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I Photograph The Homeless By Becoming One Of Them
I’m inundated with emails on a daily basis. “What camera do you use?”, “How do you obtain the black background in your images?”, “Will you employ me as your assistant?” to quote but a few. The questions are varied, but all revolve around a central theme… they see the apparent “success” of my images and are determined to experience a piece of that for themselves. I don’t blame them. I was exactly the same seven years ago. My mind was awash with images. Revelling in art for the first time in my life. It was exciting, promised travel and adventure and who knows, maybe some success and notoriety. Looking back, I’d look for short cuts by asking other photographers, whose work I admired at the time, the very same questions I am now being asked. I was infatuated with the notion of being “a photographer” so wanted that “success” fast.
Looking back, none of that stuff mattered. Sure, technical ability is pretty fundamental to any vocation but it means nothing without passion. You can’t teach it. Life “happens” and it’s through those experiences that hopefully you come through the other side having learned something.
Love “happened” to me. Back then, that love was the motivation for everything I did. Running through the Vatican to buy a Rosary for her dying mother. Feeling her sense of faith and compassion for the less fortunate. Without knowing it, I took pieces from her. They remain with me to this day. So, now, when you see a Lee Jeffries image it’s not a document of the life of a homeless person. It’s much more than that. It’s a metaphysical testimony of humanity, faith and spirituality. It’s born from love and a connection to another human being. Her… and the homeless people I meet.
Everybody wants to be a photographer. Open your heart and you may just get your wish.
More info: Instagram
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What do you think ?
ClaudiaFerreira 9 years ago
some really powerful images, would love to know the stories behind them
MPaulaWhelan 9 years ago
You can just imagine the depth of the stories behind these images.
Load More Replies...
RogerNehring 9 years ago
Phenomenal portraits. Awesome, in the original meaning of the word. I am in awe.
Sonia.Alexandra 9 years ago
I don't know what about you guys, but I really think that these people are beutiful. Truly beautiful. Am I the only one?
JakeFerguson 9 years ago
30 people here seem to agree with you, so you're definitely not the only one. Phenomenal photos
Load More Replies...
LisaGoetsch 9 years ago
Powerful images. You can see into the souls of these people through their eyes. Incredible.
RaymondMalcolm 8 years ago
I know this is really negative of me, and I don't like being a downer, but this is awful. Why do we need to see "powerful" and "beautiful" pictures of the disadvantaged? What is this doing for them? A man with a $1000+ camera, takes photographs of the homeless by "becoming one of them." That is utterly dishonest. I don't know how taking pictures of homeless people might benefit them, maybe it does in some way, maybe, but this isn't a project about helping the homeless, this is a project that ended up in a gallery. I dare say that this photographer's profile benefited a lot more than it did his subject matter. Homelessness isn't some obscure issue that needs more awareness and it's not something that needs to be beautified. Sorry =(
JordanDossett 9 years ago
Images are wonderful, clearly show studio shots and photoshop work. Photographers words are from someone full of themselves. Someone asking a question about how the photographapher achieved this or that is not someone looking for a cheat, it is someone looking to learn. There is a wonderful psychology behind these images but because the photographer lectures us with their worth and stalker stardom followed by euphoric description of why they shoot, we don't really know much about the artist or subject.
Jean Claude 2 weeks ago
Bravo pour ces superbes photos, je me suis permis de les partager sur mon site https://www.imagedecoshop.fr/ j'espère que cela ne vous dérange pas. Cordialement JC
Ellen Empson 8 years ago
Stories. Story is essential to some photography. Excellent, stunning work.
PennielouWesson 8 years ago
MY GOD THIS IS SO DAMN SAD THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS YET OUR PRESIDENT GIVES THE EMIGRANT GET TO HAVE MOTEL OR HOTEL ROOM OR SET THEM UP IN A HOUSE BUT AND GIVE THEM FOOD STAMPS YET OUR HOMELESS STEEL HOMELESS
RichardWalton 9 years ago
Amazing portraiture, really powerful images and the lighting is exceptional
PaolaAvila 9 years ago
this images are beautifull, the eyes of this people show a deep pain and lonelines... really powerfull, and heartbreaking at the same time, if you start wondering why they are homeless now, what brought them to live this life on the streets.
AlexMcNamara 9 years ago
Mr Jeffries, first off may I congratulate you on your moving and quite incredible photography. Can I please ask where you took them? I only ask because the girl in the tenth photo is the absolute DEAD RINGER of a very good friend. Incredibly so, I've never seen anything like it.
PeterLedoux 9 years ago
There eyes have that 1000 yard stare. Wonder what's going through their minds.
JeanBuchanan 9 years ago
I feel really uneasy about this. Why did you pretend to be homeless, or under cover. Did these people know their faces would be out there for the world to see, were they paid?
RaymondMalcolm 8 years ago
I absolutely agree with you. This is obscene, it really is. I just looked at this man's Instagram, and there's a ton of these pictures, but there's not a single word about who these people are or how they ended up in this situation. Ironically, the only text I could find on his Instagram was an invitation to talk to the photographer "over a glass of champagne" in a gallery in Sweden. This is purely exploitative and all these comments from people saying about how moving and beautiful these pictures are is sickening.
Load More Replies...
DanielaBlueMoonBoal 9 years ago
These look like drawings :o When photos are too edited they lose their magic :/ but they are still very powerful images.
JuanHernandez 9 years ago
The article had no real story about the images..... Some ...... Washed out "Poetry" that explains nothing in respect the homeless captured. I searched for information on this but it seem that his subjects are used for a career boost and I feel there's a responsibility on the artist behalf to advocate against homelessness especially if he monetizing! A single image is selling for over $110!
JeanBuchanan 9 years ago
Why under cover? We're these people know their faces would be out there for the world to see, were they paid?
ChrisLane 9 years ago
How exactly do you "Become Homeless" Did you give away your home and all you possessions? seems very self righteous to me, and you opening statement, basically self praise on how amazing you are made me vomit. If this was to actually bring attention to the plight of these people, then great. But it's not, it's basically to say "Look what i can do". Great.
KTTrondsen 9 years ago
They are most likely drug addicts, or mentally ill causing them to be homeless,. not to rain on everyones parade.
ClaudiaFerreira 9 years ago
some really powerful images, would love to know the stories behind them
MPaulaWhelan 9 years ago
You can just imagine the depth of the stories behind these images.
Load More Replies... RogerNehring 9 years ago
Phenomenal portraits. Awesome, in the original meaning of the word. I am in awe.
Sonia.Alexandra 9 years ago
I don't know what about you guys, but I really think that these people are beutiful. Truly beautiful. Am I the only one?
JakeFerguson 9 years ago
30 people here seem to agree with you, so you're definitely not the only one. Phenomenal photos
Load More Replies... LisaGoetsch 9 years ago
Powerful images. You can see into the souls of these people through their eyes. Incredible.
RaymondMalcolm 8 years ago
I know this is really negative of me, and I don't like being a downer, but this is awful. Why do we need to see "powerful" and "beautiful" pictures of the disadvantaged? What is this doing for them? A man with a $1000+ camera, takes photographs of the homeless by "becoming one of them." That is utterly dishonest. I don't know how taking pictures of homeless people might benefit them, maybe it does in some way, maybe, but this isn't a project about helping the homeless, this is a project that ended up in a gallery. I dare say that this photographer's profile benefited a lot more than it did his subject matter. Homelessness isn't some obscure issue that needs more awareness and it's not something that needs to be beautified. Sorry =(
JordanDossett 9 years ago
Images are wonderful, clearly show studio shots and photoshop work. Photographers words are from someone full of themselves. Someone asking a question about how the photographapher achieved this or that is not someone looking for a cheat, it is someone looking to learn. There is a wonderful psychology behind these images but because the photographer lectures us with their worth and stalker stardom followed by euphoric description of why they shoot, we don't really know much about the artist or subject.
Jean Claude 2 weeks ago
Bravo pour ces superbes photos, je me suis permis de les partager sur mon site https://www.imagedecoshop.fr/ j'espère que cela ne vous dérange pas. Cordialement JC
Ellen Empson 8 years ago
Stories. Story is essential to some photography. Excellent, stunning work.
PennielouWesson 8 years ago
MY GOD THIS IS SO DAMN SAD THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS YET OUR PRESIDENT GIVES THE EMIGRANT GET TO HAVE MOTEL OR HOTEL ROOM OR SET THEM UP IN A HOUSE BUT AND GIVE THEM FOOD STAMPS YET OUR HOMELESS STEEL HOMELESS
RichardWalton 9 years ago
Amazing portraiture, really powerful images and the lighting is exceptional
PaolaAvila 9 years ago
this images are beautifull, the eyes of this people show a deep pain and lonelines... really powerfull, and heartbreaking at the same time, if you start wondering why they are homeless now, what brought them to live this life on the streets.
AlexMcNamara 9 years ago
Mr Jeffries, first off may I congratulate you on your moving and quite incredible photography. Can I please ask where you took them? I only ask because the girl in the tenth photo is the absolute DEAD RINGER of a very good friend. Incredibly so, I've never seen anything like it.
PeterLedoux 9 years ago
There eyes have that 1000 yard stare. Wonder what's going through their minds.
JeanBuchanan 9 years ago
I feel really uneasy about this. Why did you pretend to be homeless, or under cover. Did these people know their faces would be out there for the world to see, were they paid?
RaymondMalcolm 8 years ago
I absolutely agree with you. This is obscene, it really is. I just looked at this man's Instagram, and there's a ton of these pictures, but there's not a single word about who these people are or how they ended up in this situation. Ironically, the only text I could find on his Instagram was an invitation to talk to the photographer "over a glass of champagne" in a gallery in Sweden. This is purely exploitative and all these comments from people saying about how moving and beautiful these pictures are is sickening.
Load More Replies... DanielaBlueMoonBoal 9 years ago
These look like drawings :o When photos are too edited they lose their magic :/ but they are still very powerful images.
JuanHernandez 9 years ago
The article had no real story about the images..... Some ...... Washed out "Poetry" that explains nothing in respect the homeless captured. I searched for information on this but it seem that his subjects are used for a career boost and I feel there's a responsibility on the artist behalf to advocate against homelessness especially if he monetizing! A single image is selling for over $110!
JeanBuchanan 9 years ago
Why under cover? We're these people know their faces would be out there for the world to see, were they paid?
ChrisLane 9 years ago
How exactly do you "Become Homeless" Did you give away your home and all you possessions? seems very self righteous to me, and you opening statement, basically self praise on how amazing you are made me vomit. If this was to actually bring attention to the plight of these people, then great. But it's not, it's basically to say "Look what i can do". Great.
KTTrondsen 9 years ago
They are most likely drug addicts, or mentally ill causing them to be homeless,. not to rain on everyones parade.
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