“.. you’re exploiting..”

I do, on occasion, have a drink in a bar. That might be an understatement, the occasion part that is. On the whole, it’s a way to watch a cross section of life, enjoy the work of a good bartender, and if lucky, some sort of local spirit. In other cities, the level is amped up, because; strangers. There’s a specialness about talking to, engaging with and getting a complete stranger to let you take their photo. But here in San Diego, one day, in a local spot, when someone asks, a bit towards states “Isn’t that exploitation of the homeless?”

Mostly, you ask. Mostly, they’re for it. Very for it. They want to be seen, the want to be known, they want to be remembered. Inferred is a feeling of invisibility, though that’s never been spoken. “We’re not animals in a zoo, I’m glad you asked, but, no, no thank you.” You can insist that people in public are, generally, photographable by legal standard. Or you can be a human, ask, and honor the response. Or you can be respectful of the moment. There’s nothing cut and dry about the subject or the people. Life, choices, family, addiction, illness, past crimes, habits. To me, it’s all fate, a photographer, a person and a moment. There’s only the moment to capture. Exploitation is a delicate thing, but at it’s core, it’s one person benefiting while the other doesn’t benefit, or benefit as much. The faces of these people will exist, in a way not available to others, so long as the photos are on the internet.

Exploitation seems to be the term used by people who are uncomfortable with the subject of people who don’t know how to think about the situation, and not by the people who have concern.