I call him Luis, but I am not sure. Luis is unable to do more than mutter a few words, often breaking down in tears. He refuses to go to the local shelter or Methadone clinic, sleeping instead in various spots, spending his waking hours bumming cigarettes and panhandling in front of bodegas.
I worry that my pictures put a happy face on addiction. Photos cannot capture the pain, suffering, and destruction wrought by heroin, crack or in this case whiskey. Sometimes it requires smoking a cigarette with a sobbing incoherent drunk to truly remind you what loneliness and addiction can do.
Thanks for posting these, Chase. As an addiction counselor/therapist myself (day job for 12 years) and a street photographer at heart, I’ve had similar encounters…and they are both rewarding and distrubing…this photographer deserves great praise for being willing to approach, connect with, and document this suffering and validating the humanity that is ALWAYS there…no matter how tragic and terrible the circumstances. Wow…I love the way he asks THEM how they want to be described…
I love raw street photography at its core – Amazing stuff, although I am terrible at street photography and I find it most inspiring to the more controlled stuff I do. thanks for the links!
Funny, I remember reading this : “1. Declare yourself a photographer. That’s what you ARE in life. You’re not a student, not a finance-guy-slash-part-time-photographer, not a part time anything.”
Ya I remember reading the same thing. So what are you trying to say Chase?
hmmm. not sure about the confusion on this point. I thought i was being clear that…
a. if you want to be a PROFESSIONAL photographer, then you’d best call yourself a photographer and go for it; and
b. if you want to be a photographer with a day job, then totally cool – you can stlll have tons of impact like Chris here…
Maybe he’s a finance guy AND a photographer. DUH! Why does money have to be the validation of photographers?
powerful series. made me think twice about complaining about my “problems.” overall, I don’t think I’d have the balls to cover something so tragic. maybe one day.
Touching. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Thanks for posting this.
Thanks
A few things. My name is misspelled, its Chris Arnade.
In addition I can be followed on Twitter @Chris_Arnade
Thanks again for highlight.
awesome Chris – corrected the typo and linked to your twitter handle!
great work – keep it up
really incredible stuff, dude!
Seriously, tthe first thing that enters my mind with each story is “Fu*%”. Powerful and tragic. Makes me flash back to when I was living on Capital Hill in Seattle. How can I have so much and these souls so little? It’s not right….
Thanks for sharing and reminding me of how lucky I am.
WOW… Lets just hope the people in the photos aren’t too pissed off that they’re now being outted as prostitutes and maybe also hope that the NYPD doesn’t decide to start monitoring these people because of it…
Good thing this banker doesn’t need to change his name and use an Alias…
Great images, you can really see the connection you’ve made with the subjects.
Yep, I remember becoming homeless after trying to do photography full time straight out of college…. Good times. You’re right, don’t quit your day jobs.
Strong images in support of an equally powerful story for each of these people. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for these people in difficult situations.
I actively follow Chris on flickr and cannot wait for his next post. I came across it first from one of the blogs that I read. I am astounded at the simplicity of the photos and the stories behind them. It really goes to show that people can do great things with their photography.
I have made photo projects ever since i started to get the basic knowledge right, it’s a question of passion, drive and ressources management.
This current project of mine is made with the good will of everybody that accepted being photographed by me in very simple sessions:
http://booklovingirls.tumblr.com/
Forgot to tell that i have a “day job” too.
“I don’t verify, just listen.” – That’s very good. I like that.
Honest and powerful images. Great work Chris Arnade! Thanks for sharing Chase.
Just wanted to thank Chris, what great glimpses of dignity, humanity and humility he has afforded us with his eyes and ears.
Chase this was excellent, thanks for sharing this, I found the photos and the stories along with them very touching and moving. It so sad to me how so many view people like the ones featured above and useless and meaningless, Chris’ photography and stories really impacted me on a very human level.
Whew!
Chase thank you for post here!
I have an exhibition on homelessness that will begin on March 21 of a man whom I followed for six months and brought me a lot. The photograph now will allow me to educate others, especially young because my photos are in a permanent exhibition inside a school teenager for a year!
Hats off to Chris Arnade for his work but also listening BRAVO
Thank you Chase, Steve
Great stories told.. Loving this.
Very powerful images and stories. I could not stop looking at each one and that rarely happens. Typically I stop after 10-15 images and move onto something else. This drew me in. Great work Chris.
Pretty great shots. Reminds me of Tony Fouhse’s stuff.
Yes, thanks Dave. (Here’s a link to what he’s referring to:http://tonyfoto.com/#/USER/user1/1)
Thank you. Such an interesting series and so different than many of the photos one sees of the homeless or others on the street. Real stories to go along with nice photos, not just well composed photos of some nameless homeless person with no other context.
his series is the most powerful inadvertent anti-drug message i’ve ever seen
Thanks for this post. I did not quit my day job either, but i must say photography for me is more than a hobby – this is my passion http://www.photodestination.co.za
do you need to get a model release when doing these kinda photos
I always get releases from everyone I shoot. even the drug addicts I collaborated with while shooting USER. For me it’s just a part of the process.
I do not get a written release form. I tell everyone explicitly what my project is, tell them I will be posting their pictures, and then go back and show them what I have written. If they object I will remove the picture. If I feel they are to high or drugged out to understand, I go back to find them when they are cogent. Or I do not post
All the proceeds from my pictures goes to Hunts Point Alliance for Children. I do not sell the pictures for personal gain.
thanks for sharing those and great work chris.
think its the story behind the pictures/ people that make the image. on first sight they all look like ordinarry people but its the story that makes them different.
find it great that you as well write about other photographers and give them a chance to be seen by your viewers. see if i am lucky enough one day to be one of those
moritz
http://www.mostphotography.blogspot.com
So powerful!
The stories and photographs are made with dignity and respect, GREAT JOB!
thanks for sharing those and great work chris.
think its the story behind the pictures/ people that make the image. on first sight they all look like ordinarry people but its the story that makes them different
thanks for sharing those and great work chris.
think its the story behind the pictures/ people that make
always get releases from everyone I shoot. even the drug addicts I collaborated with while shooting USER. For me it’s just a part of the process
Chase, just wanted to say great work on this series… it spoke personally to me… Thanks and i enjoy following you on the various media outlets…
I enjoy the captions more than the photographs. That is the most difficult part about using photography as a medium to tell a story. Without the caption the photos themselves do not say much to me…
I really enjoy the passion of this photographer.
I like where his heart is, but the work is amateurish.
It just doesn’t add to any sort of discussion. Very one plane. I mean I don’t know. Perhaps photography is not supposed to answer any questions. And stylistically, well, there is no style… It’s just one horse pony trick. All his photos in all his work are exactly the same.
Amazing!
Ooh pics of street people how fucking original
Fantastic series of photos of people in such a troubled spot. Been around Hunt’s Point and remember seeing people similar to these out on the streets. Glad these people were able to open up and speak with the photographer so he could share their story.
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Loose lips sink ships! So who was really talking?? A real boss bitch is tight lipped and private about affiliations. These bitches come off as ultra thirsty, opportunists and unloyal jaw jackers.
I’ve settled on a Windows Phone (HTC HD7) for my main phone at the moment. I’m tempted by an iPhone, though… particularly now that I have an iPad and Macbook. Maybe next year.