Haunting Portraits of the Homeless by Lee Jeffries

Haunting Portraits of the Homeless

Lee Jeffries

As soon as I consturcted this idea for the assignment in my mind I thought of these images by Lee Jeffries.
I remember the lasting impact they had on me after viewing them for the first time.

The intense focus on the eyes makes the images so engaging and almost uncomfortable to view in a way. Despite that, there is so much detail in the rest of the image I continue to stare into these strangers eyes however great the feeling of un-comfort may be.

The sharp eyes being the main focus of the images is something I intend to achieve in my body of work for this assignment. I think there is something about eyes which induces sympathy.

I want to include a fair number of "dog portraits" in my series to present the viewer with that overwhelming feeling of pity I have for the animals when I visit animal shelters and they are cooped up behind bars.

Despite the fact that we assume the animals have a fairly good quality of life in such places (and probably do - to a certain extent) there is something un-natural about an animal behind bars, and most people often experience a feeling of sadness when in such environments. This feeling is often present regardless of the expression the animal delivers, I feel it is that human assumption that the animals are in artificial surrounding.
Additionally there is a instinctive assumption that animals should be 'in the wild', as god intended before they became domesticated.

I acknowledge the historical importance of 'the pet', particularly when looking at dogs (which is my main intended focus initially)
as there is a whole string of the role of the dog especially in British culture. From the working dogs on farms, to the blood hounds who aided criminal investigations, to the symbolic nature of the British bulldog and the Queens iconic furry friends - the corgi. Alternatively I feel it is important for me to consider the social relations with dogs in recent years. Pedigree puppies being bred for monetary gain, dogs being forced to adopt aggresive behavioural traits in order to serve as protection. Status dogs chained to the arms of young men to defined their masculine appearance. Designer pooches in the handbags of 'wanna' be celebrities' or            
snuggled into the coats of young glamorous women.

I want to approach my images in a similar way to these examples, tonally I feel they compliment the topic of the work whilst revealing ultimate detail and showcasing the imperative factor.
The eye is a extremely powerful element of the human face, capable of encapsulating so much emotion in one gaze.
I suppose in a way, by focusing on such features I hope to bring out and element of human-like attributes in the animals. I don't want to give them human qualities, nor do I want to present them as 'human'. What I am interested in illustrating is this idea that they too have feelings, and like us are capable of experiencing similarly to us.
This work is not a scientific experiment surrounding the extents of the two ideas mentioned above, I have no interest in attempting to 'prove' those statements to be true of false. I am simply hoping to illustrate the emotional engagement and make the viewer consider the welfare of the animal.
In a nutshell. I want to generate compassion.