Social Photography

Homelessness
David Hoffman
Aimee Boschet

DAVID HOFFMAN
HTTP://WWW.HOFFMANPHOTOS.COM/
http://hoffman.photoshelter.com/gallery-
image/Homeless/G00005LF5IHFVAlA/I00000c4jV2
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Homelessness
http://hoffman.photoshelter.com/gallery-
image/Homeless/G00005LF5IHFVAlA/I0000WElDr31
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David Hoffman
Specialised social photographer for more than 30 years (36 years)
Based in the UK
Photos mainly for his own photo library rather than being hired
Founding member of Editorial Photographers UK and Photo- Forum
London
Work centres on increasingly visible control that the state exerts over
out lives and choices.
Focuses on racial and social conflict. Policing, homelessness, drugs,
poverty, social exclusion and environmental protection.

Thematic Elements
http://hoffman.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Homeless/G00005LF5IHFVAlA/I0000AuZoizDVnko
Colour the colour used in these photos are very
vibrant and crisp, which leads me to think that there
is some editing done to increase the contrast to
emphasise the contrast between the homeless and
the normality that surrounds them.
Line The lines within his photography are usually
leading lines and create a line to the main focus of
the issue or to create tension and make an
atmosphere.



Style
http://hoffman.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Homeless/G00005LF5IHFVAlA/I0000UsEwOVIoZhY
The style that David has taken these photos in a Documentary.
He has candid images of these actual homeless people which
means that these photos are not posed. He has found these
people on the street and taken a photo without planning his
message and meaning. This style is present in all of his social
photography to emphasise the reality of the situation.
The images have little to no editing and therefore somewhat
raw, what you see if exactly how it is.
Message
http://hoffman.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Homeless/G00005LF5IHFVAlA/I0000yCQTe7BmzII
The main message that David tries to convey through his social
photography is the power that the state exerts over us, he
does this through his photos of issues that are the product of
this main idea. His photos regarding homelessness make them
look a lot more glamourous than they actually are and takes
some of the confrontation away without getting rid of the root
issue, he presents these problems in a more acceptable and
relatable way.
Aimee Boschet
Facebook Page
Los Angeles based photographer
Current project is The Elders
Features older males to give these people back their humanity
Homelessness often dehumanised
"We part with a respect for one another and a gentle and
compassionate bond that was shared for only a small amount of
time, but for me, it is time that will always be memorable and that I
will look back on and treasure."
Ramone
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/01/the-elders-photos-los-angeles-homeless_n_5547471.html?utm_hp_ref=photography
Thematic Elements
Black and white Aimee has used a black and white
edit on all of the photo used in this collection called The
Elders. This is to make the viewer more aware of the seriousness behind the issue
and present it in a more hardened light.
Background Each photo has the same, plain white background, this is used as a
blank canvas so that the subject of the photo is the focal point and therefore the
first thing that the eye is drawn to.
Contrast The contrast between the black and the white is very strong, this could
be used to demonstrate the extremity between a normal everyday person and a
homeless person and how different their lives are from one another.
Texture- The way the photos are taken are of high quality, which gives the viewer
the chance to see the texture of their worn out skin, this could be representing how
these people have had to live the hard life and developed a thick skin to their
environment.
Bobby Jo
Style
The way that Aimee has taken these photos is artistic.
These photos are staged and planned out, from the
pose of the men to emphasise and make the image
more emotive to the background and the expressions on their face.
These images would be highly edited to get the right amount of
contrast that is necessary for the black and white to be effective.
The point of doing these photos in a artistic manner is to emphasise the
issue of homelessness and make viewers more intrigued.
Billy Jo
Message
The message that Aimee is trying to convey is that
although these people are homeless and live on the
streets, it does not make them any less human, that
they are the same as anyone else, they just live in a different way to us.
She said that a moment capturing a glimpse into someone's eyes can make a picture
worth a thousand more, than the traditional phrase a picture is worth a thousand
words
This shows she is trying to put these peoples stories across, that hopefully viewers can see
the struggle in their eyes and begin to understand and become open to this issue.
I am inspired by the soul that I see and feel when looking into the depth of the eyes of
people a little older, perhaps a lot wiser, and with life stories that are marked on their
faces, stamped with the age of beauty and time.
She's trying to send the message that just because these people are homeless it does not
decrease their value, because they have lived through many ordeals and for that would
be wise and experienced. They would know things others wouldnt and be able to give
great advice.
John