Dr. Gerhard Bonse is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this documentary photography. From the project ‘Without a Home – With Dignity’. To see Dr. Gerhard’s body of work, click on any photograph.

“Without a Home – With Dignity”

Photographic encounters with people on the fringes of society.

By 2024 there will be over half a million people across Germany without a place to stay, homeless people on the fringes of society. This photo project attempts to meet homeless people on an equal footing and to give them a stage with photo exhibitions and publications that are intended to help break down common clichés such as lazy people, alcoholics, shirkers, neglected people, etc.

The intention is to get as close as possible to people on the fringes of society without becoming photographically voyeuristic. At the beginning of the encounters there are always conversations and the life stories of the protagonists in order to make the later photos as authentic as possible. The homeless often also had wishes about how they would like to be photographed!

In the Photos, the homeless are not victims but people with pride and dignity.

Dr.Gerhard Bonse

Chemist at BAYER AG. From 2005, deepening and further training in photography using university courses and textbooks. Member of the Federal Association of Visual Artists (BKK Aachen) since 2017. Numerous exhibitions in Germany, Switzerland and Austria as well as winners of various photo competitions.

All images and text © Dr.Gerhard Bonse