One
day I disregarded the advice to avoid the crack block at the Miami River
encampment and took a photograph without permission. I was watching people with
the door of their home open. The river was in the background and the shanties in
that area were well constructed with great carpentry. I thought that since the people
in the shanty were unaware of me it made for a good shot. Or so I thought at
the time.
Before
long an angry man shouting in Spanglish was in my face and demanding the film. If I didn’t give it up he was going to hurt me. So I rewound
the film to opened the back of my camera and gave him the leader off the roll.
I was being sneaky and actually saved the shot that I latter determined wasn’t
worth the effort.
I
learned two things from that experience. First of all, stick with the people I
am familiar with and trust. Secondly, if I’m going to be hanging out at homeless
camps alone I can only photograph people who are aware of me and grant their
permission. That is why my series is primarily portraiture. It tells the
audience that I am present in the moment because I have permission to be there.
There
was a wide range of people who would hang out with me but did not want to be
photographed. Since I am a guest
in someone's home I needed to be respectful and not offend the people
who’s trust I am trying to earn. So instead of creating news photographs I
concentrated on my skill of working with light and trying to pull the
personality of the individuals into the images. I am co-creating a photograph with the subject as opposed to merely taking snapshots
of whatever happens. The theme allows me to slow down and watch the light, the environment
and the person.
Please check out
my website for this project at http://www.marylou.us/chaos . I also have a facebook
presence at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Photographer-MaryLou-Uttermohlen/201723200603?ref=hl . This part of the project
was made possible by an individual artist fellowhip of $5,000 from the State of
Florida. .
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