Poor People

Is it any coincidence that four of the major academic photojournalism programs are offered within close driving (or even walking) proximity of multiple trailer parks and pockets of known methamphetamine use? 

Misery loves company and photographers are happy to provide that company.  They’ll wallow with you through your darkest hour and when you’ve lost your job, been evicted from your crappy tract home and lost all your friends…a photojournalist will actually ASK to be right there with you through it all.  And if you really go off the deep end and try to drown your troubles in cheap booze, a photographer will probably join you at the bar.  (Though ethically s/he can’t actually PAY for your drinks)

Though it’s not impossible to make a good picture story using rich people, it’s so much easier to exploit your local homeless population or hapless teenage mom.  Third-world poverty creams our twinkies too, but since we tend to be on pretty tight budgets ourselves, it’s good to know that you can almost always find desperation in your own backyard.

And remember, squalor almost always has more aesthetic appeal in black and white.