I will use this blog as sketchbook for my ERP. Through it, will be located all the ideas, fieldwork, research, methodologies adopted, tactic, Key concepts, Themes and so on… I will intent to develop this blog frequently in order to record this ERP, providing chronology evidences of development and adaptation in researching and fieldwork.
I have decided to do an extended research project based on homeless people. This is an extended project of ‘Human Degradation’ that was carried out in the first semester in the second year of my career for the module PH2004. A social research project that led me to engage with the world, understand it, and try to take part in the necessary efforts to change it, or at least, to show it and raise homelessness awareness through photography.
Before go greater in depth in this ERP, I will add the last research on one of the influential practitioner for the developing of this work. This is Diane Arbus.
DIANE ARBUS EXHIBITION RESEARCH
On April I have been in the exhibition called ‘Diane Arbus in the Beginning’. This exhibition took place at The Hayward Gallery, an art gallery within the Southbank Center in central London, England.
Diane Arbus: in the beginning explores the first seven years of Arbus’ career, from 1956 to 1962. It primarily features pictures made with 35mm cameras, which she used almost exclusively until 1962, when she began to work with a 2 1/4 inch square format Rolleiflex.
From the start, Arbus saw the street as a place full of secrets waiting to be fathomed. Even in her earliest studies of pedestrians, her subjects seem magically, if just momentarily, freed from the flux and turmoil of their surroundings. THe result is a singular look of introspection. In reacting to Arbus, individuals are revealed almost as if they were alone, catching a brief glimpse of themselves in a shop window or a mirror. THe exchange on both sides of the camera -of seeing and being seen- raises existential questions in the subject, questions, that ultimately transmit themselves to the viewer.
I feel that Arbus’ work is related with mine in the way she uses the street to find out their our feeling and to find not just the subjective beauty that surrounds us, but the different, the isolated that, in a way, they also have their own beauty , a soul. Looking for those character that for the rest of the world or for the vast majority are unnoticed or even marginalized. Looking for the pain of others as result of experiences life or in another way of a social exclusion, economic or political context. I want to connect to my subject to trying their feel confidence with the camera, finding themselves and in order to they know that are important, their are account and seen. Furthermore, to show the big issue in our society as is those who remain aside of it, those marginalized, and to raise awareness of it.
The exhibition has two room in which the Arbus’ work were displayed. In one of the room were presented the Arbus’s portfolio. Its was called ‘A box of ten photographs’. Arbus printed 8 set of portfolio, only 4 were sold and distributed during her lifetime. The purchasers were a alite group photographers; Richard Avedon bought 2. Bea Feitler, an art director of Harper’s Bazaar acquired 1and Jasper Johns bought another one through the west coast art dealer Irving Blum. In the exhibition from 1952-62 when she used 35mm, the pictures were printed by the artist itself, in gelatin silver 17-20 inch. This was her beginning, more normalized people. In the 1962 when she began to use the Rolleiflex camera 2 1/4 square. The pictures here are lightier and seems than since this stage, her adopted an approach on marginalized people. In one of the room where some Arbus’ quotes, which working quite alright according the work presented there. Before the 1960 Arbus photographed 3 dead people called; ‘Mother cabin, a disterred saint in her glass and gold casket NYC 1960’, ‘Old women in a hospital bed NYC 1958’ and “Corpse with a receding hairline and toe tag. N.Y.C. 1959”.
“I have a belief that the world is worth looking at, and the courage to look at it without theorizing.”
Arbus’ quotes:
‘I don’t press the shutter. The images does. And it like being gently clobbered’
‘The thing that’s important to know is that you never know. You are always sort of feeling your way’.
‘My favourite thing is to go where I have never been’
‘A photographs is about a secret. The more it tell you the less you know’
APRIL FIELDWORK
On April I began to investigate the streets of Preston looking for those marginalized character and power-less of our society. Under the anonymity and like a predator I began to photograph homeless people who inhabits the streets.
I have also been exploring the streets of London. I believe the homelessness has increased in recent years, in fact , what I found is that this social issue is still increasing in the Uk.
As a ethnography study on the streets and the people in power-less that inhabits its, I am interested in explore others cities and countries to chase the scenes in a research of homelessness issues, the poor, the social defenceless, the difference to or protest the camera’s agressions.
Homelessness semiotics signs
I have interest in discovery the type of homelessness around Preston doing a Psychogeography through my photography as a visual methodology.
By ending April, I began to research the semitic signs of homelessness throughout Preston. It seems that they usually abandoned they belongings in anywhere in the streets.
Where they go? nobody know.
It’s normally find rest of food next to their belonging and almost always a can of cider or a bottle of cheap wine.
They usually inhabit some places like stairs or closed businesses. I was photographing for few days this particular place in Market street West, where they usually take refuge to drink or take their dose of drugs. In the images below I show the entrance back exit of this business in different days. As a methodology , I intend to continue shooting at this place for the followings moths.
On the night of June 12, some homeless took their dose in this usual space where they often do it,in Market Street West. After finished their “ritual” and left the space, I been able to photograph some of the many signs of their idiosyncrasy.
18th October 2019
After few months this space is still used for homeless, whose are in addiction. It seems that he does not care that this profile of the homeless makes use of it. But who is he? The place seems to be the back exit of one of the bar in the friargate street. But Which one?. I would like to find out the answer of this self reflective question..
4th November
This is how this space end. It closed, I don’t even have discovered who is the owner of this space but it is evident that he or she wanted to avoid the presence of the homeless and with this, the end of this space as a shelter for the homeless with problems of addition and where they took refuge to take their dose. This will not be a cause to cure the problem of addiction of certain homeless people, however it will prevent their presence.
10Th June
A house without home..
15Th May
Hostile Architecture
The idea to study in this ERP the hostile architecture arose when I started to walking the Preston Streets at the beginning of the ‘Human Degradation’ project. I found out that a peculiar entrance of a large store located in the centre of Preston, where seems like a community for homeless where they used to get sleep and take shelter, was closed. Through the images attached below is depicted the change of this place and the final of it. This fact come from political decisions, what I feel is a controversy. The government trying to people don’t get sleep in the streets, especially in the winter when the weather gets so rough. On my latest research, I also attached the link of BBC new when is notifying that those who ask for money or are found sleeping in the streets will be fined with £100. A fact to increase the violence or Robbery and what i find that it does not make sense to penalty those vulnerable people.
On May, I have been in Madrid shooting at some more examples of hostile architecture. These hostile architectures where found in the city Centre: one of them on the window of a luxurious clothing store and other in the known Bank Santander. In one of the pictures , where I show the 3 windows of this bank, there is displayed a funny text that says “thanks braves, for taking care of us” what’s make more emphasis in this kind of controversy.
JUNE
13th June
AUGUST
On August, by walking the streets of Madrid I found another example of hostile architecture. Spikes on the window, the most seen, the known as ‘Anti-homeless’ spikes. It was a ‘Dia’ , one of the supermarket chain distributed throughout Spain. This time I was a bit more curios, I asked to the supermarket’s staff why these spikes were there. Nobody knew the reason of the spikes, instead they informed me at what time I could find the owner there, maybe he would know it..?
17 May
ABSTRACT
HOMELESSNESS: THE CONTROVERSY OF HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE. SOCIAL INCLUSION AND THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF MARGINALIZED GROUP.
In this Extended Research project, I will study the marginalized group in our society through the medium of photography. The project is an ethnography study on the streets and the people in power-less that inhabits its. This photography fieldwork will be focused on homelessness throughout Preston and the surrounding areas. I will explore the type of homeless people that inhabit Preston by doing a Psychogeography on the streets as a physical space, based in homelessness signs. I will analyse how these people are affected in terms of social and economic context. The way in which how the middle class see marginalized people or homeless and the way different cultures a societies portrait this issue than might can be affect in which the middle class see this marginalized group. Central to the political space I will discuss and show the controversy of hostile architecture. How in political terms is masked or treated this issue in our society, more specifically in the urban space surround us. In addition, I will investigate, the social inclusion of this marginalized group, the rights and the supports available to reintroduce them into the society. More precisely through my engagement with such social work organization or business which provide the opportunity to leave the streets and get a better life, as is the independent street paper “Big Issue North”.
Key words
Homelessness
Hostile Architecture
Social Inclusion
Economy and Political context
Marginalized group
Documentary
Methodology
To the development of this ERP, I am interested in the use of both, digital and analogue photography. The methodology adopted will be to work with analogue photography for the research in real homeless faces, walking the streets of Preston and the surrounding it. I will use the Mamiya 7, researching with different lens in order to find out which one is the best for the chase of homeless portrait and in order to get familiarized with this camera. Moreover, I will use this camera to investigate the magazine called ‘Big Issue North’ that supports social inclusion.
For the first test on Mamiya 7 I have used a 43 mm lens. This lens is uses for landscapes and street photography. It is coming with an additional camera viewfinder which must be used with any lens other than the usual 80 mm which in this case would equal 50mm.
20Th May
On 20th May, I went to walking the Preston’s streets again looking for real faces, the defenceless, the homeless. I found Carl in front the Tesco store in Friargate Street. Carl, is 34 years old from Preston. He became homeless just 6 days ago after his mother pass away.
During this week I also been talking with others homeless who didn’t want to be photographed; Dan, Barney and Mel. Dan is 37 years old, from Preston. He was living in his own place before became homeless 2 year ago. Barney is 33 years old, from Chester. She has been in Preston for 9 years. He was living in a shelter provide by the government, but she lost it. I ask him if he know about the Foxton centre and why He doesn’t use it. He said that he not uses the Foxton Centre because it required to be registered and other requirements, which he is found complicated to use and doesn’t want to get on this.
Mel is 28 years old, a really young women with blonde hair. She is also from Chester. She moved to Preston 8 years ago and became homeless over a year ago. She was with her boyfriend Dan, who remains in the opposite side of the Fishergate street. Mel met her boyfriend in one of the accommodations that she used before became homeless. At the time, they have together one year and a half. They usually sleep back to the club evoke. I have asked her for the Foxton Centre what she mentioned that they just allow to shelter 6 people who apparently are always the same ones. She also commented that there is a lot of people inhabit the streets of Preston but just 5 or 6 of them are sleeping in the streets, the rest normally gets shelters or go to sleep in any of their friend’s house.
‘THE BIG ISSUE NORTH’
On May 21, I went to the Preston City Center looking for some sellers of the magazine “Big North Issue”. I found Sally. She is 41 years old. Sally was homeless in London for 5 years. She then decided to take advantage of this magazine and moved to Preston to sell this newspaper. Now she has been working as a seller of Big North Issue for 15 years. She works from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fishergate Street, Preston.
By using the mamiya 7, I have found that this camera is complex to use due to the requirement of the viewfinder adapter, resulting difficult to manage with frame and focus. However, I continue using this camera in order to improve my skill with it and get better results.
13th June
On 13th June I went to reshoot at Carl outside the Tesco store in Friargate, where is common to find him since early morning till evening. They were raining days, Carl told me that the last night his tent was soaked and he struggled to sleep. He has applied for get into a flat , tomorrow he got an interview and after it, he have to wait over a month maybe two till the approval. In the meantime, he trying to go to sleep in shelters and even in any cheap hostel if he is would able to collect enough change. 
This day he was complaining about the little change that he had collected over four hours.
15th June
On 15Th June I met Simon from Preston. Although, I have been not allowed to take any pictures of him we had a little chat. Simon is 50-year olds. He got Homeless 5 month ago. His girlfriend had the tenancy and after they broken up, he began to live on the streets. Sometimes he crashes at any friend’s house to sleep.
I also met Matthew, he allowed me to take some pictures of his hand. Matthew became homeless 4 months ago, but he also be homeless before. The first time when he got homeless was because his broke up the relationship with his girlfriend. This time Matthew got homeless because his tenancy got over. While were talked, he was eating a cake in a low voice, he also had some nuts and the emblematic bottle of lambrini that some of the homeless usually carry it with them to get warm from the cold and, although busy, the “loneliness” of the street. He told me that he practiced diving in his youth, collaborating in some classes of this practice in Devon, but he stopped due for no any apparent reason. He was rolling a cigarette when he commented that sometimes he stays outside Tesco Store. I asked if he know Carl, he confirmed it, but he said that he don’t like that guy. This is because he argued that Carl stolen the charity store box several times. One of these times, Carl was cached by a friend of one of the charity’s shop. He was three times in jail for this. Due this, he does not talk to carl, usually avoid he and only stay around Friargate street and Tesco when carl is not there.
17 June
On 17 June I walking down the Preston centre looking for reshoot at Sally, the vendors of the Big issue North. I also found Lewis another seller of Big North Issue. Lewis was homeless before but now by selling the newspaper he can afford his rent. Lewis is always accompanied by his dog and even when it’s raining his faithful friend always stays next to him . He also mentioned, that they pick up the newspaper in the Central Methodist Church at 9 am.
Big Issue North Research and progress material
8th October, 2019
Due to the lack of free time, I have to broke down with the analogue photography methodology that I was using for this stage in Big Issue North. I used digital photography In order to speed the progress on this. This time I went to the Big issue North Office in Manchester, on my way I found two of the vendors of the magazine close to the train station.
Stephan from Romania, arrived to the Uk 4 years ago, the big issue north helped his to get a better life in the Uk. He is selling the magazine in the main entrance of the Manchester Piccadilly train Station from 7am to 7pm. His story appear in one of the magazine article that he showing it proudly.
Nicola was another man that was in the other side of the Manchester Piccadilly train Station. He is also from Romania and selling the magazine he is able to get on with his life much more than in his country, he said.
Finally, I been able to find the Big Issue Office. Rose, the office worker, was really friendly. The Manchester office is the largest in this company where this magazine is supplied to sellers for £ 1.50. There are other offices located in other cities such as Leed, and other entities in the remaining towns around the UK such as charities and churches where this magazine arrives to be picked up by vendors. These vendors are assigned to a specific area of the city, according to certain criteria such as availability to move around or where they live closest. Another of the criteria for awarding the area, and the most important one, depends on whether these vendors want to sell the magazine part time or full time, they are allowed to choose working hours. I also Asked to speak with the Director, who was busy at the time but Rose provide me his contact, so might I would be able to speak directly with him.
MANCHESTER HOMELESS FIELDWORK
On June 18, I went to Manchester in search of the Big Issue North office and its vendors. What I found is that the office had moved to another place just the day before. Due to the opening hours of the new office and the fact that my phone’s maps did not work (I even tried asking people in the street) I didn’t be able to find the office.
I was also looking for the Big Issue vendors in Manchester City Centre but there was none around 
there. Taking the advantage of my journey I took some photographs on my way.
Walking throughout the downtown streets, I bumped into Chris. Chris is 24 years old 
from Wales. He moved to Manchester to find a job. After 3 months working for a scaffolding company they did not pay him. Since 3 weeks ago ,Chris inhabits the streets begging to buy the train ticket and make his way back home with his family. He mentioned that he is learning what means to be homeless, last night hanging out with others homeless he realized that they stolen the change that he had collected, couldn’t do nothing about it. He also state that he suffers mental illness (PTSD) among other psychotic episodes such as schizophrenia . He tends to hurt himself, being hard for he to talk about it when others ask about his wound.
MADRID ‘SIN TECHO’ FIELDWORK
By ending June, I traveled to Spain to seek the homeless in the city of Madrid, with the intention of making a comparison of this problem in our society that not only refers to some places but is increasing in large part of the world currently. For this I will focus, as I mentioned before in the city of Madrid and the North of England where I currently reside.
In this large, beautiful and ancient city of Madrid, which is full of avenues, wide streets, monuments, palaces, museums, churches and cathedrals, works of art, statues of Velázquez, Botero and Prim and Emilio Castelar, and fountains, such as Neptune and Cibeles, spectacular buildings such as the Towers of the Plaza de Castilla and ancient squares such as those of Antón Martín y Mayor; Luxury shops on Serrano Street and exquisite urbanizations such as Arturo Soria and Puerta de Hierro and hundreds of unique buildings and schools and hospitals and libraries, thousands of people do not have a built space to house them.
They have been evicted for non-payment of the rent or the mortgage, dismissed from companies by the multiple ERES that are carried out every day, lost the lodging by some judicial process, without employment, without subsidy, without pension, without social aids, without professional training.
In 2016 the city council of Madrid launched a count of homeless people carried out by volunteers in night shifts. Approaching the homeless and quantifying this phenomenon is not an easy task since most of them seek anonymity, so these counts are merely estimated. According to the report coordinated by the social Samur and organized by the City Council with the help of several NGOs, the number of homeless people has increased since 2016 by more than 24% together with the number of people served in 41.17% relocation programs. The total figure includes people who sleep on the street (at least 650) and others who do so in shelters (1250 housed in centers and 683 in homes). Of the 2,772 homeless, 73% of them are men and their average age is 47.1 years. The majority are single (47.3%).
In my research I have noticed that there are a large number of people camping in the center of the city of Madrid. In the Paseo del Prado in Madrid, in front of the Ministry of Health, women, men, children, old people, adults, entire families, around 90 people are gathered in a kind of community camping claiming for their rights and a dignified home that as citizens in what is supposedly a fair democracy of this country. There are the “Sin techo” without roof, without walls, without beds and without sanitary services. They constitute a small sample of that subworld of Madrid city. It is assumed that there are more than three thousand in all of Madrid, if there is a census. As if they did not exist, neither the police nor the social services seem to appear there and it is that in this great space in the center of the city where thousands of tourists visit the Prado Museum, these homeless seem to go unnoticed or be another attraction. It was requested that they install portable toilets, but no authority has been taken for granted.
Reference
Franco, L. (2019). Casi 2.800 personas sin hogar en Madrid, según el censo municipal. [online] EL PAÍS. Available at: https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/04/12/madrid/1555060451_218787.html [Accessed 28 June. 2019].
Madrid.es. (2019). Recuento de personas sin hogar – Ayuntamiento de Madrid. [online] Available at: https://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/El-Ayuntamiento/Samur-Social-Personas-sin-hogar/Personas-sin-hogar/Recuento-de-personas-sin-hogar/?vgnextfmt=default&vgnextchannel=a319187b0da3d310VgnVCM1000000b205a0aRCRD&vgnextoid=a319187b0da3d310VgnVCM1000000b205a0aRCRD [Accessed 28 June. 2019].
La verdad es siempre revolucionaria. (2019). Los sintecho de Madrid. [online] Available at: https://blogs.publico.es/lidia-falcon/2019/05/16/los-sintencho-de-madrid/ [Accessed 28 June. 2019].
29th June
With more than 35 degrees hitting the city, on 29 June I did my first visit to the ‘sin techo’ camp located in front of the Ministry of 
Health on Paseo del Prado. I found a large number of banners as I entered the meadow walk along with a large number of tents almost all the same in military green tones.
Walking around I found a Men in his middle age and his wife. He is Antonio of 62 year
old from Portugal. Antonio is camping with his wife Joaquina of 69 year old and his Son Alejandro in his 22. Antonio has two more Son’s one of them in Portugal and another one in his 9 in Murcia, ‘Life’s things’ he commented. When I saw Antonio was working and cleaning their tent and space around.
The tent of his Son, Alejandro is next to their tent. Antonio invited me to have a look inside it, allowing me to photographs it. Although, Alejandro is 22 years old, their parents are in charged to look after him due to his mental health, he suffers down’s Syndrome with some violence episodes occasionally.
I have been chatting with Antonio for a while, he commented that he suffered a depression not too long ago, after lost one of his sons from another relationship. He always has been working and sleeping in hostels or rented rooms. He also, has slept in the street before, arguing that is really hard and danger to sleep rough because people often can attack, and this is why you always have to be in alert. It was when he lost his last job when came again to live in the streets, more specifically in the camp where he has been two months now. He also said that others of the camp there are just beggaring, smoking and drinking but the aim of Antonio is not that but to claim for his right to have a home to be able to live and give to hs 9 years old son a dignified life. He implicit that he is Chef, cooking most of the time for the homeless there. Some days before today, he has received the visit of the first Minister who said that every single homeless case there will be considered to process the support their claiming. I ask Antonio how many people he considered they were there camping; He asked saying that they are around 86 homeless. Now in summer time, is really hard to be in the street because the high temperatures, they don’t have water neither toilet or showers and apparently the town hall doesn’t care about this. They don’t have any kind of medical support and many of them suffers illness. Antonio highly that many of immigrant come to Spain and they have proved to get helps quickly while others like him is waiting for a long time to have any kind of support. Antonio has been in Spain 30 years from now and he doesn’t able to get any support. He is processing the result of a report to his last job because he hasn’t been paid.
I also met Paquito, Julio, Rafael and Samuel from the other part of the camp that Antonio has commented. They don’t want to be photographed. They remark on the danger of sleep in the street specially women that can be raped. Some of the violent case during the night consist in put fire to tents while they are sleeping inside, which is why there must always be someone awake to watch during the night. The girlfriend of one of them have been suffered many attends of rape and now she always carried an anti-rape machine with her.
27th July
By ending July, I traveled again to Madrid City. Walking to the cibeles ‘Sin techo’ camp be able to photographs other of the homeless who are not in protest or gathered in the camp. It seem that not all of them want to take part of this community to fight for their right.
I walked down throught Cibeles square, where like the same day when I was for first time in the Neptuno camp, I started to found banners, posters and all type of announcement through which the homeless camped there claimed their rights and left their messages to be seen and taken into account. Which seems, although we are all bone and meat, for some what should be the right of have a decent home is more than impossible. Among thousands of tourists passing through this emblematic place which is deserved a visit by all tourist, these ‘sin techo” goes unnoticed by most of these visitors.
While I was taking some pictures around I met Miki and David whose where in the camp with some homeless camped there. I get into the camp where was Micky, David among others homeless. Daniel informed me that they started the camp, they describe themselves as hackers, anarchists and squatters. Daniel and Micky met eleven years ago in a hacker laboratory. They coincide occasionally in Barcelona and now they have met again to take the voice and represent these homeless people camped there. What began in April as a group of 40 people camped in front of the Ministry of Health to ask for solutions to the political parties during the electoral campaign has now invaded almost the entire walk until they reach the door of the Consistory, in the Plaza de Cibeles. And what was then a cohesive group has split into two sides: the most aware and those who have joined for different purposes. This camping, near Cibeles fountain and located in front of the town hall is smaller than the Neptune camp, although it seems more communal. Many of the homeless there keep calm, within the same indole of claim for their rights. Everyone shares the desire to be seen, heard and taken into account. Everyone wants to talk but not everyone wants to be photographed.
Along with other homeless I met and had the pleasure of talking for a while with Maria, Laura, Iru, Fernando, Rained and Diego. María, of 56 years old, is a homeless who arrived at the camp with her husband, Iru, two weeks ago from Córdoba to support the protest. The protest of a group of activists calling for a solution for homelessness in Spain, has become for some a “summer camp.” “They are a group of people who only come to eat, play music, dance and get drunk,” explains María.
Laura is another of the character, she is not camping but we can often find her there supporting the homelessness. Laura, is 39 years old from Vallecas where she living in a squat house with her daughter of 18 years old. She argued that they occupy empty houses, owned by the Sabadell bank since the eviction process is more difficult, being owned of a banking entity. These squat house are known for the authorities as ‘toxic asset’. She also commented that the tent there were provided by a pastor called ‘Angel’ from the San Antón church located at C/ Hortaleza.
Some homeless from the original campaign decided to move to this one in Cibeles, this is because they sufferer some cases of aggression. This change took place a month ago, the new camp near Cibeles already has a kitchen with gas cylinders and a small stove. They also built a shower, which showed me, Diego, a 29-year-old Mexican.
During the evening David and Micky showed me a sociocultural center called ‘La ingobernable’ where they also collaborate. Close there were a public mobile toilet, which led me to question why this toilet was not moved to the ‘Sin techo’ camp.
https://ingobernable.net/nosotras/
29th July
On 29 July I went back to the Cibeles camp, shooting at some of the banners hanged in the space around there. They take the advantage of the trees, light posters of the square or whatever they found able to hold its banners. It was seven noon the summer heat hit the city and some of them take advantage of the shadows of the trees in the square to have a nap. 
Selena, a transgender from Colombia was washing some sliced onions to cook their dinner while Micky was in a meeting with the rest of them in order to remarks what they want to claim to the authorities such as the improvement of shelters, enable portable showers and toilets, Wi-Fi zones, employment offices..
While everyone was quiet around there, I moved around the square taking pictures in order to show this ‘Sin techo’ Cibeles camp.
Gerardo, a man of foreign nationality, died in the camping just 10 days after the beginning of this, his companions there remember him and commemorate him with a sign in his honor.
31th July 
On 31th July I did my 4th visit to the ‘sin techo’ camp, I went straight to the 2nd camp, the first one that I visited. There were 12 noon, I did some shoot at the tents on my way. Some of the homeless were still sleeping others just were around there.
I found Antonio among others homeless of the camp. Antonio was happy to see me, he asked me where I have been. I explain him what I did these days before in the camp one and the people I met. He mentioned that they don’t get well with the others camp, neither to some of others homeless camping in the corridor close to his tent. This is because he thinks they don’t collaborate as a claimer of their rights, instead they just stay like if they merely being in a camping passing the days. He also commented 
about Miki, arguing that he doesn’t like him, because he thought all what Miki is doing is a parody seeking to be a leadership.He show me the link in where Micky appears in a Press conference in the opposite camp: https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/07/30/madrid/1564502282_033339.html.
While I was talking with others of the homeless there, Antonio let me know that he just received a call from a journalist saying that Micky was being arrested in a protest happening in front of the town hall. I ran to there for seek and photographs what was happening. When I arrived at the first camp, everyone was really nervous.
The Cibeles group requested a meeting with the City Council to ask, among other things, a public toilet open 24 hours a day, a social transport pass for the homeless and Social Samur care for everyone. The City Council maintains that the Social Samur has already served who had to. The conflict ended with the arrest of the spokesman, but only temporarily. Almeida has a conflict at the doorstep of her office, which has only just begun.
The Protest was over. Micky and some of the camp went to protest in front of the town hall, moving 6 of the tents and placing them in front of it for protest. Some policemen approached and informed them that they had to evict the area in less than an hour, Miki was refused and arrested, the other homeless there protesting were evicted.
Reporters from the 120 minutes local channel television were there reporting and recording the homeless statements.
Maria was in charged of declaring for 120 minutos Television Madrid Chanel.
The environment remained quite agitated, Alejandro the son of Antonio had a dispute with Arturo another of the homeless there camped, The police appeared to interpose. Juan, the boy who was holding the ‘peace’ banner, apparently maintains a relationship with Alejandro. He was in charge of talking to the police.
While the atmosphere calmed down there
, I kept on meeting new characters in the area.
There where a old Man called ‘El Papi’. ‘El papi’ is 72-year-old, diligent of the UGT union. 
He grew up in Huelva, Andalucia. He has been in Madrid since 1993 . Although he has his own home, he is president of a homeless association called ‘El chupano’, located at the 10, C / Caba Baja in Tirso de Molina. He said that I found the camp with other girl who is painter. Nuria works as ‘El papi’ secretary and is the vice president of the association ‘El chupano’. They debated there their next meeting which showed a pamphlet. El papi explain me than the name of chupano come from long time ago. It was given to that places, usually a hut, where rural workers were gathered during their break.
Next to el papi were Jose and Jaime. Jose is a 30-year-old Venezuelan who is an environmental engineer and has been living on the street for 8 months. He is waiting for his second residence card to work. He commented that there are many foreigners in the process of documentation living in the street. Jaime is 40 years old from Colombia. He was holding an informative poster of the next Chupano assembly while discussing this with Papi and Nuria.
I met Arturo, who has a fight minutes before with Alejandro. Arturo is 41 years old from Cordoba, Andalucia. He has me mental issues and is under medication. Arturo told me he was worried, because the police took data from his documentation at the protest in front of the town hall this morning. He was given an administrative sanction for occupying the public road which, together with the large amount of criminal records he has, only increases his concern. He also commented that he was very worried about Miki who had been arrested. He presents a really excited behavior while others there keep calm.
Arturo invite me to see his tent, which was quite messy after try to move it to the protest and after the dispute with Alejandro.
I also met Manuel from Huelva Whaka, Diego, Nerea and Micha. Whaka is a woman in her 32 from Nigeria. She worn in Spain and has been in the camp a month and half. Diego is from Madrid, he has been in the camp since the beginning 3 months from now. Nerea is from Barcelona, she has been in the camp just two days. Her life is between Madrid and Barcelona. Micha from Czechoslovakia is has been two days in the camp. He came from Marbella to process a duplicate of his passport which he lost in marbella. He is trying to collect enough cash to make his way back to Marbella.
I walked down to the second camp where I found Samuel, one of the guys who I met in my first contact with the camp. Today, Samuel allowed me to take a portrait of him. He was talking about his girlfriend who has addictions issue.
2nd August
On Friday, August 2, I went back to the camp two, it was reaching eight in the afternoon.
Diego was collecting signatures in support of housing initiatives for the homeless. He affirmed that Micky was released from prison yesterday, with charges. Micky was 3 days in detention. Maria, Iru and others were in their usual place, they told me that they had argued with Micky because they were drinking beers and miki was upset because she said they gave the camp a bad image. Maria argued that last night a. man in his forties went into the camping and kicked one of the tents. She and Juaka saw him run away after hitting the store. 
Iru made a table to eat and said I had a bathroom to build these days. During these days, several media outlets were recording and interviewing at the camp, Maria being the spokeswoman. Maria and Iru don’t believe that housing would be provided while others still keep hope.
3rd August
It was 1:30 pm, Christian, the Colombian was cooking rice with pork.Juan was removing the legs from a clothesline to hang it, the best dryer he said.
Near Juan there was a large bottle with liquid and apples inside, ask Juan what it was. The argument that they were distilling liquor, a kind of whiskey called Ponzaña, that prisoners usually do in prisons.
One of them took a nap under the trees, others laid clothes after taking a shower
Some manage to hang their clothes taking advantage of the trees while others tend their clothes as they can take advantage of anything for it.
I brought to them some egg and pasta, hang it to Iru I did my way down to the camp 2 to give them some milk and coffee to Antonio, on my way I found Andrés the couple of Antonio’s Son. I found Antonio in a meeting with his family. I gave him the food. Antonio informed me that He will go soon to a interview with a journalist called Raúl the same one who called him when was the protest where Mike was arrested. They are going to discuss about what is gonna happen with the camp because the Authorities are processing an assembly to evict the homeless camped there. This is due to the Micky’s act in the protest in front of the town hall. Antonio said that Miki is acting for politic and this is not what they want.
The environment was really quiet in both camp. I did some pictures around there.
I went back to the camp 1, I saw Micky. Micky said that he doesn’t be bad during his arresting. Although he is in charges for public disorder. He also commented that the authorities want to evict the camp. Maria, Juaka, Manuel and others were talking in their usual place.
Javier was drawing and really quiet today ..
While I was there appear another new character called Enrique from Colombia, he doesn’t camped there. Miki was reading a really interesting book, Einstein and Freud.
4th August
It was around 3:30 noon Maria and Juaka were there. Today they had cooked a chicken soup, a quite ‘insipid’, commented Maria. They continued arguing on the possible and future eviction of the camp by the authorities. Some of them thought it could be anytime soon. Others that at least until Christmas. Elena was putting a sunshade to her tent, which she was sewing raptly. The heat and the strong temperatures wreak havoc and it is arduous to sleep inside them. Arturo was with her as usual quite excited. He ask me for a cigarette. I asked him to accompany me to take it from where my left bag, close to Maria and Juaka, they asked that Arturo not please approach them, since he was fighting last night with everyone there, making a great dispute. It seems that Arturo is causing quite a lot of disputes in the camp, due to his somewhat aggressive behavior.
Iru was today in charge of the collection table. Pablo was with him. They commented that yesterday someone stole € 50 from the box, this has created a stir and huge discussion between them.
I went down to the camp 2 close to Neptuno fount, on my way I met Anatolia, who was collecting signatures to support homelessness. Antolia is 27 year old from Russia. He has been camping there for 6 months with his girlfriend.
I also found Samuel sitting on a bench in the square in companion of his dog. He was talking quietly with a woman. Samuel told me about how he broken his ankle, when I jumped from a 6 meters high roof.
I walked around the area and it seems that not all the homeless are in the camp, some of them prefers to stay apart of it, like the woman below, who is blind and usually stay in the same space asking for cash to be able to pay a room for sleep in. This is because some homeless are disabled, being hard and danger to sleep rough during the night.
Many others of the homeless sleep in the quiche of the portals, in the banks that still have an open space, in the squares, on the steps of the churches, under the arcades of the Plaza Mayor, next to the works of destruction of the city that multiply in all neighborhoods, wrapped in cardboard, in torn blankets, covered by newspapers.
On the night, I visited again the camp one close to Cibeles. It was around 22:00, they were gathered in a assembly leaded by Miki. Miki was proposing new initiatives such as the distribution of informative flyers to the pedestrians. The flyers will contain information about the homeless there and why they are there camped. New homeless arrived today to the camp. Between them are a Peruvian and two Moroccans and another one from Venezuela in his 28 called Carlos, who I have the pleasant to met him. Carlos has been eight months since now in different part of Spain. He is in the process of legalizing his documents to be able to find a job.
What began in April as a group of 40 people camped in front of the Ministry of Health to ask for solutions to the political parties during the electoral campaign has now invaded almost the entire walk until they reach the door of the Consistory, in the Plaza de Cibeles. And what was then a cohesive group has split into two sides: the most aware and those who have joined for different purposes. The City Council revealed that only 12 of the 80 campers are really homeless, while so many others homeless there are still fighting for their rights.
There are also classes inside the camp, not all are homeless. Like Jose who arrived in Madrid eight months ago from Venezuela and has been at the camp for a month. “I am in an asylum process and in a reception program, but there is no place for me,” says this political scientist who worked as an environmental researcher in his country. “I prefer to spend some time living in the street than to return to my country where I cannot develop my career.” His dream is to continue investigating climate change.
METHODOLOGY
To develop this homeless fieldwork based in Madrid I also have used the analogue photography to portrait each individual character in order to show real homeless faces through expressive pictures. I have based in the effort of attention, an ascetic discipline, and the receptivity to this people with empathy and the respect of know about them before take the portrait of them as well as asking before take the picture. I worked with one of the last analog cameras acquired before traveling to Madrid, this is a rollei 35 led
with Triotar 3,4/40mm lens.
The rollei 35 was the smallest 135 full frame camera, presented at the photokina in 1966. The model I use was made in Singapore, the first was made in Germany by Heinz Waaske. Where in June 1971, when Rollei transferred the production of the Rollei 35 camera from Germany to Singapore (Roskam, 2019).
I have used the Ilford HP5 Plus 35mm film, 400 ISO and black and white in order to follow the aesthetic of this project as well as I feel black and white reveal feeling and make a more expressive pictures. The surprising result will come when I get into the Uclan facilities where I will able to develop the film. The reason why I have chosen this tiny and discreet camera is because I able to carry it in my pocket, getting out whenever the unexpected arose and this does the job.
Reference
Roskam, J. (2019). The Rollei 35 story – http://www.rolleiclub.com. [online] Rolleiclub.com. Available at: http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/35classic/info/index.shtml [Accessed 21 Aug. 2019].
21th August
ENHANCED ABSTRACT
HOMELESSNESS: THE CONTROVERSY OF HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE. SOCIAL INCLUSION AND THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF MARGINALIZED GROUP.
In this Extended Research project, I will study the marginalized group in our society through the medium of photography in which is addressed the theme of documentary by using as methodology both analogue and digital photography. The project is an ethnography study on the streets and the people in power-less that inhabits its. This photography fieldwork will be focused on homelessness throughout Preston and the surrounding areas. I will explore the type of homeless that inhabit Preston by doing a Psychogeography on the streets as a physical space, based in homelessness semiotic signs recording visual elements of the places that they inhabit and exploring the adversity of this marginalized profile. I will analyse how this people are affected in terms of social and economic context. Moreover, I will study the homelessness in the city of Madrid, Spain in order to make a comparison within the UK and Spain in terms of homeless profile and what kind of politics and economic context are affected to them. Talking of framework in Madrid, I will focus in a homeless camp protest located between Neptuno and Cibeles, a substantial point in front the Town Hall and the Ministry of Health buildings. Central to the political space I will discuss and show the controversy of hostile architecture. How in political terms is masked or treated this issue in our society, more specifically in the urban space surround us. In addition, I will investigate, the social inclusion of this marginalized group, the rights and the supports available to reintroduce them into the society. More precisely through my engagement with such social work organization or business which provide the opportunity to leave the streets and get a better life, as is the independent street paper “Big Issue North”.
30th August
By ending August I visited again the camp prior to get back in the academic course. It was a rainy day, walking around I been noticed of new banners not seen before. All the tents were wet, the homeless precession of the camping was minimal, perhaps they would be refugees inside the tents or anywhere else nearby there. Looking at Antonio’s tent was seems that they were not there. Besides, Alejandro’s tent was not longer outhere.
While I was walking through Neptune’s camp, I saw a group of homeless people gathered, some of them were protecting themselves from the rain under a umbrella. Julio walked towards me when he saw me, he soon recognized me and invited me to join them. He introduced me to the homeless others who were there with him.
Javier a man in his 58 years old was holding a umbrella. Javier suffers a disability of 80%, he has been camping since April, and about two years in the street since he was evicted from his old home. Javier said that his past landlord sold his apartment to a foreigner and had to vacate the house while the landlord claimed to him the amount of € 3600 for non-payment of rent. He is currently receives a small payment for his disability.
Francisco is 52 years old from Cartajena. Before arriving at the camp in April, he has lived outside of Spain. He was upset because some foreigners homeless whose had recently joined the camp, had moved their tent. Francisco was complaining about the new homeless who arrive at the camp, “People who come only to do their misdeeds and tricks, without collaborating and bothering others there, they only bring avarice and greed,” he was commenting annoyed. He also said that others homeless stole about 5 phones from Javier while he was sleeping. I asked to Francisco where was Antonio, he told me that Antonio has been operated and a home had already been provided to him, while Julio was offered a shelter.
I walked down to the Cibeles camp, on my way I found the same blind woman that I have seen in others of fieldwork days. The woman was covered with a plastic, taking advantage of the window’s slot of one of the buildings around to take refuge from the rain that was intensified heavily.
When I arrived at the Cibeles camp, I met Iru, who accompanied me under his umbrella at the entrance of the subway.
31th August
Today the rain gave truce, returning to the usual weather of the hot summer days. The homeless from Cibeles camp had made a sample of housing with small toys found, as if it were a model, alluding to the decent housing for which they proclaim. It was companion with a banner which said ‘ That’s how I want my house to be, not how I live’.
Throughout the Neptune camp I met two new homeless characters, who were Vanessa and Anna.
Vanessa is 37 years old from Madrid, she had been living on the street for 5 months before coming to the camp. Vanessa was dispossessed of her home due to economic insolvency. He stayed in a friend house of her brother, shortly she had to leave the house for suffering gender violence.
Anna is 31 years old and Galician is protected by the community of Madrid. She was dispossessed of her former home due to economic insolvency. Before coming to the camp she lived in a friends house. ‘There is more help for immigrants than for Spaniards’, Anna repeated in her arguments.
Most of the tents were still wet from the rain of the previous day and many of homeless there took out their mattresses and belongings outside to dry them.
Farid was another homeless character met there. He is 34 years old from Algeria. He arrived to Spain one year and half ago and has been in the camp for 2 months. It does not have legalized documentation to be in Spain, nor is it in process of it. ‘I’d rather steal in the supermarket to eat than beg’, Farid said. This is one of the controversy within the homeless camping there, some of them prefers to steal for eat, others yield to begging.
While I be there there, there was a fight between Farid and others of the homeless camped.
Diego was also there, he told me that he was expelled from the Cibeles campsite, for defending himself against homophobic abuses, “I was feed up to be called gay, and that others would tell me to be patient,” Diego said. Before Diego lost his composure and was expelled, on the night of August 5-6, Diego was attacked by David, the Mexican boy, creating a head injury to Diego.
Diego was quiet, sitting at a table where there were a lot of informative flyers about the situation of these homeless people camped there and what false information flowed over them.
When I arrived to Cibeles camp, the homeless there were cleaning up the kitchen space, which was really tidy and clean.
The environment was quiet out there, some of homeless were gathered and another guy from Venezuela came to be part of the camp, becoming an other homeless more, waiting for legalized his documents in order to be able to work. Some things were new at the camp, such as a first aid kit that they themselves had collected.
I stayed in the camp, that remained quiet until late at night, when it returned again in trouble with the police intervention. Micky, along with other homeless of the camp, had left the night before to sleep in front of the social samur in order to stay active in their struggle and protest for their rights. Micky arrived at night, notifying that two of the homeless whose were protesting with him in front the social Samur, were housed in shelters. Alejandro was also there, wearing elegant clothes and arguing that he and his parents had already been provided with decent housing.
When the situation in the camp calmed down, I accompanied Micky to the social Samur in order to see what was happening there. I found some homeless that didn’t belong to the camp right at the Samur’s door. In front of this Social Assistance building was Javier along with other homeless who had recently joined the Cibeles camp. It was their second night there, among them was a middle-aged man of Cuban nationality and another one from Morocco.
1st September
On September I did my last visit to the cibeles camp before come back to the academic course at Uclan. I went straight to the Social Samur, but nobody were there. I just received a text from Micky letting me know that they were evicted from the SAmur door last night. I made my way to the cibeles camp. Walking the street of Madrid City centre, I been able to photograph a homeless sleeping inside a box.
In the Cibeles camp I did the latest pictures while I was talking with the homeless well known there. Selena has been provided with a housing by a LGBT organization. Today she allowed me to take a portrait of her.
Micky arrived to the camp, he was talking with a couple who were been also provide with a housing by the help of a social worker.
Whaka was arguing that she want to leave the camp in order to try to get back into any hemp association or squad. She also allowed me to take a portrait of her.
This is how I leave the homeless camp, with housing provided already happening for some of them and with the hopes of those who are still in the street.
19th September
By returning to the Uclan facilities I been able to start developing the roll of films from the Homeless camp, Madrid as a part of the methodology fieldwork. Although the results were a surprise because I had not worked before with the Rollei LED 5 camera, when I scanned and digitised the negatives slides I was happy with the outcomes.
27th September
Today I have phoned Iru and Maria, Maria answer my call. She explained that they have moved to Valencia to other homeless camp away from the crowd gaze and with not-profit claim. This is because they begun to feel uncomfortable in the protest camp of Cibeles a with not eyes to a better future for them, in consequence of certain imperative leadiring .
I also have spoken with Micky that is still in the protest camp. He informed me that they have moved 13 tent in front of congress of deputies. They had a day to startle the issue of people dying in the street. Therefore, now they can not only be evicted from there, but they will be protected by the police.
A TRUE PHOTOGRAPHY OF THOUGHT 
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