Many times when I make a picture I wonder who is standing next to me and what they must be thinking. In this case standing over my shoulder was the husband/father of these two.
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Underground Exhibition
17 January, 2006 • Express Train
Photography © Travis Ruse • photoblogs.org • listed
They seem pretty tense.
I'm still wondering how one can take pictures from complete strangers. I'd be too scared to get a punch in the face or something like that. I wouldn't even know what to say or do when they'd look at me, being surprised. Any tips?
What a happy smiling people we are, I bet the husband/fathers face was just as happy...Im not surprised, excellent pic thou
haha I was thinkin the same thing - these ppl are loving life
What was the husband's response?
I, too, admire your moxie and wish I had the stones to shoot my fellow NYCers in such an obvious manner. As it is now I sneak portraits in reflected surfaces or from a safe distance =D.
I enjoy all your images, but this one in particular captures the bad energy that is abundant on the subway. Everybody's either angry or stressed or numbed . . . behind their protective shells. It's a fascinating phenomenon and I'm glad you're chronicalling it.
TMC, I don't find that the subway is that downcast of a place. I think we most often interpret disconnected stares as negative emotions. I almost never see people going at each other in an angry way. The opposite is quite often the case. People helping each other and starting up a conversation when a common moment is shared. And maybe instead of protective shells we're sometimes seeing what's behind their mask when we're tuning out for a minute. Just a thought anyway.
I think our differing viewpoints probably explain why you're so at ease capturing these moments and I'm not :-D
I'll think about your P.O.V. as I'm riding home today . . . perhaps my sneaky camera will come out into the light . . .
I dont think that they would like to see their pictures here when they look like we can see :D
It's just kind of a tired blank moment, spacing out.The position people assume in crowded quarters is interesting. People generally do not like candid shots. The prefer to have a moment to compose the face they wish to present to the world.
What did the father do- or say ?
I bet they are govt employees who have had a tough day and are totally exhausted (bet ya can guess what I do for living? ). :-)
Was the camera in your lap or at your eye? The perspective seems like it's from a lower angle.
I made my first trip to NYC a couple of months ago and I am thrilled to have found your site. You take all the photos that I was itching to on the subway, but was too shy to take. I am really enjoying your photos.
At first I thought they were just two exhausted workers at the end of the work day. When I read your comments and read that the father was with them, I realized it was a trip to the city for a purpose. They don't look happy so my reaction is that it wasn't for fun...they weren't returning from a celebration.....Why do families go into the city if not for fun? One possibility is that they went to see some doctor, a specialist that is highly recommended in the city.....That would make them look serious or sad!
Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but that is why I love your site. Keep taking photos that keep us guessing! Alida
powerful shot.
Every shot on your blog is like a short story/
Glad Miles posted your work up today.
Happy to find your blog.
What I like about this photo is that the daughter and mother are sat in the same position with the same downtrodden expression. Split the photo into two and they could be the same person thirty or forty years apart. It's not a particularly happy thought but it's quite comforting in a weird kind of way.