This photograph was taken by Suzanne Stein in the New York Part 2 series in 2017. The reason why I like this photo is because it shows that everything is not what it seems. Initially I saw a homeless person who has a cardboard box covering their face to hide the embarrassment of having to sit on the street and ask strangers for money. But then when I zoomed into the photo, from my perspective, “doesn’t look homeless”. Their clothes look clean as if it’s brand new, not rough around the edges like you would typically a see homeless person in New York. It could be someone pretending to be homeless for attention as a scam which if it was the case takes away from those who are in those situations who truly need the resources. Maybe that’s why they’re covering their face; to hide themselves from the criticism of being found out as a fraud. But it could be interpreted from various angles so I like how it plays with your eyes to believe if this person is truly homeless or not.
3 elements from the Steve McCurry video that are shown in this photo are Rule of Thirds, Diagonals and Figure to Ground. Rule of Thirds is shown by the subject at the bottom leaving the space above which if split into thirds, the person lands on the intersecting line. Diagonal lines from the brick wall and windows naturally give the subject’s body a slant to see their side profile. Figure to Ground would be the subject as the foreground and the reflection on the windows of the busy street as the background.
I think the feeling that Suzanne wanted to portray in this photo is the reality of what loneliness feels like to be homeless; assuming the subject is in that situation. New York’s motto of “mind your business” holds a heavy weight when there’s no busyness happening in your life waiting for a miracle to come by while watching that hustle and bustle of a city moving around you nonstop. The reflection on the window could also be a reflection of that person wishing to be apart of that movement and feeling productive. Giving them a meaning that they have a life with things to do and people to see but that’s not the reality. Being on the streets watching others not paying you any mind, judging you with looks to feel less than, telling you to “get a job” as if it’s easy when you literally have nothing. It’s sad and depressing which would make anyone want to cry if we were in their shoes. But there’s a flip of side of not knowing what or who to believe. There are people who do pretend to be in a less fortunate situations as a selfish come up for themselves once again takes away from those who truly need the resources to survive in this big crazy city.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said the photo captures something of what it feels like to be homeless especially the loneliness of it.
And it is the composition that does that. The dark empty top 2/3s or more of the photo weigh down on the person under the box. And the reflection in the window, as you state, shows the world that the subject is outside of.