Most certainly it is. And by the look on his face, one might wonder what was the fate of the photographer. By the way, Life and Death in the Charity Ward is among his best short stories. Told with dark humor and aplomb regarding what weren't his best days. It's right up there with All the Assholes... and Confessions...
And Ponder, that scratch and sniff shot is indeed in The Buk Book, Musings on Charles Bukowski, by Christy and Powell, along with a few others from the same night (as well as some playing the piano drunk photos that might have spawned a book title).