Photographer Chuck Ferris has Eye for Homelessness
Have you ever ignored the homeless people you see in street and yet wondered about their lives? Or perhaps you avoided encountering them to avoid feeling uncomfortable about what you saw. It’s easy when you do choose to look at them, to see their hopelessness, but ever considered how they became so clearly full of despair?
I did, and still do. It’s become my objective to explain, in tolerable, clear, and compassionate terms how homeless people live, think and feel. I’ve chosen to mostly use imagery to enable you to view their world from their personal perspectives… in intimate terms rarely realized or understood by outside observers.
As with any problem, solutions must first grow from understanding.
Fortunately, I have uniquely been able to do this, gaining access to this community because of their unique trust in me as a photo-journalist. The intimacies shared by them are astounding, poignant and profound.
This article is an account of how I came to start HomelessImages.com, a website devoted to issues involving the homeless. I started it with the intent to give the public more of an understanding of homelessness. I hoped that the increased awareness and understanding would result in more caring and compassion towards the homeless.
Gaining the trust of the people I met on the streets was a challenge initially. I guaranteed them that I would never purposely portray them in a manner that they would find to be embarrassing or degrading. I have made every attempt to stick to that ethic but it is not always possible. I always bring back some 4×6’s prints that I give to people when I next see them. I enjoy seeing the pleasure that results from this simple gesture.
I’ve met and interviewed an increasingly large number of people (now in excess of 275). At first I attempted to record what I found in the form of photography, but that left too much unsaid and unexplained. I added audio recordings to add more depth and nuance to the still images. Still not revealing enough. Video was the next logical step. I found video to be exciting and somewhat liberating… sort of like adding the dimension of time to photography. I could see that video gave the depth of understanding that I wanted. I am grateful for the willingness and cooperation that many individuals have offered.
After some six months into this project I am continuously amazed at what I hear and see. I have found a population of people that are, in most cases, trapped in a largely hopeless existence but seem to make the best of it, as difficult as it seems. Most people have learned to make do with what they have, little as it may be. The reasons for homelessness are more varied than one would expect. Most people have given up the hope of returning to a more conventional existence. Hopelessness abounds. Many have tried repeatedly to make the climb back to normalcy but are unable to sustain the effort after failing repeatedly.
Untreated mental illness, severe personality disorders and substance abuse/addiction are rampant. Discouragement leads to despair and eventually to giving up and decline. Many are unaware of what services are available. Many are profoundly distrustful of the “system,” very cynical about receiving any “real help.” Some have a cautious optimism that Mayor Newsom’s programs will be truly beneficial. Very much a “wait and see” situation.
But I would hope that this project gives the public an opportunity to better understand the homeless and their reality. I have experienced much of the hope, happiness, pain, despair and anger of this community. I have a good feeling about the humanity there.
This experience with homeless people has been very meaningful for me. I have come to gain an understanding of the stresses and difficulties the homeless experience on a daily basis. I have gained an appreciation for the ingenuity that many display in going about their lives. Let there be no mistake about it, life on the street is tough. People just keep on keeping on. I plan on continuing to explore this community and have a longer range plan to publish the images and stories or perhaps a documentary film. I would welcome some collaboration with city agencies, foundations or individuals involved in the homeless situation.
I have an interest in receiving material from homeless individuals in the way of poems or writings. I would appreciate being in contact with some of the homeless who have a story to tell and would be agreeable to doing a video segment for the website. The more stories I accumulate, the greater will be the opportunity for the public to understand the myriad ways that people become homeless and how they exist.
Any contributions of material can be entered on homelessimages.com in the guest book. An alternative would be to contact me at chuck@homelessimages.com.
Chuck