Comments on: pete pin – the ave https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/ burn is an online feature for emerging photographers worldwide. burn is curated by magnum photographer david alan harvey. Wed, 07 Sep 2016 08:29:55 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.4 By: dakiniverona https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-94723 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:25:12 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-94723 I was one of the subjects in Richard Misrach’s book: Telegraph 3 am. I survived and actually thrived after leaving the streets. Richard captured images which I fought to forget. I realize how important it is to “come out of the closest” to allow those that are there to find hope in change as well as to change the perspective of those that look at street kids and only see the darkness.

I left the streets in 1973, returned to school, and now am an association executive, have a loving family,and own three homes. I am not alone. By publicly talking about my path, I have been contacted by others from Richard’s book. One, a PhD in Beirut who teaches Arabic. He has published dozens of books and is a a college professor.

I went back to see The Avenue a few years ago and was transported back in time. It was about 35 years after I left the streets, but the images were the same, the only thing that changed were the faces.

I am writing about my experience and have permission from Richard to use the image he captured of me as I try to heighten awareness of the problem of youth homelessness.

You can find me on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/Memoirs.of.Dakini

Dakini

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By: John Pitsakis https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71589 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:02:16 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71589 Pete, congratulations on being here. This is a magnificent essay.

I have to say that I’m hugely impressed by your work, especially after visiting your website and putting things into perspective. I admit that not having read the statement first, while admiring these photographs, I was a bit ambivalent. The portraits themselves are immaculate but their context gave them such a gravity.
These eyes speak of epics and the choice of presentation and editing are ingenious. As some people mentioned above it’s wonderful to see these kids with the dignity that their circumstances have denied them.

I cannot compliment you enough. Will be looking out for your work for years to come. Good luck in your new career.

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By: john gladdy https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71561 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:00:08 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71561 Definite shades of serrano. Nice that you gave them back a bit of dignity.

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By: pixiejay https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71560 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:57:47 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71560 being a photographer who never did any formal studies, but taught others..go for it!
the portraits are formidable,exciting,profound,beautiful and heroic..
mr.photographer,”you done good”.
may you continue with your way, may the light be good and your exposures truthful.

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By: kathleen fonseca https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71555 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:59:44 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71555 Zizi=Zisis..sorry for the typo above!

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By: Herve https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71553 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:18:52 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71553 I would love that, Pete, to meet with you. I also think that what you told us about your refugee background was important to tell us. It is obvious that your shooting these portraits has as much to do with that experience, and then your life wanderings, ie. YOUR LIFE, as to the “technical” ability to capture them.

If I say I sense the Ave is longer than its labelled span, and extends to one of these border camps your were born in, am I wrong?

PS: maybe left alone more appropriate than ignored? (not more ignored than me, I can tell you that, try being 55, no dye-wash T-shirt cheating!, in a campus environment such as the Ave, ahahha).

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By: gumanow https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71552 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:11:23 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71552 Beautiful work. Was recently in Portland was astonished to see how many more teens are on the streets. Your placing them in the studio to “humanize” them is brilliant.

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By: Frostfrog https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71550 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:36:43 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71550 Pete – Just so you know, I, for one, am glad that you included all that you did in your write-up and bio. For me, it in no way undercut the power of your images nor take away from the stories of your subjects. It gave me added perspective that I found valuable. It made the story that much stronger for me.

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By: paultreacy.com https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71533 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:20:34 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71533 A fine achievement, Pete. Your credentials are impressive. Bon voyage.

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By: bob black https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71526 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:46:12 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71526 Pete! :))

thanks brother…keep it alight!…

really love the Caravaggio light/shadow…

icons indeed

and dig your ink too…..the living can be long, but the love is eternal :))

cheers
bob

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By: kathleen fonseca https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71508 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:01:40 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71508 Pete

Thank you for your reply..not to worry..my critcism of the bio was a nit-pick..your work rises way way above that little tsk-tsk..it’s a wonderful essay and the privilege of seeing your work was entirely mine :))

DAH..three killer essays in a row, man, you and your talented shooters are on a roll!

Kudos to you and Anton and Pete, Brian and Zizi..you have all lit a fire under my ass..wow..

Best
Kathleen

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By: petepin https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71506 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 05:48:28 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71506 Thank you everyone for taking the time to view the essay and for the supportive and heartfelt comments. And thank you David and Diego for giving me the wonderful opportunity to participate on Burn. Forgive me for the length of this reply as I’m trying my best to respond to most comments…I’ve always lacked brevity.
srinivaskuruganti: I do have audio, but only for the Coconut piece on my website (I acquired an audio kit after shooting the portraits). I actually had planned this morning (I kid you not) on putting a multimedia piece together this evening and circulating it to friends for feedback.
Valery: Thank you for looking at the website. The initial submission to Burn included 25 photos, the initial edit included a mixture of street shots with these portraits. Burn decided to publish just the portraits; in hindsight I think it was a solid editorial decision. It’s very difficult to build a decent narrative mixing studio with street shots and the initial edit was unfocused. I have since tossed most of the street shots and created a new tighter edit focusing exclusively on one subject, Coconut (who is now 17).
Herve: Ah, you’ve wandered around the Ave :) My belief that they’re ignored by the general population in Berkeley was based on my own personal experiences and from spending time on the “curb.” This is, of course, not to say that people aren’t helpful etc. I wholeheartedly agree that transients in general are “provided” for in regards to the social services in and around Berkeley and the generosity of strangers. It was not my intent to provide social commentary in regards to that specific statement but rather to provide an explanation as to why I started the project based off of my own personal beliefs. If you are still around the area, I’d love to meet with you.
Frank: In regards to the fact that street kids, travelers, squatters, etc. are generally white, this is something I too have questioned…
Bob: I am always awestruck by your candor and eloquence. Thank you warmly.
Patricia: Thank you dearly for the well wishes. I’m still trying to decide on what to do next; ICP isn’t set in stone (finances) although I’m working two jobs in an effort to save up to make it happen. I’m so glad you recognized the neighborhood ;)
Kathleen: And you’ve touched on why I’ve had mixed feelings all day! I agree with you completely and absolutely in regards to the write up! The write up presented here was written a while back. At the urging of others, I included information as to my state of mind at that period. Over the weekend, (and wondering when I’ll be contacted as to the publication but realizing it was going live any minute) I reread it and panicked, believing, as you have rightfully concluded, that it strongly distracted from the subject! I rewrote the entire piece, including the Bio, and loaded it on the server several days ago; it’s still sitting there…But what is done is done…c’est la vie.

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By: kathleen fonseca https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71497 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:21:03 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71497 Pete

I watched the essay before reading the text and i am very glad i did. The purity of the experience was matched by the purity of the portraits. In fact, to me it was utterly irrelevant where/why you shot them. I understand that the where/why gives the essay its raison d’être. However, as with Brian’s essay about black women under-represented in the modeling industry, these portraits are so strong they speak more eloquently than any artist’s statement can ever hope to match. A GOOD THING! Any essay that speaks louder than words is a job extremely well done. The gritty, high contrast look works well with your subject matter. I understand this very well. I can well see what you saw and feel what you felt as you surveyed these portraits on the computer. I know so well the intensity of those eyes staring back at you from the screen begging/daring/snidely waiting for you to step up to the plate and do them proud dammit. And the best way you could convey the deep dark well of their lives was exactly the way you did it. I applaud your efforts and your vision.

But back to that text..your bio is dramatic and impressive but i find it distracting and takes the attention from your subjects. This essay is now something both part of you and apart from you. You must let it speak for itself while you should speak with a whisper. This is not about you so much as it is about these phenomenal subjects. Please don’t take away their right to shine stronger than any light or any academic achievement of yours.

Well done, good luck..how exciting to have the rest of your hopefully very long life to further develop and mature your talent.

Best
Kathleen

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By: peter grant https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71486 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:23:46 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71486 Its amazing what we can read in to somebody’s face. So profound. .. Touching me..

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By: Patricia Lay-Dorsey https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71485 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:13:25 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71485 Wonderfully gritty portraits with a sense of who each individual is beneath the surface, Pete. I appreciate your fine eye, honest portraiture here and in the street shots on your website, and your gumption to take the risky path and follow your passion. I lived in the Bay Area for months every year between 1996-2002 and recognize these kids as like those I got to know at the soup kitchen I volunteered at in the City. I also recognize my Mission neighborhood on your website. You have captured its essence.

Best wishes as you enter the ICP program in NYC. You belong there. You have made the right choice.

Patricia

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By: mnm https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71482 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:44:38 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71482 pete,

this is one of those series where I did not need to read the words- your photos said enough. Tender, honest photography at is best. That lighting would make Rembrant proud. It seems you didn’t direct these people, just photographed what you saw and that is what makes this series.

And your only a year older than me? Time for me to get to work!

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By: Frostfrog https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71481 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:42:37 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71481 Pete –

I am struck by the fact that you began your life homeless in a family that was driven from their home under the worst circumstance imaginable and that then, when life appeared to hold out its hand to offer you the best in secure and safe living, you turned away from it, picked up a camera and put yourself in the middle of the wandering homeless.

Excellent work. You did bring out something in these young people that most likely would have been missed in street documentary form. I have some misgivings about the processing – the high contrast and deep saturation – but, on the other hand, that’s just me, coming from my background. It does seem to work for you.

You have a superb talent. I feel humbled just looking at what you have done here.

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By: Simon Griffee https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71477 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:03:11 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71477 Pete,

I spent time in Oakland and Berkeley…stayed in the ‘Playground’ cooperative house on Shattuck Avenue…took many photographs and met many people from all walks of life…I remember the Smoke House, the campus, the bars, basketball courts, bike rides and the darker places as well…it is good to see these portraits…My friend Ryan has done similar ones in black and white in Portland: http://pixelgrain.org/streetroots/

I think that truly caring about photography lets you see things, see people, more clearly than any amount of letters in front of your name. Congratulations on your decision to photograph!!

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By: bob black https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71476 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:33:48 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71476 “To be awake is to be alive.”-Thoreau

It’s great that David has chosen to publish portraits back-to-back….which, for me, highlights the strength (for viewers) of portraiture….that it (for good or ill, rightfully or failingly) connects us to the brother/sisterhood of each of us: we identify the other with ourselves and see in them both what we are and wish and who they are and are not…

what struck me immediately was their age…that is, the age of their faces and expressions…which tells me both about what they’ve endured (they seem much too old too soon) and what they’ve learned, as life inhabits us and we see this in others even when we fail to recognize this in ourselves…i too love the lighting and its appearance to haliography and lots of biblical imagery, but what i love best about this portrait is that it ‘removes’ the kids from the street, so that we are not ‘blinded’ by what we imagine the street to do to them and what they’ve endured and accomplished, but we must confront and take them in directly, without the detrius of the environment…again, a direct confrontation with our expectations…

these pictures honor them, their humanity without idealizing…the small details (the scars, the fear, the bloodied eye) point to the viewer that these kids aint perfect nor theirlives, but it takes us, if we allow, past our prejudices….and connects us….

as iwrote under brian’s essay, these are only 1 aspect to these kids…their lives and their ‘self’ is much larger and much more complex that photography can manage, but what photography does manage to do, and do well, is to act as a vehicle of compassion, an entrance to allow us to see others as we may see ourselves: frail and strong, filled with beauty and grief, troubled and determined…filled with incandescence…..

beautiful work Pete…like the story on Coconut too….

and congrats on getting into Icp…

be proud of yourself and honor that the way you honor these kids…

thanks for sharing their story and your pictures…

cheers
bob

ps.. you and katia roberts should meet! :)))…since her work is concerned with street kids in Seattle (i think seattle)…

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By: pomara https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/06/pete-pin-the-ave/#comment-71474 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:50:36 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=6487#comment-71474 Awesome work. Terrific lighting… let’s see more.
As Per CIVI “What not to Love”.

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