Mick lives in a homeless hostel and bears the scars of alcohol abuse. His face is a mess but he was still with it enough this morning to play with Monty. This is a secret shot that I thought I'd messed up as I cut half his head off - though it solved the moral argument I was having with myself on the way home about posting his face without permission - it seemed a betrayal of trust when we'd been chatting. I'm glad the weather's warmed up so he and his friend Peter can have a nice day in the sun.
On a lighter note, Adam and I went to see Cambridge City Hockey First team play the final game of the season which they had to win to secure promotion. A REALLY exciting match (honestly I don't know why football gets so much more coverage) and they came back from being a goal down twice to win 4-2. Hurrah!
Best viewed large for hand detail.
I like this version. To me it's always more of a mystery and interesting when you see someone's calloused hands and then have to wonder about how life was treating the rest of the person. And I too always struggle with showing strangers faces in my project.
I think it's better that his face is not in it, there's a story to be told even without your narrative this way. Just got to think how lucky we are when there are people living lives like Mick eh
This is fabulous. I suspect his face would have taken away from the power of this. And I'm glad he got the gift of a bit of conversation with you and mattering to someone as they passed by. Congrats on the hockey tournament
I suspect this would have lost some of its power if his face had been in it too. It's fabulous. And I'm glad he got the gift of some conversation with you and knowing that he was important enough to someone to not just pass him by. Congrats on the hockey tournament
I think he is quite young looking at his hands but agree that this photo makes much more of a statement without the face. It is a brave thing to take a photo of someone with problems face on, I couldn't do it either !! I expect he was glad to pat Monty & have a chat with you in the sun, a bit of home life.
Congratulations to Cambridge City Hockey team for promotion !!
@happypat@psychographer@snowy Hard to know his age when his face is so swollen & scarred by drink and regular falling over but it's no way to live and it makes me frustrated that so many youngsters are binge drinking. We all had the odd cider as teenagers (in the UK at least!) but Rachel tells me scary stuff about the amount some of her friends get through.
@fueast I will ask next time - I did get a shot of his face but the focus was off and it didn't really do his character justice because his eyes are so swollen. I was about to ask today but Monty was getting over-excited and I decided we had better move on while the going was still good!
The hands tell it all Judith. No need for for a face. Youth and fairly clean hands give hope for this lad. Maybe something will click and he will turn his life around. I hope so.
Reminds me of the book 'Stuart - A Life Backwards' - have you read it? It's based in Cambridge and is the biography of a homeless man. I thought it was inspired to take a photo of his hands and the can. Well done to Cambridge City too - my daughter (her photo is my one for today) plays in the under 13s.
@lauralatham No I haven't read it - I've heard different reviews - sounds quite upsetting. It was such a good game - quite a bit more physical than the junior game!
I think the photo works well as it is - hands can tell their own story. I have also read Stuart - a life backwards, a tragic but poignant tale. The film is also worth watching.
I really like the composition and the focus on the hands. Definitely better and more insinuating than with the face. Wishing him all the best. And yeah for you to see such an exciting match.
Glad you didn't show his face. The hands are tough, and hanging in there. Shots of faces outsiders and the destitute are sometimes a bit cliched and don't really address the issue. Glad you have in your commentary
Congratulations to Cambridge City Hockey team for promotion !!
You know, it doesn't need any narrative from you. The hands, the special brew, the clothes .....they all speak for themselves
A statement of our society