ohhhh.... this one just melted my heart... brilliant shot, Sam. Gorgeous.

This picture really hits a note with me. Made me think and analyze... for a while. Great capture.

wow.... I could only be so lucky to get a photo like this with so much emotion. This photo just grabs the string of your heart and pull you in closer. Definately one of your most meaningful photos ever.

terribly cute dog

love it... strikes an emotional cord... sigh

Sweet jesus, this is touching. You're going to get a lot of cred. for this one Sam, right time right place, great in the moment shot. This is very mentally and emotionally stimulating... but... here comes the critique.

It's not a visually balanced shot though. It's too top heavy and theres not enough "under" shot. Next time you capture this sort of shot with emotion make sure you don't clip it too short at the bottom. Very top heavy but the emotion makes up for it this time. Cheers.

nice one! looks really warm seeing the dog with the man so up close.
i guess it must have been real cold when u took this snap.. looking at the closeness of the dog/man :)

wow, this is my favorite of yours in a while. absolutely amazing. i love the emotion that it expresses. keep it up man.

Poignant and haunting. Beautifully done.

incredible shot, a very emotional and human picture.

I think this might very well be the most amazing and beautiful picture I have ever seen. I'm speechless.

Thats you in the reflection, Sam.

wow!interesting

if you give you will recieve. I've been disappointed with your pictures for a while, but this one blows me away. keep taking pictures, your work is appreciated.

wow, amazing shot sam.
you really rock the most
thanks

ou ou, great shot... Very emotional, great. Maybe b&w?

hm... how did you feel while shooting this pic?

this is a real hard hitting shot, with a real deep emotional insight into companionship.
the dog biscuits on the floor just go to show how this poor homeless man thinks- look after himself but at the same time make sure his dog never goes hungry either. very well done sam.

Such a fantastic shot. As others have said, so much emotion.

I'm curious how you approached taking this shot, did you shoot it and then donate to the guy?

Did you speak to him?

Did you feel awkward taking this shot? I quite often feel awkward taking shots of people I dont know when they're unaware that I'm doing it.

Did you get comments from passers by as you took this?

Sorry - this shot makes me want to ask you questions!

Sam, words escape me. You know I'm a dog person, so perhaps I'm biased. But if I was stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing, it would be a dog. Similarly, if I became homeless for some reason, I think I too would try to keep my dog(s) as my most prized possession.

I really love how this shot not only shows this man's love for his dog, but his dog's love for him - making a powerful statement about what it is that we realy need to survive on this little spinning rock. It is truly the most amazing piece of work I have ever seen you do, and if you did not push this photo forward - get higher exposure and recognition for it - it would be unconsionable.

Bravo, Sam. Bravo.

im sure they make each other very happy. touching photo.

There is no greater love!!! So beautifull!!!

Wow, this is the most moving shot I have seen on your site! Think part of the magic is that the man's face is obsured, but not the dog's. The dog's expression sets the tone. I would have cropped it at the top of the wall. That would make the dogs head more clearly the focus.

Amazing picture.

u have captured the humanity-less of the homeless...

I have always thought it incredibly cruel and selfish of homeless people to own a dog when they are not able to care for it properly. This photograph has shown me how wrong I was! Absolutely fantastic (but at the same time quite upsetting) photograph.

oooh--a DOG picture at last!! i absolutely love this one sam...it is deeply moving. i am wondering if that dog is going to be okay (as my mind is in search to fill the unknown blanks of the many possible storylines that could go along with this man and his dog). the great quality of your pictures like this is in how they can so easily remove the audience from their own world and into the lives of those objects and people that you capture. well done~

Great shot, and I know you gave him some spare change ;).

er... i'm not very familiar with Canada, but isnt there some sort of social security/unemployment benefits? Is that not enough to cover rent or something?

With his face pointing down, the man is not exploited (a la Hussein skivvies). The dog and man appear to be sharing nearly the same position. The focus is both on how little they have materially and how much they have emotionally in each other. It's hard to say whether they are dreaming of better times or sweet dreams of thankfulness for their mutual companionship. The only visible food is for the dog who out of compassion did not consume it all -- again, both thinking of each other. For a sensitive subject, this is very tastefully done.

truely beautiful. makes you think how lucky people are to have love in their lives... no matter who from.

Not sure what Lorin Halpert was referencing above - I think it's perfect!

I need to echo what some other commenters have said... this one stopped my browsing dead in its tracks. Great hook.

ahhhhhhhh...yeah. another picture of homeless people. so over that. no offence but its been done to death!

show me something else puhlease.

I don't like pictures like this. it feels like exploitation. photographing the homeless is the easiest thing to do. its like they're there on the street so lets photograph them. do something else. do something different.

Beautiful moment!

it's sad that so many people feel more sympathy for the cute little doggie than for one of their own.
great shot sam.

man this really hits me in the gut :(

Great shot. What makes it so interesting for me is that in my browser all I see at first is the the man holding the dog. Mostly his from his shoulders up. My first thought was "Awwwww how cute". Then I scrolled down... And the shot became something else entirely. What an intense commentary. Thanks for such a great shot.

takes one's breath away. just so touching. thanks for sharing your world.

Do not forget the others...
'gards and special think to this couple of friends...

Oh, this is really touching. Great pic, definitely my favourite at the moment.

Usually I dont agree in taking pics of people without permission. Said that so, it is a powerfull shot. Hope the young man is going to be able to have more than just a dog to hold on.

This photograph is too sad to look at. It's too sad.

Given your success and influence as an exhibitor of your photographs, have you given any thought to capturing the lives of the homeless in Toronto as an exhibit? Being a resident of this city, I'm sure you're aware of the vast number of people who're without homes here and I think you'd be a fantastic voice to those who refuse to believe it's a terrible problem.

Something like this would really work at the gallery exhibition held at City Hall every spring.

My heart broke when I saw this picture. So calm and peaceful, though. Lovely.

Never saw a picture that struck me more to the heart than this one. Thank you.

Great shot.
Do you really need colors? Try it in B&W (it should be great)!!

Very touching photo.

Wow...that shot really has any emotional edge to it. Well done for catching such an intimate moment.

Nothing !

I wanted to cry when I saw this... I keep coming back to look though.

What an amazing shot. I cried multiple times. Thank you for posting it up. Heart felt moment. I admire your work.

the dog is sort of in a fetal position, the man being the womb..
to those who wonder how he takes care of the dog... many homeless people w/ dogs feed their animals before themselves... imagine what you would do when this is your only companionship.
and yes canada has social security, but there's always those who fall through the cracks of the system

I don't know you, and I found this site on accident, but I think this is one of the most touching photographs that I have ever seen. Although I am only 15, I appreciate the effort that went into this picture and I am deeply and truly touched by this picture. Please keep up the good work.

----->David

______*Feel not with thine hand, but with thine heart*_____

This morning there was an e-note in my inbox from houser, asking me if I'd seen this shot yet. I went to see it this morning, and have thought about this photograph all day and what I'd write if I commented.

The young man's plight of course, is not to be overlooked -- but equally the dog's expression -- to realize that these loving souls will love you NO MATTER WHAT.

Truly heartbreaking work, Sam. I think this piece gives the homeless something. Somehow, someway, I hope you'll find a voice for this photograph.

That is so sweet. I love it.

Felicidades.Maravillosa y conmovedora fotografia.-
Gracias.-

Exceptional as always Sam!

Although I must say I am disheartened by the idiocy and immaturity of some of the people that have posted. You should delete those posts...people like that do not deserve to be heard but rather pitied and scorned.

This shot really exemplifies the REAL issues we should be looking at in our Society. Toronto, also my home, has a serious homelessnes issue and I dearly hope that this phenominal image is used to its fullest potential to bring some awareness to the issue. One can hope anyway.

As I said before Sam, excellent as always. You continue to be one of the greatest inspirations to my love of photography and I thank you for this!

awww..that's so sad. probably the only friend he's got. :(

That is a truly powerful, touching, and sad photo. I wonder if all they have in the world is each other...

Have you tried it in b&w? it might make an even more powerful statement.

Fabulous work

I have been coming to your site faithfully for months now, but no photo has ever inspired me to post a comment. I couldn't move away from this shot. It captured me completely, and I just want you to know that this is possibly the best picture I have seen on your website, and possibly in all of the blogs that I go to on a daily basis. It is so real and emotional, and I just want to thank you for sharing it.

i think this may be one of my favorite photos ever. absolutely amazing.

great shot sam...

but i'm kind of pissed off at people saying that they are dog persons and that the image is beautiful, 'cause it isn't. this person's despair is not ours to judge beautiful... you guys have some nerve...

however, the shot is great. and it really demonstrates some grave problems some canadian metropolises have that should be abolished!

i love you sam... you rule!

~not invasive nor expolitive, two attributes I must commend you on, the subject matter is close to my heart, I work in conjunction w/ a few homeless shelters here in Pittsburgh and volunteer to teach GED classes, literacy...it's a shame that the war on homelessness in this country, the U.S., is not as much of a priority than invading and occupying a far off country that was of no threat to us...homeless threatens to take away a segment of our population and continues to slide that segment into mediocrity....thnx for sharing the image~

Unbelievable capture, well done.

wow, what an amazing picture. It says so much... very touching

Cute, but if only that man and dog had a home!

I have a hard time understanding the criticism on this one. To be "over the homeless shots" borders on crass, I think. This is a touching photograph, hands down. Maybe another photographer would have composed it differently; so what? The shot is what it is and on its own merits, it obviously had an impact on many viewers. Asking more of it seems a bit silly. My two cents' worth, anyway.

I'm quite speechless. Incredibly powerful shot.

This is poetry and a short story and a bold social statement all in one perfect mesh of pixels. Your talent is so obvious. Your sense of humanity runs deep.

My God. I don't know what the requirements are to be eligible for a Pulitzer or some other national award, but this shot is it.

great shots man .I enjoyed very much!

something should really be done about homelessness.

this is a great shot sam, it really touched me, and im almost a robot emotion-wise.

this photo is not beautiful!! this is completly rude! this poor dog and man dont have a home, and every1 thinks its beautiful!! no its not!! its horrible!! how would you like it if you were homeless and that was u, and sum guy took a pic of you?? wouldnt like it would you!! completly crude!!

Taking pictures of homeless people just because they're homeless is always annoying. The fact that this guy was asleep when you took it is even more bothersome and seems a bit cowardly to me. I'm not saying a subject like this should be off-limits, but I tend to respect photographers more if they've actually taken the time to get to know the person a bit and look at them as a human being rather than just, well, blog fodder.

All politics aside though.. not a bad shot at all. The composition's a bit awkward (maybe needs more off the top?) but in this case it's the subject matter that makes this one work quite well.

So you see a homeless man, snap a picture with your camera that`s worth enough money to feed him and his dog for a year, come home and post to the lovely adulation of all of these people.

Did you drop a penny in his subway cup? A Quarter? What is the price of human misery, how much for the right to parade him online like a circus?

Go back to beaches and sunsets. The homeless are not Art, they are People and deserve to be treated that way.

The homeless are not Art! This photo is! (Evidenced by the strength of reaction and debate generated by the photo...) As for the whole get to know him/give him money thing: Does a photographer in the Gaza Strip have to get to know the child being shot/beaten by the IDF in order to take a photo? Do we need give a quarter to the Victims of genocide in Darfur to relate the horrors seen there everyday? This image is strong, whether it generates attraction or revulsion. The relationship between dog and man is beautiful, whether that is beautiful-sad or otherwise...Focus your indignation on the people that would hide this away, that are embarassed by their personal implication in this suffering. Pay attention, don't ignore. And stop fighting with photographers....especially when they expose something real and hidden. Sam has done us a service, now choose to use the reactive energies wisely.

It's so interesting to see the judgements of the photographer himself in these comments! Sam has not indicated in any way what he feels about this man on the street. Whether he gave him a penny or a $100, whether he spoke to him, or just passed him by. To see that this photo has people using words like "beautiful" AND "exploitive" tells so much more about the people commenting than the photographer. Sam's title and comment are wisely objective, allowing all of us to interpret the photo for ourselves. Remember that none of us know what SAM thinks of it, so be wary of jumping to conclusions about what his intentions were when he shot it.

I look at your pictures and share the good news of this site often. As in the case of today's shot, the comments are often a fascinating subject too!
I'm cynical about homelessness and about the "heartfelt" theme in the comments above. Still, the callous hands open my so-downtown-Toronto callousness a crack.
Merci beaucoup for yet another dose of therapy!

Oh, this picture just makes my heart melt! what a moment to catch...well-done Sam!

Interesting comments... I find it amazing how wide the range of critiques span. I think this is a marvelous shot, composition, capture of emotion, and much more. It is simply a reflection of life in certain parts of Toronto and why not capture it? It is not as though you creted this image; you just photographed what already exists. So, I don't understand the hostility in the comments. There are thousands of photoblogs with pictures of everything else - maybe those who are so outraged would find a better home there.

...... (speechless)

thank you sam ^_^

This photo really hit me as well. My eye keeps coming back to the detritus surrounding the subjects. Throw-away items implying ...

I also keep coming back to the two figures on the cup at the bottom of the screen. They look happy and bright. Their lives have been made better by the contents of this cup. And then the cup goes on to become ....

This image does a great job of demanding a response from the viewer. I really appreciate it.

i cried.

wow. so intense, its simply beautiful.

Oh God.

Not sure how I missed this shot previously, jsut found it now. In either case, there is nothing disrespectful in this photograph, and there is nothing cowardly about it. In fact, it takes a certain strength to both take this photograph, and to post it. The composition is not about homelessness. It's about humanity. This is real life, whether you want to admit it or not.

I suppose for something to be right, it has to be all fluffed up with a pink bow on it.

Sam, this shot is fantastically both real, and strong. The power of this shot is not in the photography, as most people could have taken a photo as this. But to both see the strength here, and take the photograph, you've done very well.

Keep that sharp eye open, and thanks for bringing a daily dose of reality.

Justin

this one makes my heart THROB. fantastic

Should be on the cover of TIME.

What a thought-provoking shot - and what thoughts it's provoked here on this message board.

I hope those who are so offended are as quick to check out how to support their local homeless schemes/charities as they are to criticise someone highlighting this issue.

Well done for using your photographic talents to make people feel as uncomfortable as they should that fellow humans across the globe are in this situation. No man (or woman) is an island.
Art for aesthetic reasons is easy to love and you post some startlingly beautiful pictures. It's nice to see art that can be read as socio-political too.

Let's hope this picture leads to some action towards a better world for everyone.
i.f.

Homeless? How do we know that? And what do people mean when they refer to this young man as homeless? Why is there an absolute assumption that we should be ashamed for his presence on the street? What exactly is so outrageous about his presence that he and his dog need to be removed from the street as soon as possible? And why should I, rather than he, feel compelled to do so?

I've had a lump in my throat all morning since seeing this picture.

Sam, Your talent truly astonishes me. No picture has ever moved me as much as this one has.

Thanks for sharing it.

--Claudia

*Very* emotionally loaded photo! Beautiful!

I'm glad they have each other. This is one of those things that will stay with me forever. Thank you.

Hi,

Like most others have commented, this photograph does pull at a chord in your heart. This photo displays such a basic need for unconditional love and understanding which this fellow finds in his companion. They are in need of one another as that is all they have.

There is no political statement to be said here while others took the opportunity to take a punch in previous comments posted. Just judging the subject, one immediately may think he is homeless. Perhaps he is or was.

Final thoughts: This photo definitely deserves an award for that the photographer took the time to realize and capture a work of art when most people would consider this subject
a nuisance. Perhaps it will make certain others think differently the next time they see a homeless person as they still have feelings even though they may think they have no self-dignity.

Sir, you have a big pat on the back from me. Well done.

Chris

I used to walk past this man nearly every day, spring, summer, winter and fall. About 2 years worth I think. The dog was amazing, so gentle and inquisitive, he always chased the seagulls away, but you could tell he was just chasing them, he didn't want to hurt them.

The man never asked me for money and I never saw/heard him ask others for money, but clearly he was in need of assistance. I would go for lunch about once a week and bring him a meal and chat for a minute. He was always reading.

I regret that I never asked him his name. My office has moved now and I see from the caption that he is near my new office, I'm going to go talk to him again. I hadn't seen him for about a year, and thought of him often.

Toronto, no, Canada does need to do something about the fact that there are people that live here and do not have a home. Without a doubt, there is a way to solve this problem, we just have to want to do it.

-Pete

This shot stuck in my mind yesterday when I saw it in the Toronto Star. Then I actually ran into the very guy at Queen and Portland (on Queen). I told him about the picture; and plan to print it and bring him a copy.

I suggest if this picture touches you, and you live or work downtown - and you see him - for godsake give the guy a few bucks!

This mean all of YOU.

Piece.
DaveD

Definitely a strong photo.

I can't take those "ho my god, this dog is soooooo cuuuuute!" comments... Makes me sick.

And I can only smile at people who think it's an indecent subject matter or even call you a "coward" for taking the shot. Those condescending pseudo-intellectuals don't realize that they're the ones looking down upon that homeless guy. Supposedly you don't "look at them as a human being" but they're the ones so blinded that they can't see beauty when it's most flagrant.

"What is the price of human misery, how much for the right to parade him online like a circus? [...] The homeless are not Art, they are People and deserve to be treated that way" someone wrote... He's clearly the one who considers homeless people to be different from the rest of "us," so much so that he can't see the obvious beauty of the relationship between a man and a dog.

There's nothing this homeless person has to be ashamed of, and the photographer is not exhibiting this as curiosity for our entertainment. On the contrary, he's showing us that even in adversity, some people, and even dogs, are capable of elevating themselves to higher grounds, where beauty takes the shape of simplicity and purity of feelings. How can you say you're treating homeless people as humans if all you can feel for them is pity? Maybe that guy's the one who pities us and our meaningless little jobs. Maybe he's a modern day buddhist monk who believes non-attachment is the key to happiness, maybe...

The point is, those people don't know this homeless guy, they don't know the photographer, not even the dog, and all their anger comes from inside of themselves.

They're the ones who should be pitied.

Sam I don't know how I missed this photo but I regret that I did. I've been looking at it for several minutes now and I agree with most of the comments that it just pulls at your heart. It certainly brings to light a situation that affects millions of humans worldwide and makes me long for the time when it will be no more. Isaiah 65:20-24

I loved it!
This picture shows that even if somebody´s homeless can share love with somebody else.
Dog is a friend eventhough you have no money!
Congratulations for the shot!
xxx

Sometimes when we're still enough w/in outselves to look outside ourselves, we get to see beauty in the most unexpected places. I think that is some photograhers gift. Captured perspective. And you got that in this shot fo sho!

I love the fact that you cannot see the expression on the man's face, tell if he's awake. But the dog's face is so expressive and pure, isn't that why we love dogs.

My dog, Floppy, was just put to sleep by my parents who didn't ask or tell me. I wanna give Floppy the hug I see in this picture. She soley lived for love.

ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN!

---Daniel of Southern California

simply beautiful. i have been visiting your site for a long while now, and this is one of my favorites. it captures such a great deal of emotion...simply beautiful.

an excellent shot, catches a good glimpse of humanity and love. simple, and fantastic, i like your style.

It left me speechless ..
It's so sad and sweet meanwhile!!
The dog seems to feel so safe in the arms of the man!!!
Really,it's one of the best pictures due to its message and the feelings one has watching it .
Words are useless .. The image tells everyting
I'd give it the best mark possible

this shot is amazing, bursting with emotion : ) nice work! you have an amazing eye for photography

I see this homeless man and his dog everytime i visit toronto. It is remarkable how pensive the dog allways appears, as if he is the one most saddened by homelessness. This picture is truely sad, because it is so honest and real.

I disagree with the people that look at this photo and see only the 'condition' or the 'problem' or the 'homeless'. I've known a few people that live on the street and they are just like everyone else. I think that's what hits people about this photo; that it shows such a wonderful connection that many of us have felt with a dog, but in a setting that we're not all used to seeing.

i return to this photo at least weekly.
it is the most compelling depiction on the possibility of complete trust and love between animals and mankind i have ever seen.
to think millions of animals a year are euthanized,is truly beyond comprehension, when they ask so little and offer us so much.
the world would be much more enlightened and humane should we emulate these magnificent creatures.
stunning work!!
jrowe

Lovely image. I'm sure you took it knowing it would shock and touch people which is exactly what it has done. Images like this are needed to wake us from our paradise and motivate us to help. If only everone would work as one and not think "If only I had the power to help".

Comments are FUNNY! Excellent shot! Romans 1:20-21 "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

This is one of the most amazing shot I've ever seen .Thats one in a billion moment!!!
Hats off!

Wow this is an amazing shot. It get so much emotion out of the veiner and just breaks your heart. Thanks for this.

Just perfect!
Well done!

Unhappily, the answer is regularly an idea that is so effortless it would simply require a precise instance of time to put into place, but is often left out.

wow this is so real. i truly love it. it made me cry, i have a soft stop for dogs.

In the words of my boyfriend who was homeless himself, why the hell are you making fancy art for your profit out of this guy's out. I hope you at least gave him some money

this photo is so beautiful. don't listen to such ignorant people. if anything it helps raise awareness. it's a GOOD thing.

simply beautiful, made me tear up <3

I'm so touched by this photo.

awww, this is so sad, great picture.

This is awesome photo.. I come by every week, month, just to see it again. It has something, at least for me... Really great!

This is both one the sweetest and one of the saddest photos I've ever seen.

everytime i see this i cry, if i could i would take this man and his dog in, this shows the true meaning of a mans best friend, this man gave up everything, a shelter, for his dog. Where is this man, i need to meet him now?

Wow! really nice!
Love both of them & his VANS! :)

What ever happened to this guy? After seeing this pic I did some research and found an article telling that he was reunited with his family.