I've been thinking alot about moments like this lately. Nothing really remarkable about the image. But these are the moments that encompase 99.9% of a subway commute. For the most part it's head down and please don't let me miss my stop. Or quite often it's a quick jolt from an unnatural sleep and quizical looks of where am I at. I feel like these are the hardest images to make. And yet in many ways the most telling of the experience. It is after all a group experience. I'm not sure if the solitude that one finds in their commute fits the definition of solitude found in the dictionary.
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Underground Exhibition
8 February, 2005 • Express Train
Photography © Travis Ruse • photoblogs.org • listed
travis..i have enjoyed looking at all the images...and i enjoyed seeing you the other night. i so love your "studio" and its personality. i love all the reflections- half and half imgery beetween people and the subway doors-tracks- light and tunnel. keep on this one- make each image as large a file size as possible...and i see a show of 20x24 large image. lets get the grittyness of the subway into our livingroom....
what other photoshowopenings are going on- do you know of any- ????
Great photos. I'm a big fan of "subway" shots and you take some of the best I've ever seen.
By the way, isn't it illegal now to take photos in the New York City's subway?
Hossein-
Some days I pick up my copy of Bruce Davidson's Subway book and wonder why I even attempt to photograph in the subway. For those that have not seen his book it is incredible. I'm very greatful for the concept of the photoblog. It has given me an excuse to start this project without feeling the pressure to create the next great photo essay. Thank you for the encouragment. Oh yeah, no it's not illegal to shoot in the Subways yet. Though the NYPD seem to think it is. It's becoming almost a daily occurance that I have to talk with these folks. Usually I get to continue shooting. Travis
Dear travis
Do you remember any of those William Klien books about the cities, Rome, Tokyo, Moscow,and NYC, or that book about the Democratic National Convention that was all shot with the 400mm Leica R lens? What's amazing about Klein was that he used either wide lens to get so that you were so close that you felt you could touch everyone or the super long lens that compressed the elements and stacked them up in a strong just-positioning. I love this picture for all thats going on but think that you might open up a world if you explore that longer lens stuff and so bring everyone into the same plane. 400mm will be a little extreme inside the subway but 135-200 will suffice.
P
P- I hear what you're saying. I've been trying a longer lense lately and just haven't gotten the right feeling yet. Part of the problem is just the size of the lens. I try to be as invisible as a guy with a camera around his neck can be. The longer lens just make me seem like so much more presence (i'll have to get over that). On another note. I really like the feeling of the wider lens on many occation because they really capture what it looks like. Kinda boring a way. But I find that the point. The longer lens can make a beautiful image, but at the same a totally unnatural one. We've always talked about how wide angle lens are a crutch to making strong images becasue too much emphasis is placed on the effect of distortion. In this situation I think the longer lens might get me into the same trouble. In the end I think it's just going to be the right tool for the right image. I'll let you know when I start posting some of the longer lens images.
Travis, you must have an invisible camera (meant as a compliment). Even in a train full of jaded NYers, there's always someone that glares right at the camera if I try to pull of a shot like this. This is an uncommon shot for depicting such a common scene.
Funny but it seems to me that the woman who sleeps at the left side of the photo is the only one who gives a real touch of humanity in this urban landscape
I like this photo a lot
Just discovered your site and love the theme. This shot in particular is really striking and definitely gives the sense of being there. It's all very calming yet totally chaotic at the same time.
truly amazing!