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I Take Pictures Of The People Nobody Wants To See
Montreal, just like any big city, is full of homeless people. And just like in every other town, there’s a vast majority of people who do everything they can to NOT see the homelessness around them. You know exactly what I mean: you’ve spotted one from a few meters away, so you speed up your pace, take your phone out or look the other way, making sure to avoid this uncomfortable moment when you just know the homeless person is going to ask for some spare change and you’ll say no…
If you recognized yourself in the uncomfortable questions above, then these series of street photography are dedicated to you. Understand that I am not judging you in any way; hell, I used to be you. But one day I realized the homeless are humans, just like me. And if we all saw them as humans – and not just “beggars” – then maybe we’d realize it’s quite a messed up society we’ve built for ourselves… I mean, how did we come to think it was okay to have so many of us suffering in such miserable living conditions?
So take a good look at this grave social issue, and stop looking away because it’s not going to go away on its own. And next time you see one, whether you want to give them some change or not, don’t look the other way. Because for having chatted with quite a few homeless people, I can tell you that they’ll appreciate your smile much more than your 1$ coin.
I also take portraits of the homeless and share the stories they tell me.
More info: mikaeltheimer.com
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Dreams of a better life
La vie est belle
“I’m teaching you how to give”
Don’t mind me
Grocery shopping
Lap dance
The flip side of the coin
Place-des-arts
A nap in the park
If the social ladder is broken, take the stairs
Chilling with my friends
Parking spots have cheaper rent
I wish I had a couch
The invisible woman
But not traveling light
Stairs make great pillows
Home is where my hammock hangs
I missed my train
Raindrops keep falling on my head
Ground zero
Sending out an S.O.S
Can we share that bagel?
Daddy, why is the man sleeping here?
Social assymetry
Don’t get too close, I bite
Sleepy head
Stuck in the middle
Just like home
Thank you for watching these
Now stop looking away when you see me
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What do you think ?
CodyBaldwin 10 years ago
WOW! Can you believe there are that many homeless/broke people in the world?
BennyChen 10 years ago
I was told that homeless people do drugs and buy alcohols but I still give them money even I am unemployed and struggle to survive everyday. After all, I am still more fortunate than them
SapphireDolphin10 9 years ago
Homeless people aren't all druggies and alcoholics, some are good people who just had misfortune
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BreezySally 10 years ago
I hope you gave these people a parting gift after taking their photo.
VG 10 years ago
Gee, thanks for patronizing me for not wanting to put half my money towards supporting a stranger's alcoholism & being nauseous at the smell
MikaëlTheimer(MKL) (Post author) 10 years ago
This is exactly to crush this prejudice that I share the stories of the homeless. I strongly encourage you to go and read a few posts on http://humansofthestreet.tumblr.com Hopefully it will make you realize that you're talking about human beings, and that even the ones who suffer from alcoholism or drug addictions have a beating heart, just like yours. Do not be so quick to judge people you know nothing of. I've met probably over a hundred homeless people and never have I been the target of even just a curse word. I'm sorry if you've had a bad experience, but it's never a good thing to make a generalization out of one experience. Please open you heart a little... Everybody can fall down, give those people a chance.
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RollinsJohn 10 years ago
I usually feel ashamed when I am not able to give them money, but I must admit that your photos remind me that there were still something that I could share.
CodyBaldwin 10 years ago
WOW! Can you believe there are that many homeless/broke people in the world?
BennyChen 10 years ago
I was told that homeless people do drugs and buy alcohols but I still give them money even I am unemployed and struggle to survive everyday. After all, I am still more fortunate than them
SapphireDolphin10 9 years ago
Homeless people aren't all druggies and alcoholics, some are good people who just had misfortune
Load More Replies... BreezySally 10 years ago
I hope you gave these people a parting gift after taking their photo.
VG 10 years ago
Gee, thanks for patronizing me for not wanting to put half my money towards supporting a stranger's alcoholism & being nauseous at the smell
MikaëlTheimer(MKL) (Post author) 10 years ago
This is exactly to crush this prejudice that I share the stories of the homeless. I strongly encourage you to go and read a few posts on http://humansofthestreet.tumblr.com Hopefully it will make you realize that you're talking about human beings, and that even the ones who suffer from alcoholism or drug addictions have a beating heart, just like yours. Do not be so quick to judge people you know nothing of. I've met probably over a hundred homeless people and never have I been the target of even just a curse word. I'm sorry if you've had a bad experience, but it's never a good thing to make a generalization out of one experience. Please open you heart a little... Everybody can fall down, give those people a chance.
Load More Replies... RollinsJohn 10 years ago
I usually feel ashamed when I am not able to give them money, but I must admit that your photos remind me that there were still something that I could share.
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