where did the magic go © 2008

Roy barry, 2 months ago

Bloody Hell, what a dark and gritty statement, such a sad reflection on society as a whole.

Marvin Collins, 2 months ago

I agree with Roy, what a poignant statement of how our society has developed. Great image.

SueAnne, 2 months ago

I too agree, I live in CA and there are lots of cities here where we see just this… So sad to see what has come

Gregory John O..., 2 months ago

Everywhere in the world the same picture… What does it tells us about society, and ourselves. Great document…..horrible

Squealia, 2 months ago

Great image, but a sad state of affairs

mikrin, 2 months ago

Very sad and powerful image Umbra! This could be us! you just never know whats around the corner…

shallay, 2 months ago

Magic mushroom? Even without the tattoo, the title was working. Looks like a bugger of a life alright. One of the rare shots where you could take your time getting the angle.

Umbra101 in reply to Roy barry’s comment, 2 months ago

hottest day of the year too…poor bastard !

Umbra101 in reply to Marvin Collins’s comment, 2 months ago

I guess our taxes go on more important things, we’re not a very social society!

Umbra101 in reply to SueAnne’s comment, 2 months ago

sadly a universal problem and no solutions in sight…

Woodyk2, 2 months ago

Great shot…disturbing. Poor fellow.

Umbra101 in reply to Gregory John O'Flaherty’s comment, 2 months ago

we sweep it under the proverbial carpet like so many things…it was weird watching all the tourists pass by and not look

Umbra101 in reply to Squealia’s comment, 2 months ago

I used to sleep rough, as a younster, while travelling around the world…but to be forced into it must be devastating

Umbra101 in reply to mikrin’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Mike, thats what always draws me to photograph these guys…fear!!!

Umbra101 in reply to shallay’s comment, 2 months ago

I thought it said ‘magie muldoon’ to start with. Looks like a prison tattoo, a hard, hard life indeed. He woke up, just as I was in the process of crouching to get a better angle…bloody SLR clicking, lol. Luckily he just chewed some air and went back to sleep…I scarpered :))

Umbra101 in reply to Woodyk2’s comment, 2 months ago

Says something when he’s outside a church and so close such an iconic national monument…welcome to Britain

Trudi ~, 2 months ago

So very sad…..........

Umbra101 in reply to Trudi ~’s comment, 2 months ago

mmm, not shoes I’d want to fill…

Nith, 2 months ago

wow there are many reason make me do like this ,
wonderful image

Umbra101 in reply to Nith’s comment, 2 months ago

We are all close to this life. Things can go wrong very easily…

suefel48, 2 months ago

Very moving capture….. :-((

Jen Wahl, 2 months ago

Ah…. “magic” mushrooms. That might have played a role… he looks to have another ‘mushroom’ tat lower down in the close up. I have a friend who was, actually, raised on the streets… her entire family lived in cardboard boxes, ate from dumpsters, stayed in shelters… from age 4, until she was 8 they were homeless. Finally, her mother got out….but, only after social services took the kids away (I have no idea why it took so long)...her dad still lives there. He can’t live any other life….
The stories that each person must have… the cruelties that they may have endured… it’s unimaginable. Thanks for posting…. we all need a reminder of what the world can be like.

Leslie Patton, 2 months ago

Wow what a powerful image. Nice work!

Jim Caldwell, 2 months ago

So sad !

Umbra101 in reply to suefel48’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Sue :)

Umbra101 in reply to Jen Wahl’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Jen :))
A lot of mentally ill people here are on the streets, or in ‘normal’ prison. Margaret Thatcher closed nearly all the mental hospitals in Britain in the early ‘80’s. Priding ourselves as a caring society… is a bit of a bad joke.

Umbra101 in reply to Leslie Patton’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Leslie, love the new avatar too :))

Umbra101 in reply to Jim Caldwell’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Jim, so true !

KEITH R. WILL..., 2 months ago

life snatched it away

joan warburton, 2 months ago

Very sad, very powerful work.

Umbra101 in reply to KEITH R. WILLIAMS’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Keith….life is cheap here!

Umbra101 in reply to joan warburton’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Joan :)

maka1967, 2 months ago

I agree with Roy. You captured a sad story, repeated many places in the world. Powerful work.

Kelly Bermingham, 2 months ago

So sad… it breaks my heart to see these people.. They too have a story :( Outstanding work.

Umbra101 in reply to maka1967’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you, I’m afraid that this will always be true…

Umbra101 in reply to Kelly Bermingham’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Kelly :)

Jane Keats, 2 months ago

Fantastic image because you’ve drawn people in with it. I do feel bad for him, although having tried magic mushies, I don’t know how anyone could survive in the real world if they were so into them that they got a tat. Probably into other drugs too. If only someone had been there in the beginning to stop it getting this far…

Umbra101 in reply to Jane Keats’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Jane, its my version of the cute puppy.
I used to be into the demon drink, but now I’m just on anti-psychotics ;) hehehe
The only person that could’ve pulled him out, was himself.
Not easy, I should know…but possible.

Suzanne German, 2 months ago

profoundly moving and yes, makes you stop and think, we are all separated by 6 degrees.
i am not religious in the orthodox sense, but i will say this, in a more humane/spiritual sense and you can read the word ‘god’ as you like…figuratively – not literally…
a favourite saying of mine, especially after an uncle who was only 7 years older than i am, took his own life, in a very harsh way too…

There but for the grace of God go I

thanks for sharing with us – deeply.

Suzanne

Rita H. Ireland, 2 months ago

Interesting image!

Hans Goepel, about 1 month ago

Be very afraid no one is invulnerable. Powerful work.

Andee Pollard, 7 days ago

This reminds me of when I was working on a contract at a catholic church in Australia.. One of the homeless guys came around when we were talking to the priest outside “Excuse me father.. I don’t have any food for my family for tonight.. ” .. “Well, then go to kitchen, you can get some there.” (attached to the back of the church) .. “I did, but it’s closed…. so..” .. “What do you want me to do about it? ...What do I look like? A charity?”

Seriously.. the priest.