separate the artistic skill from the effect of the image will deal with your request...

The fact that I can react like this to your image could be a positive for you... depending upon your intentions!

Oh... by the way, I think this could fit into a contest Caedes is having right now... for Emptiness. Enter it to have yet another kind of opinion expressed. Navigation... Contest - should get you to where you need to go! :o)

Dear Con,

Thank you for your comment. I realize now that I should have clarified my intentions with this picture. It was never my meaning to make this an appealing picture, but rather a picture that gives you food for thought, which apparently works. My intention was to depict the ugly behind the beautiful: the Plaza Mayor is a very busy and beautiful place, but there are also many homeless people who sleep and live there and who we generally don't want to be confronted with, especially when we're on holiday.

I've actually got another picture of the same scene - which I plan to upload later - that shows people dining on the Plaza, while this guy is sleeping in his box behind the pillar. Stuff to think about, but not necessarily nice to put on your desktop.

(Reply also posted to your profile, in case you don't notice it here)

I never took it as appealing in any manner Floris. I think it is a good contest entry. It is so sad and it leaves an empty feeling for those who care. I think the Unfortunate were called the Forgotten during The Great Depression.
On a side bar, I once lived in a town in Iowa named Floris.
Good luck in the contest.

TicK

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Wow!! Chilling but a very good entry for the contest. My husband and I picked up a homeless man the other night, he told us there were 380 people in Johnson City Tennessee homeless....most of them veterans...what a shame:(

Wonderful capture. I love reportage photography. Challanging rather than artistic is all good with me however i think it does have a lot of artistic merit. The contrast of bright lights and dark pavement lead the eye straight to the main focus of the image which is what you want people to see. Think this is a very poiniant image that speaks for itself. Thankyou for sharing.

A good perspective and angle for your photo. Nice use of colour, light and shadow to emphasis the subject matter. Best of luck in the contest.

I think this image works so well because of the perspective. You are not a passer by, somehow superior to the homeless man, but you have become one of the homeless, on the cold ground looking out of a box. You make the viewer part of that situation and unable to just walk on by. Well done.

Definitely a solitary empty mood. Yet the lighting and shadows do invite the viewer to be included.. Excellent thought provoking glimpse into the scene.

Congratulations on the third place finish in the contest Floris.
I knew it was a good entry.

TicK

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Congratulations. An excellent work indeed.

Floris congratulations with your win in the contest well deserved like this one.

Rob

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations on placing in the Emptiness contest.