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I hesitated posting this one, as in all my years of photographing I have never photographed a homeless person.  It’s a very sensitive topic, as some people believe it is never an acceptable thing to do, while others take on the view that homelessness is part of our society and as photographers we are obligated to document everything, including those among us who are most vulnerable.

I’ve shied away from it, mostly because the idea of photographing a homeless person seemed too easy/lazy as a photographer and, yes, in some ways disrespectful.

So why the exception here?  Well, I had framed this scene hoping someone would come by to buy an ice cream cone.  But the first figure that entered the scene was this man.  The photo does shed light on the less polished reality of downtown Toronto, so in that way I do believe I am documenting something true, something real.   At the same time, I hope I’m not taking advantage of this man.

—Peter.