The Jan Banning 'Down and Out' book features a variety of beautifully photographed people who are homeless. Rather than showing them in their residence-less state, these photographs delve further to show them simply as human beings.
"Banning has a history of documenting the forgotten pockets of society from the impoverished in Malawi to women forced into a life of prostitution in Asia and decided that photographing the homeless community in color and in a studio environment would be the best approach to the series," writes Slate's David Rosenberg. This photography series is from the book 'Down and Out' that uncovers homeless issues. Photographic efforts such as this are a great way to reduce the stigma around societal issues and realize that regardless of the issue, we're all human.
Stigma-Reducing Photography
The Jan Banning 'Down and Out' Book Features Faces of the Homeless
Trend Themes
1. Stigma-reducing Photography - The trend of using photography to challenge stereotypes and reduce stigmas surrounding social issues.
2. 'down and Out' Book - The trend of publishing books that shed light on social issues with a focus on humanizing marginalized communities.
3. Colorful Studio Photography - The trend of using vibrant colors and studio settings in photography to capture the essence of the subject.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing - Publishing companies can explore opportunities to release more books that tackle societal issues and promote empathy.
2. Photography - Photography studios and professionals can adapt the trend of colorful studio photography to showcase marginalized communities in a dignified manner.
3. Social Advocacy - Organizations working on social advocacy can use stigma-reducing photography as a powerful tool for promoting awareness and understanding of societal issues.