Photo of the week: Homeless in Bucharest

I am an American photographer based in Bucharest and I actually have seen this color work before. I would think that the (corrupt) government will be forced to change the situation for the city's homeless now that Romania has joined the EU.

Comment posted by Davin Ellicson on August 2, 2007

...I remember seeing dozens of photo essays on this story from the same period, it was almost as if there were more photojournalists living 'underground' than the homeless themselves, and then nothing, the story 'disappeared' (lack of interest from editors? situation resolved??) does anyone know what the situation today is?

Comment posted by polo on August 3, 2007

It is a heart breaking....and complex problem which goes beyond 'a corrupt government'. With the collapse of communism -during which time street children were often forcibly institutionalized in grim orphanages, all social programmes and health care systems collapsed as well. And, in many former communist countries they have not been replaced. In Moldova the situation is not much better -probably worse. So far, the international community has paid little attention to the devastating effects of system change and the newly introduced laws of the market. In Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, which in terms of socio-economic development ranks one place above Bolivia, the poor live on hand-outs. It has come to a point where in some Western European countries NGOs actually offer you the option to 'adopt' a Moldovan granny. In Odessa, a thriving Black Sea Port some three hours by road from Moldova's Capital Chisinau, there are thousands of street kids living on and below the surface. The difference between Romania and Ukraine being that Ukraine has no functioning government, let alone a systematic approach to extreme poverty. In the meantime, these kids are dying fast, many amongst them from HIV/Aids. Also have a look at the work of photographer David Gillanders http://www.davidgillanders.com/

Comment posted by Peter on August 3, 2007

The thrust of this week's photo topic, as Martin is presenting it, seems to be the question: Black and White or Color? Chien-Chi Chang's portfolio is a mix of the two, though predominantly (shot or presented) in black and white. However, what dominates Chang's work is the thing that dominates Magnum in general: Humanity. Secondary attributes that seem to unify Magnum Photos are: Dramatic Compositions of Decisive Moments (big and small) caught in Real Time situations. On all those counts, Chang represents Magnum well. His photos are fantastic, as is the one presented above -- for its humanity, composition, story, etc. Its color content, however, is minimal. And for me, after a brief systematic survey of Chang's images, prompted by Martin's presentation of this image (thank you very much -- I've now become a fan of a photographer whose work I had only cursory familiarity with), my anti-color bias kicks in fully. It's a familiar question that has been argued for decades -- with Magnum being a major forum for this often highly emotional divide. The anti-color bias, as I and many hold it, basically goes like this: Color gets in the way. Unless color is a major contributor to the presentation (and, for me, unless it is used consistently as a signature pallet, as per Alex Webb, for example), don't use it! I don't see anything in Chang's color that I see in the other components of his photography. I find many signatures of Humanity, Composition, and Timing in his body of work. But I don't see color as a signature characteristic for him and, therefore, for me, it is a distraction. And it isn't just an academic ideology; my bias against color is visceral, as is my preference for black and white. Those of us with this bias must drive those without it nuts. My apologies. But thanks, Martin, for re-opening this sore. And thanks for directing those of us to more closely examine photographers whose work we hadn't yet internalized. Great stuff, Chien-Chi Chang! (Please drop the color.)

Comment posted by Terry Carroll on August 3, 2007

Terry, actually my intention was not to start a discussion on color versus black and white or vice versa. Until about two years ago I was one of the biggest advocates for black and white. My opinion, my interest and my style changed however and by now I see in color when I photograph. However I do highly respect photographers shooting black and white. Bruce Gilden for example once said: "Everything isn't black and white, but for me it might as well be." I love looking at black and white photography as much as I love looking at color photography.

The reason for posting this color photograph by Chien-Chi was not to ask whether he should shoot in color or in black and white, nor was it posted to show how different his color work is from his black and white work. I just felt that his color work isn't known as well as his black and white work and therefore wanted to point that out. Thank's a lot for your comment and your thoughts!

Comment posted by Martin Fuchs on August 4, 2007

Being a photojournalist myself, I often ask this B/W question to myself, should it be colour or b/w? But when I am faced with my subjects/story nothing matters to me. I know b/w fascinates most but I feel its colour that makes the common man realise 'its real' what he sees in our images. Black and white just becomes a graphic representation. Specially when we have colour option with us. I feel human interest story should not be judged marely based on colour or b/w medium.

In this particular image by Chien-chi, I see the warm light from top is 'hope' as against the same shot in black and white would have become just another ambient light. Brlliant shot though.

Yes, I do agree with Polo, we all have covered stories of human sufferings but how many of them actually see the light of the day?

Comment posted by ALOK JOHRI on August 4, 2007

Sorry i don't speak english
Thank you for the nices photos of magnumum all in the years (very sorry for my english).
bravo pour cette belle lumiére à Chien-Chi Chang

Comment posted by jd72 on August 7, 2007

Maybe here is not the best place to express how impressed I am with this website, but I don't know any other place to write.

I am starting in photography and Magnum is my place to learn from the greatest photographers.

This world needs the kind of people who work for Magnum. What a great way to show us the real world.

PD I'm sorry for my limited English.

Comment posted by Joserra on August 12, 2007

You bring to public what we wouldn't have known without you.
Reading about children living in poverty is different from seeing them!

Comment posted by Best homes on December 11, 2007

terrific shot, terrific problem...

Comment posted by matteo on October 16, 2008

this is pure crap. How stupid to be to spend a time in bucharest and to show only pictures with homeless? Really dude, you either are stupid or just plain stupid.

Comment posted by Alex on January 14, 2009