I often find myself becoming uncomfortable when I photograph people in homeless shelters. In the same way I become uncomfortable when I photograph people dealing with other hardships, such as being injured. I think the reason I become uncomfortable is I think people wish to be known for traditionally good things.
Winning, wealth, success, and happiness are the things I imagine people wish to be known for. But the truth is those things can be very boring, they look more like commercials than reality. When I see people enjoying themselves in commercials I am not deceived. I know that drinking beer does not make life more fun or exciting, and a new vacuum cleaner is not going to change my life. So when I see good news I am not curious about it, at the very best I give it a cursory glance and forget about it. But when I see something outside of my normal life. Outside of my normal advertising saturated life. I am curious and I want to know more about it.
For me the top photograph is good because although the man in the photograph has suffered from some major setbacks in life he has a thoughtfulness that gives him nobility regardless of his situation in life. My theory is that the best stories are like my favorite movie, "Gladiator," with a strong protagonist, who finds themselves in a difficult situation and must struggle to overcome adversity. I think this photograph shows a man in a difficult situation who is struggling to overcome it.
--Darren Breen
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