I spotted this guy when I went to Philly a few months back. I know it's a little overexposed-looking. Anyway, he had a sign that said "Homeless - Hungry" at the top, and went on to explain how he was just down on his luck and would take anything you could give him, but specifically requested blankets and socks.

I stood there on the sidewalk and watched for a while, seeing a lot of what's shown here; People looking, but not giving him anything, not that they necessarily should. I'm not one to hand out money to just anybody who asks, and I'm not saying you should be either.

I just figured, how can I begrudge a guy who needs socks? It was still cold out at the time, and here I am with a few hundred dollars worth of camera in my hand, and this guy needs socks.

After a couple of minutes I noticed something else. Every so often someone would drop change into his cup, and he'd drowsily pick his head up to thank them a few seconds later. You only have to see a heroin user "on the nod" once or twice before you recognize it.

After something would get his attention, his head would slowly drift back down until it's how you see it there, near his chest. That's why they refer to it as the "nod". If you were to start talking to them, their head would pick right back up, then drift down again as their attention waned.

I wanted to throw him a couple of bucks, but couldn't quite decide. Eventually I just thought, "Hey, whatever gets him through his day." I went over to him and got his attention, handing him a five and telling him to get some food, "food, not heroin", I said. He told me he would, but I knew it was going straight into his arm. *shrugs* I guess I'm not ready to give up on people just yet.