The Homeless Photographer (Need Your Help)
Team fundraiser
Bonjour and Konnichiwa Everyone
My Name is Keith but everyone called me Keiki but not everyone knows how to say Kei-Ki but everyone does call me Panda.
My Name is Keith but everyone called me Keiki but not everyone knows how to say Kei-Ki but everyone does call me Panda.
I am a self-taught photographer and documentarian covering stories about myself and about others with my work in the city of New York. I have been here since August 2021 but have been trying to find some work that will help make people's lives change with my experiences working in the field but lately, I have been facing the reality of being homeless myself for the last few months. It has been hard at times and mentally, it has been a challenge. I have been robbed a few times and facing the winter weather in New York City head-on. I am also a Youtuber that uploads videos onto that platform at least 3 times a week but Youtube doesn't pay or do I make any money using that platform. "It's suck"
Been trying to sell my work as a photographer and even that has been such a challenge. One of those challenges is always people asking for free work. I'd try to always stay clean and professional with my behavior but at times I am not able to shower when I need to. I am not able to do the things I want when I can either. Being Homeless is like a job, 24/7 but you also have to watch your surroundings in Big Apple. The City of New York had some services available but when I end up asking for them, the results of me being robbed at one of their drop-in centers by other groups of homeless individuals. I made a short film about the first part of my experience which you can watch here
I was robbed while sleeping on 24th and 5 ave and once in the East Village on 12th and 1ave.
The items were taken passports, documents, clothes, my Japanese Hakama and Yakata, and dress clothing for work in an Osprey Farpoint 70 backpack. Police didn't want to help because now I am homeless and my story doesn't concern them at this time. They called days later asking me if I remember the parties involved. My human rights were basically thrown out of the window because I am now a homeless man and I am not from New York City. I'd had to sell things I didn't want to sell in order to place an application for new passports. What a pain it took to even get the money for them. The days without eating just because I needed to save money for these documents so I can travel on Amtrak or a flight out one day. I'm a person that is a vegan and did figure out a system with the veggies/fruit stands on the streets of NYC are cheap but will only spend $3 dollars at most $5 dollars and make it last for 3-4 days. There are community fridges in some areas but they are always raided by the street individuals selling the FREE food on the streets. This doesn't give people like myself a chance to get some nutrients we or myself need.
I was robbed while sleeping on 24th and 5 ave and once in the East Village on 12th and 1ave.
The items were taken passports, documents, clothes, my Japanese Hakama and Yakata, and dress clothing for work in an Osprey Farpoint 70 backpack. Police didn't want to help because now I am homeless and my story doesn't concern them at this time. They called days later asking me if I remember the parties involved. My human rights were basically thrown out of the window because I am now a homeless man and I am not from New York City. I'd had to sell things I didn't want to sell in order to place an application for new passports. What a pain it took to even get the money for them. The days without eating just because I needed to save money for these documents so I can travel on Amtrak or a flight out one day. I'm a person that is a vegan and did figure out a system with the veggies/fruit stands on the streets of NYC are cheap but will only spend $3 dollars at most $5 dollars and make it last for 3-4 days. There are community fridges in some areas but they are always raided by the street individuals selling the FREE food on the streets. This doesn't give people like myself a chance to get some nutrients we or myself need.
I'd love what I do as an artist but it's a pain to not edit my work when I can when I am out on the streets. Maybe, I should not move here or kept my abusive job back in Madison, Wisconsin. Yes, I am not from New York City but I'd come here for opportunities. The city of many dreams but the city of dreams will eat you alive with the high cost of rent and the hard times to keep food on your tables or fridge. But, so far I haven't seen any good opportunities yet. I am not going to give up but I would have to ask this time for some support on this front. I am at the frontlines of this pandemic of homelessness and we need people like you to make the difference now.
I thought I could do this on my own but I am no one-man army,
My work as a Photographer "I'd think is awesome" please come check out my latest Portfolio on Instagram where you can make the decision yourself to tell me if I am good or just suck. Link here - https://www.instagram.com/thepandaphotographer/
Video Link: I Slept Outside in Record Below Temperatures in The Snow
Video Link: I Slept Outside in Record Below Temperatures in The Snow
Right now, I will like for the people to come together and just maybe you will want to help me with my dream and goals by getting off the streets, paying my bills like the phone to keep on just in case someone does decide to reach out for a good opportunity and get a hotel to work on some of the video work I'd have to color grade and edit as well so I can maybe submit again another film for a film festival. I think it's time for the stories of my life to be shared with many of you.
UPDATE: I need to get some new dentures, anyone have any good recommendations on where I should get them from?
It's going to be expensive but do I really need them?
Thank you for reading and reaching out the best way you can
ThePandaPhotographer
UPDATE: I need to get some new dentures, anyone have any good recommendations on where I should get them from?
It's going to be expensive but do I really need them?
Thank you for reading and reaching out the best way you can
ThePandaPhotographer
