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More of Shawn Palmquist's Photos
Submitted to Nice to Meet You
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Q: How do you take a long exposure picture with people?
A: Do you know?
Photo license: © All rights reserved
I spent last Friday afternoon cruising around downtown Phoenix taking photos. While doing so, I met this guy who I ended up talking to for a couple hours about everything you can imagine. I was taking pictures of this abandoned hotel when he came up to me and gave me an in depth and very interesting history lesson on the building I was taking photos of. What struck me immediately was that he was a very smart and articulate man; who from the best I can judge just hit a string of bad luck in his life and ended up homeless. That's the short story at least... anyway I helped him out with some cash and he agreed to let me take a few portraits of him before I left. This is the result. It's easy to see a homeless individual and make assumptions about how they got there... but how often do you consider the possibility that they really are out on the street through no fault of their own? I was pretty happy with how these portraits came out, and I realized after this experience that many of the most interesting "models" are roaming our streets everyday... and sometimes its worth it to take a chance and strike up a conversation with them. It can end up being a great experience.
33 responses
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Mike Melnotte gave props (2 Mar 2010):
Nice info on this shot and good image. Congrats on this.
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John Edwin May gave props (2 Mar 2010):
Powerful...
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Carlos Aviles (Deleted) said (3 Mar 2010):
Great shot and a wonderful story
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Pepper Beaumont said (3 Mar 2010):
He looks like Jesus. Maybe he is?
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Daniel Diaz gave props (9 Mar 2010):
amazing, well done!
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Kathleen Mercado (Deleted) said (9 Mar 2010):
Ahhh...The more time that you spend with "them" the more you realize that "they" are exactly "you"...
A strong image...I think that if you continue to pursue this, you will be enriched by the experience...and maybe even drop the "them"...nice work:) -
David Scott gave props (10 Mar 2010):
Beautiful work
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Leslie Hunziker gave props (12 Mar 2010):
Fantastic shot!
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ED Younes said (13 Mar 2010):
nice portrait!
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favian roldan gave props (13 Mar 2010):
I commend you for the bold step you took. Your right about the asumption we lable people with. The portrait is great.
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Charlena Cavender said (13 Mar 2010):
what an abslutley amazing shot!!!!!
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Carlo Pagan gave props (15 Mar 2010):
GOOD!!
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Jonathan Bratter gave props (19 Mar 2010):
Good lesson and Great portrait!
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Cary Silverman gave props (8 Apr 2010):
awesome charaCTER STUDY!
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misha otaared gave props (8 Apr 2010):
am so glad you spent time with this person and shared this beautiful capture here
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Yves Harnois gave props (20 Apr 2010):
Beautiful portrait I like alot the simplicity ! This picture tell us a story
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Kirk Johnson gave props (2 May 2010):
Great shot, and story
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Karen Zimmerman gave props (5 Jun 2010):
Beautifully shot! Wonderful entry. Wow, keep talking to people!
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molly . gave props (30 Jul 2010):
stunning, and great story.
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Bob Gordon gave props (3 Oct 2010):
This is an awesome shot! I am about to start trying my luck with portraits, and this really gives me some inspiration!
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Roxana Brivent-Barnes said (5 Oct 2010):
Superb!
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missy corrales gave props (21 Oct 2010):
happy to hear you took the time to speak to this gentleman. Great capture - his face shows his life struggles.
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pam belangdal gave props (28 Oct 2010):
Love the edit of the photo! Amazing!
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Clint Cline gave props (6 Dec 2010):
I spent 6 years in a homeless ministry and loved every moment of it. Many homeless are victims of poor choices, others choose to live on the street, and still others have psychological issues that keep them on the street. But at the end of the day, they each have dignity as fellow humans and should be treated that way. Thanks for taking the time most wouldn't to give this man respect by your attention.
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mackenzie christensen (Deleted) gave props (6 Dec 2010):
This is an amazing shot and a great story to go with it.
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Fernando Cortez said (16 Dec 2010):
true...
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Joerg Schlagheck gave props (19 Dec 2010):
Fantastic shot!
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Carol Arntsen Masiak gave props (4 Jan 2011):
powerful and fantastic...
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Layne Jacobs said (6 Jan 2011):
what a fantastic and powerful shot! great work.
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Donna Mullins gave props (9 Jul 2011):
wonderful capture of his amazing eyes!
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ingo dittmann gave props (28 Jul 2011):
very interesting
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patrick john o'doherty said (12 Aug 2011):
he looks so young in his eyes
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ROCIO GUILLEN gave props (2 Aug 2012):
Excellent portrait!
