A homeless child sleeps rough in the Indian city of Bombay (Mumbai) as people walk past. Alana Alexander

Logos  Logically, there is nothing wrong with the picture itself. We know that there are homeless people, and we know that there are well-off people. What doesn’t make sense is the fact that the people who are living life without having to worry about where they will sleep or what they will eat are walking right past the people who are having to worry about those things. It doesn’t make sense that the poverty-stricken people are living and sleeping right beside everyone else, oftentimes without being given the opportunity to have a better life. How does the photo appeal to your logic?

Ethos  The photo won a photography award for the British Broadcasting Corporation, so yes, the source is credible. Is the source credible?

Pathos  When I look at the girl lying on the street, I feel pity for her. But not only do I feel sorry for her and the situation she is in, looking at her brings out a strong feeling of compassion in me. It makes me want to do something about it.  When I look at the feet of the man walking past the girl, I feel contempt towards him, and shame knowing that humans can be so insensitive and even numb to their surroundings. How does the photo appeal to your emotions?

Omission  The majority of the man  If the whole man was shown in the picture, there would not be a clear focal point. The man would be so much taller than the girl that she would be somewhat overshadowed. Also, the man has no individuality; we don’t know anything about him, except that he seems to be well off; therefore, the man is representative of all the people in his socioeconomic class that walk right past situations like these.  Side note: If the man’s face was shown, do you not think he would feel singled out and embarrassed? What is omitted from the picture? What would be different if nothing was omitted?

Audience  Everyone could be the audience, but especially people who are living comfortable. The photo appeals mostly to people in middle or high economic classes because the man walking by appears to be of a middle or high economic class.  The photographer wants people to think about other people they come in contact with who may not be as fortunate as them. Who is the photographer’s audience for the picture? What was his/her intention?

Point of View What is in the foreground and background of the picture? The man’s legs and feet are in the foreground The girl is in the middle ground A wall in the background

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