Overlooked

Photographer's Explanation: 

“For this project, I approached strangers on the streets of Pandora, an area with a high population of people (and their dogs) experiencing homelessness, and asked for their consent to be photographed. Each photograph was taken with explicit verbal permission, preceded by at least 5 minutes of small talk in the Canadian manner—a skill at which I am not proficient, both culturally and linguistically. I made it a point to ask for more than they were comfortable with, ensuring that I received at least one "no" from each subject. For instance, for the photo featuring leather shoes, I engaged in a ten-minute conversation with the individual while he assisted another resident of the tent city. He eventually agreed to let me photograph only his lower body, a request to which I gladly complied, and we concluded our interaction on a positive note. I also used cigarettes as my opening lines, which worked like a charm. I finished the pack in less than 2 hours. I had a nicotine high the whole day.” - Hengshen Liu