Morning commute, Babylon line 8:12 westbound.
The other day I was coming home at normal rush hour and I photographed a hand bag (in great light) across from me and some accountant type man asked me if I knew the "lady" and he told me if it were his wife he would be angry. I showed the photo I had taken to the subject and she did not mind. Chivalry in a cheap silk tie.
Has left me cautious though, particularly on my commute train. The BB makes a noise -a click, and I usually have my iPod on so I do not hear it, really. I have not taken many picture on the train since this incident.
Later trains are better - the crowd is drunker, happier and more tired and louder.
These photographs were taken on an F train and the F cars have fluorescent lighting. I rode the 6 line recently and they have the same cars as the newest E trains.
Back to MOMA - all but the one with the painting were taken at the The Erotic Object: Surrealist Sculpture exhibit. Great lighting there and the visitors do linger. Check out the link if you have time.
The beauty of the MOMA is its lighting and the fact you can take pictures with almost no restrictions. The click does not mean anything, everyone is taking pictures.
Maybe not accountant types. Cheers.
6 comments:
You take care of yourself, John. Don't go upsetting people needlessly. I'd hate for you to get in trouble. You're sort of like a peeping Tom. It may give the wrong impression.
There's no accounting (pun intended) for the natives who remain convinced that a camera is a machine that will steal their spirit. On another note, all documentary photographers and filmmakers have had to endure slings and arrows in the name of privacy rights which, on the public street or in a public conveyance, do not exist.
I am thinking on the train of always giggiling the camera so they are blurrier and less likely to cause issues.
But then, you would not get shots like the top two here...
The train is harder = more hmogenouus population and less variation in shootijng angles etc.
One iof my favorite photographers, Walker Evans, did a series on subways.
interesting anecdote because though I love the colour and sheen in the first two, I find them somehow disturbing and creepy. I guess I think how I would feel if I found out I had been photographed like that.
How about coughing loudly to disguise the click, you would think the train makes enough noise.
So many have crackberries,iphones etc. I'm sure cameras are clicking everywhere and until someone posts a sign "no cameras,iphones,cellphones on the subway"- it's a free world. I suppose you would risk having your BB yanked from your hand and thrown onto the tracks by some suspecting philanderer or crook. Life is full of risk.
If someone is giving you a weird look, ask their permission and tell them it's an art project.
I like these subway rides, looking forward to them in September along with an adirondack chairs in Times Square, Broadway tickets and a visit with friends. How about a BBQ at Jones? Marie, kids- r u in? as they say in crack talk..
Frances, I have sensed your being uneasy with these. My intent is not to be creepy but to find moments of beauty in the day. I respect the subjects and do not ridecule them. Most make them look better by angle, light, motion or saturation.
Almost all are taken from the hip.
Lisa commented that I am addicted to taking pics of strangers, actually I am most excited by exploring this minimal tool.
From the beginning I have beem bothered a bit by privacy issues.
Particularly on the LIRR train.
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