Anthony Hernandez
Landscapes for the Homeless #11

This photograph shows an opening amongst trees in which can be seen a number of shabby looking blankets and sleeping bags and what looks like the remains of cigarettes. At first glance this could just be a landscape, which has been transformed into a dumping ground for rubbish. However on closer inspection we can see that this is clearly an area in which people homeless people come to shelter at night.
Hernandez documented areas where homeless people retreat to as part of a series. The photographs give the impression of distance from the subject matter. He does not intrude on the inhabitants of these areas, they are always absent of people. This gives the impression that Hernandez is sensitive to the issue of homelessness and merely wants to show its reality.

Some people ask, "What's so important or compelling about taking pictures of such unpleasant subjects…?" . . . My work may be beautiful or it might not be, that just isn't what I am concerned with. I try to be open and face the city. . . . To me it's not unpleasant or unbeautiful, it's just life…’

Looking at some of the other photographs in the series we can see the idea of permanence. They leave traces of their identity behind, personal items like shoes and clothes, perhaps attempting to make a home in these areas. The fact that Anthony Hernandez has documented these traces left behind and has not included any people suggests that he wanted to show the invisibility of these people in society.