I’ve collected all my Occupy Wall Street portraits (106 and counting) into one slide show, One Hundred Portraits from the Occupation.
I’ve collected all my Occupy Wall Street portraits (106 and counting) into one slide show, One Hundred Portraits from the Occupation.
This collection is great Joe. Thanks for putting it together and for capturing so much of the “feel” of the 99%.
As I think you know, I am a big fan and I look forward to checking out your site every day. I feel even more compelled now with your coverage of OWS. There is something going on here and I think you are capturing something important. These are as, always, beautiful pictures but there is something more here. You capture the humanity of these people so completely. I see such soul in these faces. And such earnestness. I think these pictures counter the often hostle and dismissive portrayal that these people are always labeled with. Keep up the great work.
Totally agree with this : “these pictures counter the often hostile and dismissive portrayal that these people are always labeled with”.
I began showing it to collegues at work, just to get their reactions. What comes out so far as the the strongest impression is the diversity of people at Zuccotti park. I have no idea of the lasting impressions yet, though. It may come.
One of my goals as a photographer has always been to present my photos without editorializing. I’m shoot portraits in Zuccotti Park with as little political content as I can manage — no names, backstories, signs, etc. I do not aspire to photojournalism. My purpose, as always, is to leave as much as I can up to the viewer. I hope I’d shoot the Republican National Convention with as much creativity and ambition as Occupy Wall Street.
At the same time, I know that it’s not possible for me to shoot portraits without revealing my empathy for my subjects. That’s the balance I’m aiming for: to allow my empathy to shine through without making the portraits in any way my own political statement.
Finally, the images do not in any way represent a fair sample of the people at Zuccotti. As I said, I’m not photojournalist. I’ve visited Zuccotti twelve times now, and I spend a lot of my time at the site simply looking for interesting people to shoot, wandering through the park for a couple hours and ending up with five to ten portraits. It’s been incredibly gratifying as a learning experience.
Thanks, Joe.
That is one of things that I love about your photos.
Everyone sees something different.
Joe, a “fair sample” would be achieved through a group picture more accurately, maybe. But for you it is beside the point. And it is just as fine. You have the sincirety to admit the impossibility of being dispassionate with the subject. And I agree with you because that is also how it works for me. Nevertheless, it remains a “fair sample” by the “variety”, from tie to tattoo.
Fantastic shot!