G in Birmingham

[Barry Keavney]

I'm quite lucky with where I live at the moment. Ho ho, it's not California or somewhere snazzy like that; but it's also not...Syria, for example.
I live in between three madly different towns in the West Midlands. Birmingham, Walsall and West Bromwich.
Everyone of them has a different feel and quality, and likeability factor to me also.
I sometimes debate to myself which one I will pop into on a given day. How I feel on that day, the weather, mood, people etc, all that stuff is detrimental to my over all day, photographically.
Here's one from Birmingham.
I'm quite an open person generally. I'm not easily scared of by groups of hooded youths or seemingly violent homeless people who desperately need a lighter.

And so I met this guy. I asked his name, many times, but he just said G or something similar. I couldn't really understand anything he was saying. I asked him if I could take his photo. And he obliged. I took several similar shots, before he started off down the street, motioning me to follow...

Well, not fifteen feet down the road he marched himself into and well-known clothes retailer. I followed him, looked at the sales staff and shrugged my shoulders, before G started demonstrating his karate towards me.
At no point was it a dangerous or scary situation, just an odd one.

Here's G.


Gee in Oasis by Barry Keavney, on Flickr

 

[Brian Moore]

Very interesting story, Barry and a very good portrait.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Looks familiar. Really.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Trust you to get involved in that sort of thing!

 

[Barry Keavney]

I dunno; I'd say I've got a broad spectrum of approachability!?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Excellent eye contact Barry - it's crying out for a B&W version I reckon

 

[Hamish Gill]

I dunno; I'd say I've got a broad spectrum of approachability!?

Broad spectrum of somthing, yeah

- - - Updated - - -

I'm glad your back Barry! ... What you doing today? Come to focus at the nec!

- - - Updated - - -

I have a spare ticket as long as you don't mind being called Tom Brookes for the day ...

 

[Barry Keavney]

What time you going there mate? I love to catch up with you.

 

[Hamish Gill]

... Sorry I missed this ... Should have said to ring me!

 

[Barry Keavney]

It's alright. Had a mad day here pre-planned. I would actually have been running away, if I had gone.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Haha... Another time!

 

[Pete Askew]

A wonderful image and all the better for the engagement and story. Love it.

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Barry, you have good courage and great eye!

 

[Barry Keavney]

Thanks all,

I will NOT be going next nor near the B&W feature Mr. Dodkin, although I do agree with you to a degree!
It has become my intention recently to negate the visceral attribute's that I sometimes might feel towards a particular image or person/place. B&W did completely change how the image was read, indeed. As you know, it evokes a certain emotional response from the viewer that I considered to be needless. Plus, I love colour

To be frank, I don't care much about this man. Or his life, or attitude; or even what put him on the street. I am just interested in the fact that he was there though. Existing.
I feel bad for him sure, but I have tons of images (as do others, I'm sure) of people from all race's, colour, creed, background etc, who beg, steal and borrow to survive on the street; but I'll be damned if I'm going to attempt to highlight his particular story, emotional or financial, to a society that is already aware.
I sometimes wonder what people think I am trying to do when I photograph homeless people or those less fortunate. Whether I'm exploiting them, or trying to exploit the issue of homelessness.
Neither really. Just documenting.
I love using colour though! I also wouldn't have been able to present that boogie in all of its glory in B&W either! No sir, green is the way!

Nah, it's not courage Nihat. I have an incredible ability to blend into the society I'm in. In this case, I probably looked homeless myself There all just people.

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Barry,
My compliment was purely based on your successfully close-up portrait of a couple of troubled eyes. It was not on the issue of homelessness or any other matter. I blend in pretty well too. Yet, having lived in places like New York, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and given the statistics of very differing crime rates of the U.S. and England, my compliment "courage" still stands. I think the separation of your subject and the background, and the closeness of the man, the troubles in his eyes, and the smoke makes this image powerful.