Between 8:30-9:30 am this station is wall to wall with Brooklyn commuters transfering to their East side trains. The A, C trains come in about two stories below this platform and it's an up hill walk through these twisty, confusing halls. Even every day commuters can get really turned around if you go up the wrong flight of stairs.
I've been trying to capture the sense of these halls for sometime. I've always shot while walking with the crowd, all back of heads. We're usually elbow to elbow, like swimming with a school of fish. I've never been happy with any of these images and knew one day I was just going to have to stop right in the middle, turn around and face the masses. Kinda daunting. As you might have guessed there's not usually a lot of joy in this morning crowd. I had a little extra time today and figured I would just go for it.
At the end of the long hall I stopped, turned around and fired off about 5 frames. Suffeciently freaked out, I turned and tried to calmly blend back in with the crowd. As I was editing the days shoot (I never edit in camera) I saw the first frame and thought cool this could be ok. Then that tall guy pops up, everyones head is down, plowing ahead, all business. And then this last frame comes up. What a surprise. I never saw that moment in the camera. I feel like I need to re-evaluate my entire day.
Fabtastic!!!! What a great face and nice to see someone who looks like they enjoy life.
Excellent capture! Thanks for the smiles!
Travis.. love this shot. It's funny, out of all those people only 2 (lady to the right) seem to really notice what you were doing.
Good work!
Dear Ruski
So nice to see the faces and for there to be some warmth and humanity. Seems like an important picture that brings a new dimension to the Blog. love the commentary all naked and honest, we all get to share and be part of it, ...can't explain it well but somehow we all become part of the project sharing your fear and frustration and all of the things that yougo thru. Bravo!
Oh man, there's a guy I want working in the next cubicle. With a smile like that coming at you, you know life can't be all that bad after all...
There's always one, isn't there? lol! I know a few people who would do that. Excellent.
That is great.
Oh man, this photo just put a big smile on my face. Great, great shot.
(And bravo for facing the crowd and taking the shots. I wouldn't have the guts, but the results are awesome.)
awesome!!!
funny story, funny photo. Also, gotta love the diversity!
i think he may have spotted you :)
Nice shot.
I wonder what the woman on the extreme right is thinking as she seems to have seen you too.
it looks like she's thinking, "hey... he's kinda cute..."
Wonderful shot! I can only imagine how daunting it must have been to stop in that crowd, turn around and shot, but what great reward :D
New to your site. I live in a decidedly less urban enviroment in Atlantic Canada, so have never experienced the crowds you seem to experience every day. And, I've never been on a Subway. So when I stumbled across this site, I stayed and started looking.
Wonderful site and work. This one pic made me grin from ear to ear.
Thanks for sharing.
Hey this is great stuff... I mean really! I am from Philly - used to go up to NYC of and on, and now live in LA (for the past few years)- Wonderful to look at your pics, makes me want to move.
In the future when I'm having a shitty day I'm going to remember that tall brother from Brooklyn and smile.
its simple. it brought a smile to my face. :) thanx