This maybe a shocking image to some people but its funny how we forget about these poor people who live on the streets and its amazing how many people cross over the road just to avoid them which i witnessed for over 1 hour whilst i was having a chat with him..He did is bit for his country but through unfortunate circumstances he ended up in the situation he is in.If only people knew.

I know. We tend to forget that they were once young and vital and that life must have delt them a terrible blow somewhere along the way to be where they are today.  I bet Albert has many interesting stories to tell.  I am sure he enjoyed having a chat with you as much as you obviously did with him.

Excellent.  Nothing else to say.

superb portrait

Excellent portrait and very sad tale behind that face. Very apt for the competition. Good to hear you spent so much time with Albert and if he told you about his life in that time then it would have been an hour well spent I'd guess.

Best of luck

Nechtan

Brilliant capture, great definition.  Well done.

Thanks for all your kind comments i have since been back and seen him again and taken him some old clothing like he said there are thousands of people around the city each day and apart from the very small few all avoid him and all he wants is a chat and believe me you could sit for hours and listen to some of his stories he as he is one amazing resiliant old chap.

AN awesome photo tells it all in the face and with winter its a special time not to forget them. BOL

This picture is the best i have seen, there is a story behind every face.  And Albert life's story would be one i would like to read. i hope you follow it Gez you started by taken his photo, Lol in the com hope you win you deserve it. 

A very powerful image of all human life.

wow, amazing... 

really good shot, works well in the black and white, i also cant see the connection either but cant deny the quality of the end shot.

This is Awesome Must Be A Front Runner Be Very Proud of this Well Done & Bol

Super image!  And a great background story.  (I find the image a bit"overworked" when viewed full-size.)

Superb portrait, excellent.

A very strong portrait - but I don't think I'd want his memories! The beard is a little over-defined.

Gez this is a stark reminder! his face definitely tells of his struggles, its such a powerful and thought provoking image! if i could give you 10 for this i would....amazing!   This has stirred so many emotions...well done, just fabulous!

I would never pass a homeless person who was begging,  as i often think there for the grace of god go i!

My total Honest view and no offence is intended, but I want the picture to tell me it fits the theme and not the title descriptions or by reading about it from the person who took the shot.

I don’t normally read the titles and comments as a rule so when I first saw this with loads of high rating I was very very confused how it was even closely fitting this month’s theme in any way shape or form, I am of the opinion that the photo should do all and I mean all the talking and not the photographer after the fact.

I give the physical picture 10 out of 10 without a doubt but we have to remember the theme connection here for the competition and not just because that you have taken any old good picture, so I would only rate this 1 out of 10 simply because I have no clue how it fits by simply looking at the picture and taking it at its face value without reading your own words to back it up and reinforce the tenuous link to the theme.

Quite a few and I mean a huge percentage of people on this site are simply letting word play fit this fuji theme each month and not letting the natural  picture fit the theme and in my view your picture is no exception and I just another picture using word play to fit, one among many, every page has many pictures using words rather than pictures to fit the theme.

Personally this is a Top portrait photo plus I do like the fuzzy facial effect from you but not for this months theme as I have to take your word for it that Albert is a homeless guy of no fault of his own which needs me to remember him or feel sorry for him!, If Albert has been on the street for 20 years its because of his own free will and personal choice for being lazy and not getting a job even just collecting trolleys or cleaning would pay him to have a roof over his head if someone has been on the street for 20 years he is doing it out of his own personal free choice or mental illness and I bet he has had loads of people try and help him to get settled over the years into employment but this guy would rather spend time bumming about doing naff all being nothing more than a problem to everyday hard working people, these people don’t want our help because they always turn it down or go back to their old ways and I don’t want to feel sorry for this guy and I am not going to feel sorry for him or remember him because he don’t want societies help, don’t try and tell me the local council has done nothing for this guy in over 20 years, I don’t feel sorry for him at all I feel sorry for the people who have tried to help him over the years for him to just spit in their eye.

If he wanted it the help is available, most homeless can have help to get settled even in a hostel or bed-sit,council housing, community projects even education is offered and re training and financial benefits, millions and millions of lottery money go into homeless projects every year. If he is over 65 he is entitled to even more help and benefits, pension heating allowances income support even his rent paid, anyone feeling sorry for this guys is just kidding themselves. The fact is this guy is a Bum and don’t want help.

 Photography wise, with the use of such a close up I don’t see that in any way that Albert is a homeless guy or living in distress, he is clean looks very healthy maybe an old wrinkled face but that could be any old person and by the looks of it, Albert is wearing a better hooded woollen jumper than I am.

This shot is a good portrait but has not convinced me with the link to the theme or that he is homeless from simply looking at the picture.

What an absolutely fabulous shot!, I spent two years living on the streets through my own choice(think down and out in Paris and London), just to experience that side of life so I could understand the lows and high's of this thing we call life, and I know how hard it is to survive, My local council showed not a bit of interest in me as I am a British citizen over the age of 25, and the local charities places were all full of alcoholics/ drug abusers, it seems that so many get tarred with the same brush, when in reality we have many different reasons why we stay on the streets, after a while I felt safer sleeping rough than I did a building!, You also get that sense of freedom that not being tied to a place gives you. I would bet that if you talked to this man for a while he would have some fantastic stories to tell, gving you a glimpse of another side of life, one that many people choose to shun!

I don't see him as homeless, but as a wandering soul.

Totally love the emotion that this image conveys!!!

Astonishing.Beside the facts he looks like a old wizard from fairy-tale.

BOL X2

good shot

Fantastic portrait Gez, outstanding.

I think this is a fantastic portrait. It is made all more relevant if this is not posed. I have worked with a charity for homeless people for the last five years and most people have no idea of the background stories of those who end up on the street. It is also true, contrary to an opinion expressed above, that homeless people cannot simply fit into State help and hostels - the problems are wide ranging and complex.

Best of luck in the competition.

A very very powerful image and a face full of character. Superbly photographed and certainly amongst the best portrait shots to appear on this site (and the old) whilst I have been around. The choice of B&W is perfect in this case. Top work Gez.

Unfortunately I do have to agree to a point with "the new boy" although maybe not as strongly as he has stated in his comment.

High marks for a great portrait. OK so maybe not bang on theme but still a great picture