Homeless

Posted by Twelvebit (Victoria, United States) on 7 December 2008 in Cityscape & Urban.

Austin Intersection Image 1

I was going to continue with the wildlife theme this week but I changed my mind. I received my cheapo Kenko 2x teleconverter the other day from B&H Photo and decided to test it out during my lunch hour while I was in Austin for a meeting.

There's a Mexican fast food restaurant where I sometimes pick up lunch at the drive-in window and then, using my car as a "blind," sit in the parking lot after eating and photograph birds in the trees --or whatever else that looks interesting around the intersection my parking spot presides over.

I took these all using the 2x teleconverter and my cheapo Nikon 70-300mm zoom lens, so whatever focal length is showing up in the exif data needs to be multiplied by 2 (making this shot 600mm). I'm not sure if the teleconverter will autofocus on my D40 if I'm using the right kind of lens but it doesn't really matter because the cheap Nikon zoom I was using won't autofocus on the D40 anyway.

After looking at the results I decided I probably had enough photos to post as sort of a typical lunch-hour at this particular Austin intersection. These images aren't as sharp as I'd like, and I could add some sharpening at the expense of more noise, but all in all I'd have to say I'm satisfied considering this teleconverter costs less than $100.

Also, it so happens that my first image will appear on Sunday, which is "shopping cart day" for JoeB, and the very first shot I took that day has a shopping cart in it --so here goes.....

vfxy Photoblogs | Listed on Photoblogs.org

Comments (7)

sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

I read your notes about this shot. Interesting... I personally think your capture is superb. Sad to see the person living on the street...too much of that.

7 Dec 2008 5:21am

@sherri: Without knowing the specifics I have mixed feelings. A different guy I observed on a previous trip was clearly mentally disturbed. If he could be helped then I think his abandonment to the street is a tragedy. But if "help" just means being institutionalized and warehoused against his will, then he may indeed be better off on the street. I think the bottom line is that we don't live in a society that is willing to provide dignified and palatable help to those who need it. Help is always conditional with terms that require insulting and condescending subordination. And then there are people who simply can't or won't be helped under any circumstances. It's a complex situation that requires individuated action, and our society only applies one-size-fits-all solutions.

Marcah from Quincy, United States

Nice candid. Looks like the new converter is working well.

7 Dec 2008 6:06am

@Marcah: It works reasonably well for the price.

Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France

A professionnal report !

7 Dec 2008 11:16am

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

A lot of destitution for a small photo. Capture is great, sharpness and light are okay.

7 Dec 2008 11:36am

gbe from kansas city, United States

a truly sad photo. who would have thought that shopping carts would become a survival item.

7 Dec 2008 7:33pm

@gbe: I've actually seen this for years. But without knowing the specifics I have mixed feelings. A different guy I observed on a previous trip was clearly mentally disturbed. If he could be helped then I think his abandonment to the street is a tragedy. But if "help" just means being institutionalized and warehoused against his will, then he may indeed be better off on the street. I think the bottom line is that we don't live in a society that is willing to provide dignified and palatable help to those who need it. Help is always conditional with terms that require insulting and condescending subordination. And then there are people who simply can't or won't be helped under any circumstances. It's a complex situation that requires individuated action, and our society only applies one-size-fits-all solutions.

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

My eye went to the cart first, then I noticed the person behind it. It is becoming more common where carts are used to hold and transport personal belongings.

7 Dec 2008 11:15pm

@JoeB: I've seen this for a long time. Without knowing the specifics I have mixed feelings. A different guy I observed on a previous trip was clearly mentally disturbed. If he could be helped then I think his abandonment to the street is a tragedy. But if "help" just means being institutionalized and warehoused against his will, then he may indeed be better off on the street. I think the bottom line is that we don't live in a society that is willing to provide dignified and palatable help to those who need it. Help is always conditional with terms that require insulting and condescending subordination. And then there are people who simply can't or won't be helped under any circumstances. It's a complex situation that requires individuated action, and our society only applies one-size-fits-all solutions.

Amir from Tehran, Iran

I was in Austin last week and saw a lot of homeless people, and that's a pity. However your 2X has proven itself worthy of your purchase. I like the result

17 Dec 2008 6:41pm

Add your comment ...

next day →

Nikon D40
1/1250 second
F/5.6
ISO 1600
300 mm