It’s easy to believe that homeless people have few or no choices. But on a road trip in Australia a few years ago, one individual effectively reminded me that he did have options, notably where to make his stand: right in front of a carousel. This led to recognizing how other people had made decisions to be similarly conspicuous. Some I had seen, and photographed, long before.

Perhaps these choices are partly for safety, perhaps because conspicuous locations are often better for raising money, or for other reasons. But they also serve a social purpose: Not out of sight, not out of mind, not if we can help it, is the implied challenge to the world’s incompetence and indifference.

 

Central ferry terminal, Sydney 2019

 

 

2nd and M Streets NW, Washington, DC 2019

 

 

Carousel, Geelong, Victoria 2019

 

 

Homeless charity and neighbor, Soho Square, London 2019

 

 

104 Piccadilly, London 1969

 

 

Seat of government: Whitehall, London 2019

 

 

Ravenscourt Park Underground station, London 2019

 

 

Connecticut Ave and Van Ness St, Washington, DC 2019

 

 

Water Tower Place, Chicago 2023

 

 

Five-star hotel and neighbors, Ahmedabad 2007