Bezdomni w obiektywie fotografa gwiazd

Autor: Michał Chrzanowski

9 Listopad 2015

Artykuł na: 9-16 minut

Fotografował największe sławy - między innymi George’a Cloney’a, Marka Zuckerberga czy Baracka Obamę. Teraz swój obiektyw skierował w stronę bezdomnych mieszkańców Los Angeles. Zobaczcie poruszające portrety wykonane przez Martina Schoellera!

Martin Schoeller to znany i ceniony niemiecki fotograf, który na stałe mieszka w Nowym Jorku. Doświadczenie zdobywał u najlepszych - był między innymi asystentem Annie Leibovitz. Jego styl jest bardzo charakterystyczny - zdjęcia wykonywane z bliska, szczegółowo ukazujące twarz fotografowanej osoby. Portrety celebrytów tworzone przez Schoellera pojawiały się w światowych publikacjach, z czego liczne zdjęcia składały się na rozpoznawalne okładki między innymi magazynu TIME.

A photo posted by TIME Magazine (@time) on Nov 13, 2014 at 4:41am PST

Jednak na początku swojej przygody fotografował nie tylko znajomych i przyjaciół, lecz także ludzi napotkanych na Manhattanie. ”Na ulicach rozkładałem swoje prowizoryczne studio i wykonywałem proste i surowe portrety. Tak budowałem portfolio. Trzeba powiedzieć, że finansowo nie było to opłacalne - kilka razy byłem spłukany, głównie w 1997 i 1998.” - powiedział dla magazynu TIME, Martin Schoeller.

Ostatnio Schoeller powrócił do swoich fotograficznych korzeni i ponownie skierował obiektyw w stronę ulicy. Jednak tym razem fotografuje bezdomnych mieszkańców Los Angeles. Ich portrety są wykonywane w takim samym stylu, jak celebrytów z okładek największych światowych magazynów. Ponadto, każde ze zdjęć publikowane na Instagramie opatrzone jest podpisem, który opowiada poruszającą historię sfotografowanej osoby. Projekt Schoellera ma także zwrócić uwagę na problemy bezdomnych oraz na misję amerykańskiej organizacji Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition, której celem jest żywienie osób, które pozostają bez dachu nad głową.

Martin: "How old were you when you ran away?" Tracy:"I was probably thirteen." Martin:"Have you ever been back? You've seen your parents since then?" Tracey:"No my parents died." Martin:"How long ago did they die?" Tracy:"They both died in'95." Martin:" You ran away after they passed away?" Tracy:"Before."

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Oct 25, 2015 at 7:20am PDT

Martin: “What does it mean you’re a 'street mom'?” Holly: “Basically, I try to like steer them on the right path, try to keep ‘em as much out of harms way as possible. ‘Cause I came out to the streets when I was really, really young. I ran away. I’m trying to keep them from bumping their heads like I did. You know what I mean? Any way I can... It sucks when I lose one. I think over the years I probably lost only four of them. One went to prison because his friend stabbed a lady on Hollywood Boulevard. One got murdered. The other one, she moved away and married a guy who was very abusive and he ended up beating her to death. And I had one son that got killed in a car crash. A drunk driver hit him. But out of all the ones that I raised so far, which is like twenty-six altogether so far, thirteen of them went back to school, one is studying to be a crime scene investigator, an analyst. She’s amazing. She was my problem child but now she’s got two kids of her own, she’s going to college in Westwood.” . Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Holly get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today. Link and details in bio. @gwhfc

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Oct 23, 2015 at 9:43am PDT

Adrian: ”I came out here and when I came out here I was already homeless, I have been homeless for about three years… Little bit of family in Tennessee and my dad is still in Tallahassee… I burned my bridges, I did some things that made them not trust me… not drugs at that point, it was like stealing…they gave me plenty of chances. I mean now that I am older and more mature I don’t, I am not resentful for them, for a long time I carried like a hatred for my family but I realized it was my own doing, so how could I be mad at them, I was a little shit… Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Adrian get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today. Link and details in bio. @gwhfc

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Oct 21, 2015 at 9:41am PDT

Martin: "How long have you been living on the street?” Winter: “Since I was fourteen.” Martin: “What keeps you from getting an apartment? Isn’t there a way to get an apartment?” Winter: “Myself keeps me away.” Martin: “Why?” Winter: “I’m afraid.” Martin: “How old are you?” Winter: “I’m twenty-one." . Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Winter get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today. Link and details in bio. @gwhfc

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Oct 22, 2015 at 3:52pm PDT

Curtis: “Yeah, I’m just happy that I have [Johnathan
. I’m just happy that I got somebody to call me brother and somebody that I can call brother. When you’re out here on the street, I guess that be the main thing you look for is somebody that is gonna be there all the time no matter what you’re going through and be there for you, pick you up.” . Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Curtis get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today @gwhfc. Link and details in bio.

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Oct 28, 2015 at 8:51am PDT

]

Martin: "How long have you been out on the streets?" Racquel: "Since like 2010, going into 2011." M: "Where did you live before, around here?" R: "Yeah...I lived by myself and then I had a boyfriend… It’s difficult. Since I thought I was gonna get married to him. It’s just like… It’s OK. Thank God I got a good spirit. I’m like we shoulda been married. But I’ll be all right.” . Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Racquel get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today @gwhfc. Link and details in bio.

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Oct 26, 2015 at 12:17pm PDT

Monet: “I’m actually a cosmetologist and I prostitute when I can or escort or whatever ‘cause I know the evening and I know how to do night clubs. Even if it doesn’t have to do with sex, I know how to be a partner and just have a good time and I can handle my drinks and whatever else. You know what I mean? And every gentleman needs a lady.” . Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Monet get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today @gwhfc. Link and details in bio.

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Nov 4, 2015 at 6:16am PST

Carrie, GWHFC client. Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Carrie get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today @gwhfc. Link and details in bio.

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Nov 6, 2015 at 7:34am PST

Tiera, GWHFC client. The Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition @gwhfc helps people like Tiera get back on their feet. Want to help make a difference? For details and more portraits follow me: @martinschoeller.

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Nov 8, 2015 at 5:13am PST

Martin: “Everybody seems to know you around here.” Viper: “I am a fixture. I don’t just work in the scenes, I also work behind the scenes with clothing.” M: “With [GWHFC Volunteer
Lyn here?” V: “Yeah. She’s funny. Trust me, never go shopping at a thrift store with her. We just did that. I did that last weekend for a wedding. I’m gettin’ ready to get married in three days. Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Viper get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today @gwhfc. Link and details in bio.

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Nov 2, 2015 at 11:47am PST

]

Martin: “You were in foster care?" Alejandro: “From like second grade all the way until I graduated from high school, long term foster home with three African American women from Texas. They were elderly.” M: “They were okay moms?” A: “Well, there was a lot of kids there so you didn’t get like the attention that a normal…” M: “That a normal kid would get?” A: “Yeah, there was always a dozen at a time.” M: “Are you still in contact with some of them?” A: “Yeah, I have one blood brother and one blood sister. She has two kids. My niece and nephew, they are wonderful kids. I see them whenever I can, whenever I have some money to buy them something or do something for them, rather than just showing up like Charlie the bum with nothing and saying ‘Hey, I’m just gonna hang out for a day or two.'" . Please support the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition to help people like Alejandro get back on their feet. Donate or volunteer today @gwhfc. Link and details in bio.

A photo posted by Martin Schoeller (@martinschoeller) on Oct 28, 2015 at 2:09pm PDT

Więcej portretów wykonanych na ulicach Los Angeles możecie znaleźć na Instagramie Martina Schoellera.

Autor: Michał Chrzanowski

Stały bywalec naszego laboratorium. Ciągle patrzy na świat przez różne ogniskowe oraz przemierza miasta i wioski obwieszony sprzętem fotograficznym. Uwielbia stylowe aparaty, a także eleganckie i funkcjonalne akcesoria. Ma słabość do monochromu i suwaków w programie Lightroom, po godzinach – do literatury faktu i muzyki country.

Słowa kluczowe: