honorable mention
George Phillips united states
title
Anything Helps: Signs of the Times
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entry description
While the problems of the homeless have to a large extent been overwhelmed by news about the pandemic, the issues were here before it, remain today and will continue into the future. The purpose of the project is to depict the street-corner homeless as individual human beings, without the distraction of the usual surrounding mess and filth, in highly-detailed studio-style portraits. The images are intimately connected to each person's personal history told in their own words. The highly detailed images (MUCH LARGER than the 10 mb I am able to upload) and the often gut-wrenching stories put the viewer face-to-face with the physical and emotional scars of break-ups, injury, illness, drug addiction, bad choices and bad luck. The project is about getting beyond the statistics and seeing a widespread humanitarian problem one person at a time, up-close and personal. The work submitted was completed primarily near my home in Ventura, California, although a few subjects were found elsewhere during trips made primarily for other purposes. During the past three months, I have produced a dozen images with interviews, work that demonstrates both the power of the concept and my ability to overcome the inherent challenges. I am now applying for an ND Award to help me to complete the project (50-100 images and stories). The Award would help make possible the travel necessary to find a greater number and diversity of people. It could also help underwrite the cost of making the large, high-quality prints needed to convey the intimate experience that is a primary goal of the project. Once the project is completed, I would like to bring it into the world by promoting gallery showings and publication in journals, magazines and, ideally, a book. The ultimate goal is to change things for the better.about the photographer
Our family album shows me at age four using a Brownie camera. Little did I know it was the beginning of a life of photography. Whether it was hauling a view camera up the side of a steep canyon or leaning out the door of a helicopter shooting while my boss held my belt, the camera was always there. I progressed from being the photographer for my high school yearbook to getting one of the first MFA's in photography from Claremont Graduate School. A second masters in Communications led to a broader career, but one in which writing, photography, film or video always played a part. I earned a blackbelt in the non-violent martial art of Aikido. I spent three years sailing in Mexico and documenting my travels in a weekly blog.back to gallery