I had a wonderful ride in this morning talking with a conductor. We only talked when he was stopped at the station because of MTA regs. It was another reminder of one of the best things about taking photos. It gives us great excuses for walking up to strangers, looking around unknown corners, and generally going places maybe we shouldn't. I've found it almost always pays off. You're only as good as your last u-turn.
In this case I got to talk with a veteran of the MTA about what's it like driving a train, squeezing in chats with platform workers while stopped in the stattion, MTA policy (thinks photo ban is a bad idea!), why automated trains are not going to work (not safety, just bad idea), racing the G train (even conductors think the G is glacial in speed), and other assorted tunnel talk. I gave him a card, hopefully he checks.
AmNew York is running another of my photos in tomorrows paper. Their running this image.
congrats for AmNew York!
and how abt posting some excerpts from conversations with these people! would make gr8 stories i guess!
So many interesting elements in this photo. The lighted number and dial on the right hand side, the hands of the conductor tightly gripping the controls, the arc of clean glass where the wiper has done it's work....and the handwritten admonition to "keep the cabs clean". The lighting is wonderful and I'd swear that's a bottle of Tanqueray sitting there.
It's great you could go in the conductur's place! Another thing I always find fascinating about taking pictures is that sometimes you don't notice some details when you shoot the picture, but only discover them on your monitor, by carefully watching the picture. Weird, isn't it?
Have you seen your picture published on http://www.sacripante.it ?
wow. i wish i wasn't such a babbling introvert, i miss so many opportunities to learn about people and capture moments that wouldn't happen without them. strong composition, i couldn't imagine it more perfect. the bottle is charming. congratulations again for amnew york! the published-to-be photo is another great one.
Great subtle pools of light on this one and lovely tone.
i love this shot. the old school NYC system is such a stark contrast to the high-tech, spotless, and pristine subways in places like Japan, Singapore, or Germany. But then again there are days I would have begged for someone to please air condition some of the platforms. You know what I mean.
wow, i love this shot, as mentioned it is so grimy and a nice contrast to the modernity above
I usually see your shots via my news reader, but I'm delurking today to comment on my favorite sites. I enjoy your stuff daily.
Conductor? ... or motorman?
good job on getting your work in the paper. i remember when you posted that image not so long back.
whenever i see your pictures the lighting just seems spot on. did you use a flash for this shot? how was the camera set up?
Thanks
nice one. and please tell me that that is indeed water in that brown bag. ;)
Lovely details and colour in this, sweet shot, glad you had a day behind the scenes :)
Awesome shot.
I think that the four digit number is the unit number of the train, which uniquely identifies it as a R32, the oldest train model in the current fleet. (http://www.nycsubway.org/cars/r32.html). I'd probably retouch that out.
Travis, I've really enjoyed following this site, and this particular image is just another in the long line of really, really good story telling pieces you've done about this single subject. I was reading about Walker Evans' subway photos the other day and thinking about your project and the connection of the two. This is outstanding work and I'm hoping you'll be able to continue it.
~superb POV to give the viewer, one of your best shots, a cover shot~
I'm pretty certain that's a bottle of Poland Spring, not Tanqueray. Lovely shot.
beautiful. i've always seen these parts of the train through a grimy window, but to be put right there beside the machinery that's so invisible to most people--great shot. the perspective is awesome--like we're the man at the helm.
i couldn't help but notice that there is a small letter "s" scribbled in front of the word cabs where is says "keep the cabs clean". great photo. really clean. he he eh.
You make the pictures I'll want to make - great!
This picture is the motorman (now known as Train Operator). The conductor controls the doors by pushing buttons on a door control panel. He/she is gripping the controller which controls the speed of the train and the brake handle. The green gauge is the pounds of air being applied to brake the subway train. The lit light tells the train operator that the doors are closed and locked before proceeding.