I'll be one of the presenters at the 4th annual NYC Photobloggers meeting on June 17th. The event is held at the SOHO Apple store at 7pm. So if you find yourself in NYC that day stop on by. Check back at nyc.photobloggers.org for more info in about a week.
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Underground Exhibition
25 May, 2005 • Express Train
Photography © Travis Ruse • photoblogs.org • listed
nice action. and a gr8 'symettric' angle
very deep and concentrated atmosphere. I like, how the trains go down on the backside.
You know, when you're on this platform, it seems flat and long and flat, flat, flat. What's so great about this image is capturing the hump in the tracks and seeing how the trains will dive further underground as they proceed below Manhattan Island.
What a difference a week makes. I bumped into a group of MTA Transit cops this morning on this platform and we had a wonderful chat about digital cameras and photographing in the subway. I left a card and was promised I'd see an increase in site traffice coming from MTA officers. Nice.
Very claustrophobic! Nice image.
Very nice capture. It captures the insanely busy tunnel system, and the curves of the trains going down the tunnel is a nice touch.
Just to say that I love what you are doing. I discover your site a couple of days ago. Your photos are great. Very interesting. Anthropological work too. Thanks.
Travis, I've been watching your site for a good 5-6 months, ever since you commented on one of my shots.
And I'm surprised that it's taken me so long to realize this, but the cool thing about your shots (I think) is that your people are basically captive subjects. They can't exactly jump off the train or platform when you arrive (think how different it is for Joe Holmes, above ground). It's kinda cool, the look of resignation on their faces - - OK you got me, what the hell am I going to do about it?
That guy you shot on a Friday after work train, almost leaning into your lens, helpless. Now, I will admit I only realized this after thinking about the captive nature of a subject in one of my shots, a sidewalk diner ( http://www.samueljohnson.com/blog/parchives/050525.html ) who really couldn't leave his table to escape the lens... But it's funny how the lens awareness and helplessness combine. (Think about the guy who stared at you through the adjoining car windows.)
You really don't get those expressions in Joe Holmes' shots. I like the spontenaeity in his shots, but within the constraints of the subway, the awareness in your shots is something else.
As Bernard said, and as I have stated before, your work has a touch of the social anthropologist, recording a culture. I appreciate your commmitment to the project. Can you imagine far into the future how interesting it will be for someone to pour over your images and dissect the machinations of the daily commute? What might they be able to discern from the images?
In this image, for some reason I get a sinking, sick feeling at the sight of the train dipping into the depths of the tunnel.
I am believer in the power of photographic stories. It's that much more rewarding for the subject and the viewer. You learn so much more about the photographer when you see what they bring to a subject day after day. The Photoblog is going to really advance that cause. That is one of the subjects I intend to talk about at my June 17th talk to the NYC Photobloggers (more importantly to the folks who come and do not have a blog.) Speaking of dedication and Anthropology, I went saw the Diane Arbus show today at the Met. Incredibly inspirational. I do have some problems with parts of the show (not the photography but the idol worshiping without adequate comments on her mental battles and death). You've got till the 30th to catch it if you're in tone.
I want to thank everyone for the very insightful comments. That is one of the things I'm the most happy with on this site. Most of the dialogue here is about content and concepts. That is a rarity among blogs. I am very grateful.