The Heart of the City by Gregory Rogalsky
I met this girl along with two men in a local alley.*
I believe the article should focus on the challenges faced by the homeless and address the negative reactions and criticism individuals may encounter when taking photographs of their own city and its residents. I have often been told that it is disrespectful to photograph someone on the street with a telephoto lens. However, I have been shooting street photography with long lenses since the 80s, using various types of cameras. I've always approached shooting street as a photo essay and used multiple cameras with different lenses. Street photography is great because it can be done with any camera. All you need is a camera and confidence. It's important to acknowledge that people may get upset when being photographed on the street, even if they are not the intended subject. It's also worth noting that individuals, known as "triggered individuals," can be quite dangerous, whether encountered on the street or online.
I've had situations where I'm taking photos of someone on the street or talking to them, and then a third party comes along and starts interfering. These individuals, also known as "triggered individuals," can be quite dangerous, whether you encounter them on the street or online. I've read online articles discussing the ethics of street photography. Is it ethical to take photos in a public place? The truth is, not every photo you take will be a beautiful one. When you're in the moment, trying to focus, get the right exposure, and frame the shot, it's already challenging enough. If your aim is to capture meaningful or graphic images, hesitation can be detrimental.
Having been homeless and struggled with drug addiction, I can relate to the experiences of the people I photograph. Mainstream media often overlooks the challenges faced by homeless individuals, drug addiction, and mental health issues. It's crucial to remember that the person on the sidewalk is someone's son, with a past not so different from the rest of us. Before judging others, it's important to consider how quickly someone's life can change. Anyone can face challenges that lead to homelessness or drug addiction. There is a connection between the stress many people face, the availability of drugs, both street drugs and pharmaceuticals, and the resulting public health issues. Documenting the things I see on the street and publishing those images is an important link in the chain of understanding the severity of these issues. It's essential to bring attention to drug overdosing, mental health issues, and homelessness as the biggest public health issues we face in the western world.
Looking at these photos, it struck me that you don't see many of these people around anymore. I'd like to believe that they got clean and left the streets, or maybe they simply moved on. The sad reality is that many of them have passed away due to addiction, violence, or exposure.
Calgary Street Photography Taken with Nikkor 35 F2.0 AIS on Nikon D4. I met this girl along with two men in a local alley. I had photographed one of the guys before, and we started out having a nice little chat after they all agreed that I wasn’t a cop. We were discussing drug addiction , homelessness and the lack of public bathrooms and places to wash as showers. It was clear we were on the same page. Then, I told them that I was sharing these images on Facebook, on my personal page, and with this group. They wanted me to express to you guys that they are happy that someone actually gives two fucks about them and the issue they are facing. Just then, a guy came up, and I could tell from how he was walking was trouble. Spider sense was just a ringing. As he approached me from the rear and got closer, I backpedalled and circled to the left, and he started yelling at me, demanding to know why I was hassling these people. Before I could say anything, the gut that I had photographed before waded in and said.." No, No, he is cool. We know him. he isn't hassling us". But this clown was not satisfied with this and continued to advance on me.. yada, yada yada. I ended up walking way. Kind of disappointed I wasn't able to spend more time with these guys. I was struck by how young this girl was and really wanted to know her story. The guy who came up to me in a threatening manner that I had to deal with in this interaction reminds me of many of the negative commenters on the group. Both of them really don't want me to photograph this sort of content because it offends their idea of social justice. In this case, this guy's interference restricted me from getting more content/photos and more understanding of how this young girl got into this situation and perhaps how she could get out. When I took the pictures, her face was in the shadows, and I really couldn’t see her face/age. Now that I see my photo, I know that she looks really young. What the fuck is she doing on the street smoking meth.?
Calgary Street Photography "The Heart of the City" TM Taken with Canon 50mm f0.95 Dream Lens on Sony A7rii
I took this street photograph in Calgary using a Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D Aspherical lens on a Nikon D4. The photo was captured behind 7th Ave in Calgary. I encountered a man who was seen fixing his pipe, which appeared to be filled with some kind of white substance, possibly meth or crack. It seemed to be meth as he was using a meth pipe. In the background, you can see Bankers Hall and the colorful paintings in the alley. Unfortunately, the alley has become a public health issue, littered with garbage, urine, and human feces. It's concerning that in the past 10 years, I have never witnessed the police patrolling this alley, despite the open drug use. It's evident that the situation has changed, as individuals openly using drugs in public are no longer being arrested. Downtown seems noticeably empty, and those who are present often prefer using the plus 15 to avoid walking on the streets. I spoke with a local business owner who shared that over the last 2 years, he has lost 80% of his savings while keeping his restaurant open. He mentioned that his customers are reluctant to visit downtown due to the unpleasant environment. I've also noticed that the condition of the drug addicts is deteriorating, and they are becoming increasingly younger. It's heartbreaking to witness the impact of this poison on a generation of young people. Unfortunately, deaths due to overdosing occur frequently in this area, as well as in homes. I stayed long enough to ensure that the man I encountered was not in danger of overdosing, and then continued on my way. I recently shared a telephoto shot taken with a Nikkor 300 2.8 IF-ED AI-s lens in this group, along with a closer shot using the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D Aspherical lens. I noticed that the comments on the previous post have been closed by the moderator, and I'm unsure why. I value and welcome all comments and hope that the moderators will allow the conversation to continue. Regarding the lens, I'm experiencing an issue where I am unable to adjust the aperture, and it remains stuck at f1.4. Additionally, the front element has sustained a couple of deep scratches as a result of an attack while I was walking to the train. I'm considering purchasing another copy, which would be my third of this lens.
Calgary Street Photography Taken with Nikkor 200 F2.0 IF-ED AIS on Nikon D4 This guy was yelling at people and throwing punches and kicks. He had some nice kicks. I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of one of them. I think he has had some training some where along the line. I wanted to go over and talk to him, but he was ... acting really violent. And didn't want to risk having to deal with him. Hopefully he might be settled down enough to talk to at some point
It's alway super upsetting to see one who is so young and a female on the street. Begging for money, clearly on drugs. With the exception of a baby, I cant think of any one more vulnerable. Life on the street are hard. Violence and sexual exploitation are a way of life. It is the concrete jungle. It's not only dangerous to be homeless and drug addicted perhaps suffering with mental health issues.But it's also dangerous to be out documenting the life as well. Over the years/decades I have been threatened countless times and attacked with knives and sticks and fist and feet. For me it's just part of street photography. One learns to have the ability to de escalate when ever possible. And if it comes down to it, the ability to defend yourself in a violent situation. And than in court.
I took this street photograph in Calgary using a Canon 50mm f/0.95 Dream Lens on a Sony A7R camera. I was struck by how much this man resembled someone from the old horse-drawn carriages with glass sides. The photo was taken on a Calgary C-train station platform. The homeless situation in Calgary is becoming desperate, as many people refuse to go to shelters at night for various reasons. Being homeless in the bitter cold of a Calgary winter is a public health issue.
I've photographed this man numerous times over the last couple of years. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that we began to talk. He was injured at work several years ago and suffered a brain injury, which is how he ended up on the street. He has a social worker, but I don't think they are taking very good care of him. The photo was taken with a Canon 50mm F0.95 lens on a Sony A7rii.
I was doing some street photography in Calgary with my Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D Aspherical lens on my Nikon D4 when I came across a girl in an alley behind the Trans Canada Highway. After taking a few shots, I checked to see if she was breathing. I woke her up and asked if she was okay, and fortunately, she was. We had a nice chat, and I took some more photos. However, I decided to let this particular photo stand alone for a while. It's shocking that this kind of thing is happening in 2021 in one of the wealthiest countries in Canada.
Calgary Street Photography taken with Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D Aspherical on Nikon D4. This was strange. I had photographed this guy many times before and had often helped him out. On this day, he came at me with a pipe right in front of the police. Later that day, he threw a rock at me and narrowly missed hitting a woman who was walking in front of me. Not sure what his deal was. I haven't seen him around in some time. Perhaps he is in jail or dead.
I was out doing some street photography in Calgary with my Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D Aspherical lens on my Nikon D4. I came across a lady outside a budget movie theater asking for spare change. While my girlfriend went inside the theater to use the restroom and warm up, I stayed outside and struck up a conversation with the lady and took a few photos. She was really nice and sweet, and she reminded me of one of my aunts. She mentioned that she and her partner were trying to save up for an RV, but she seemed doubtful about it happening. It was sad to see her feeling so defeated. I gave her some change, and she was very grateful, although it wasn't much. Later, when we were inside the theater, I drank all my diet coke too quickly, and my girlfriend asked me to get another one for her. Instead of buying another drink, I went back outside and gave the remaining change to the lady. It wasn't very cold that night, but it was still heartbreaking to think that she was sleeping outside. It's really upsetting to see this kind of thing happening in one of the wealthiest places on earth. I always make sure to have at least one good camera lens with me whenever I'm out. The Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D Aspherical lens is perfect for taking environmental street shots because of its fast aperture. I often refer to it as my "conversation lens" because I use it to take pictures of people while chatting with them.
I took this picture in an alley in downtown Calgary. I had a brief conversation with a man and captured a few shots with my Nikon and wide-angle lens. After that, I walked up to the third floor of a parking garage. I'm always cautious in parking garages, as walking up the concrete stairwells can be risky if you encounter someone who might pose a threat. From the third floor of the garage, I looked down into the alley and noticed the man preparing his fentanyl on tin foil. Just as I found a good angle, the man started smoking his drugs. I used my Nikkor 300 2.8 IF-ED AI-s lens on my mirrorless camera to take pictures. Over the years, I have relied on my Nikkor 300 2.8 IF-ED AI-s to capture some of my most meaningful images. In this particular instance, the distance and darkness of the subject made the magnification and speed of the lens essential. It's true that this image has a surveillance element to it, similar to how wildlife photographers use long lenses to capture natural behavior. I also enjoy using a lens like the Nikkor 300 2.8 IF-ED AI-s for street photography. I have used a wide variety of telephoto lenses while shooting street scenes over the years. Sometimes, if I envision a shot with a telephoto lens, I will use it to capture the image. Then, I often switch to a normal or wide lens and engage in a conversation with the person I'm photographing. Some may wonder why I don't ask for permission before taking a photo. I've tried that approach in the past, but it usually results in people posing for the photo, which changes the authenticity of the shot. After taking candid shots, I often capture environmental portraits as well. While some photographers may have ethical concerns about my approach, I believe that everyone has the right to their opinion and to shoot street photography in their own way.
I was out tonight doing some test shots with my new Nikkor 50 F1.2 AI-s lens. I was taking some nighttime photos and feeling really inspired by the shots I was getting. Even though I wasn't feeling great, I decided to keep going instead of heading home. As I widened my circle and headed down the alley, I was focused on shooting old garages and things in the alley. I was about 3 blocks from home when I saw someone had thrown a bag of garbage on the sidewalk in front of the church. As I got closer, I realized that there was a foot sticking out of the bag. I became concerned and walked across the street to take a closer look. As I approached, I saw that it was a person lying on the sidewalk. I tried to flag down a passing cab to get help, but the driver didn't stop and almost ran me over. I quickly took a photo of the person and then went closer to check for signs of life. I couldn't see her breathing, so I tried to wave down another car for help, but they ignored me. I then called out to the woman and tried to wake her up. Finally, she started to stir, and I helped her to her feet. She was shivering, dressed only in a light coat, while I was wearing a jacket. I asked if she had somewhere to go, and she mentioned a place called Alpha House. I pointed her to a nearby cab and told her to go there. I was relieved when she agreed. I said goodnight to her and she thanked me. It's important to note that this incident didn't happen in downtown, but in a nice neighborhood. The issues of drug addiction, homelessness, and mental health affect communities everywhere. I don't want to sound like a hero, but I sincerely believe that if I hadn't come along, she might have been left there. It's getting cold in Calgary, and unless she gets help, I worry about her well-being.
Often you will see homeless people sleeping on the street during the day. The reason for this is multifold. First of they are exhausted. Secondly, sleeping in the day out of the open offers a measure of protection.
This lady died last years of an over dose. We spoke often and she was really street wise I really miss her.
Using street drug is really hard on the body mind soul and the teeth.
Being a witness and documenting these images is not easy.
I still have hope.
When encountering someone on the street struggling with drug addiction, it's natural to feel empathy for them. However, it's important to recognize the potential consequences of their situation. Drug overdose is a serious risk, and it represents a tragic loss of life and potential. Additionally, there are significant costs associated with emergency responses, healthcare treatment, and the impact on society as a whole. In Canada, while healthcare may be publicly funded, it's not truly free, as the expenses are covered by taxpayers. Moreover, individuals grappling with drug addiction are often unable to work, pay taxes, or contribute to the economy in other ways. The economic impact extends to businesses as well, with increased incidents of shoplifting and the potential for workplace accidents due to drug use. In industries like construction, drug and alcohol abuse poses a significant risk to workers' safety and productivity. As a result, drug testing is a standard procedure in the event of a workplace incident.
It's not easy being a witness and documenting these images. I believe we are all put here to do something on this earth. One of the things I think God wanted me to do was street photography. I've never made any money doing it. It's dangerous and really hard on family and personal relationships. Still, I feel a sense of exhilaration when I capture a meaningful photo while out shooting. Most of my work was done on film and is either in prints or still sitting in negatives. I've shot over 300 rolls of film in the last 3 years, some of which have been processed, and much is sitting in Tupperware ice cream buckets waiting to be developed.
I remember taking this street photograph in Calgary using a Nikkor 300 2.8 IF-ED AI-s lens on a Nikon F2as/MD-2 camera with Tri-X film. The light was amazing on that cold fall morning back in the 80s. I ended up capturing almost an entire roll of film of a man walking towards me. Like many of the men I photograph on the street, one day I just stopped noticing him. He was a nice guy. We would always talk about his coat and how much we both loved it.
I have a collection of street photographs taken in historic Calgary with a Nikkor 300 2.8 IF-ED AI-s on a Nikon F2as/MD-2 camera using Tri-X film. I have been a Calgary street photographer for many years, capturing images of the places and people I've encountered. I recently found this page and wanted to share my street photographs with others. I have been taking photos since I was 15 and I am now 59, so I have accumulated a significant collection of images. Many of these images will be featured in a movie project that I am currently working on. One of my favorite images was taken in the 80s outside a downtown liquor store while I was street shooting with a friend. A guy and a few friends came out of the store, and when he saw us, he gave us an iconic laugh. I believe this image captures the essence of Calgary street photography. I would love to hear your thoughts on my work.