Nekoda Boggs- Street Photography

These photos were all taken by Diane Arbus who was known as the "photographer of freaks". I chose these images because I've always been drawn to the people who are different, who are outcasts, the ones society thinks are not normal. Each of these three photos are very up close and personal. We may not know their names but we can guess their stories. This can be through their eyes, posture or just where Arbus decided to move to place them in the photo. The principles that Arbus used the most in these three pictures were contrast, rule of thirds and anti rule of thirds. 

I was inspired by Diane Arbus and her fearlessness of getting up close and personal. At first I was scared and wasn't planning on working to hard to get people's names but then I ended up in the area with the most homeless people and I couldn't help myself but want to talk to them. I sat down with two people and got their stories and names. While, I did not get the name of the other four people I took pictures of though, I probably should have. I will, however, share with you the stories of the two I did.
I was also inspired by Arbus because I tried to used the anti rule of thirds, rule of thirds and contrast. It may have not turned out exactly as I would have liked and planned it was still a fun project getting to walk around the city. Also, four of the six people I photographed are homeless and while Arbus was the photographer of freaks I decided to be inspired to be the photographer of the homeless.

On April 25, 2016 Lee and her service dog Lola made their way to a doctor's appointment in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 Lee became homeless when she was 14-years-old and was born with Marfan Syndrome. This syndrome is a genetic disorder that makes a person's features enlarged, Lee is effected in her figures and her feet. She has undergone eight different surgeries and has many health issues. Lee's mother died when she was nine years old leaving her with her father who didn't take care of her. Lee's service dog Lola is meant to bark and get help if she ever stops breathing. 

"The streets don't care who you are."

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Stephanie Lingly sits outside of a local building in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 25, 2016 with no other place to go or be.

 Stephanie Lingly is a homeless woman in transition from a man to a women. She ran away from home at the age of 17 and hitchhiked around. She has ADHD and a friend of hers in high school taught her how to abuse her medication. Her hitchhiking got her severely injured and she traveled from Indianapolis to Miami refusing medical treatment until she found herself back in Grand Rapids. 2/3 of her right eye and 4/3 of her jaw are titanium. After her surgeries Stephanie became suicidal and took all of her medication at once. "I lined them up and took them all" she said. Now she keeps only a week's worth of medication with her.
Stephanie's transition hasn't been easy on her or her family. She has been married twice with 2 sons from her first marriage and one son from her second. Stephanie's second wife left when she decided to make the decision to go from being a man to a women. Now she is barely getting by after she pays all her bills and is left with no more than $15. That isn't' enough to pay for her hormone medicine making her transition from a man to a women even more difficult.

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In Grand Rapids, Michigan a homeless man watches as construction workers stop for a break on April 25, 2016.

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A couple walks their dog in Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids, Michigan on the warm spring day on April 25, 2016

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A boxer sits tied to a trash can waiting for his owners to be done inside a local shop in Grand Rapids on April 25, 2016.

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A homeless woman sits in the shade and plays her guitar in hopes for some change from passers by on April 25, 2016.

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