Posted by Damon Schreiber (Toronto, Canada) on 23 February 2007 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.
Please nobody push...
I'm bored of the subway again. Tomorrow, back up to the light. (The yellow face, it hurts us...)
Hi-res here.
[St. Clair West Station, Toronto]
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Love the solidity of the image. the depth of colour and contast are very nice indeed. The lack of emotion throughout the faces is interesting. Back home (Im from a small town) its not uncommon to strike up conversations with those around you whilst waiting for transportation. But then again us Brits are an odd bunch ;) Thats something I miss though, even if the conversation usually revolved around the weather or the footy it always served as a time killer. I guess big cities are different though. Kyoto certainly is, as is London. The stepped orange and blue is lovely I must add, especially as all other movement is horizontal through this. I like it a lot although I understand the desire to go 'up'. Ive stayed clear of the subway for a while recently as it all became a bit lifeless for me down there. Enjoy the light..it'll recharge you for the next time you go 'under'. I might be heading back there myself quite soon...
23 Feb 2007 12:44am
@Duncan Galbraith: The whole dynamic in towns seems so different from cities - although that's a stereotype, and towns and cities do vary from each other. When I was sojourning in the town of Stratford, Ontario many years ago, my city friends and I would joke that every time you used the bank machine, you made a new friend. But here in the city, it takes real effort to make contact with strangers. It can be done of course, but people tend to be suspicious. I'm always amazed in Japan at how it's strangers almost never make incidental eye-contact when walking down the street. It's less challenging to take candids when everyone is so busy looking away from everyone else.
All that said, this image and the progression in this series towards it, felt like an emotional dead-end and was pretty unsatisfying for me. Anyhow, while I do have some unposted subway shots that I think are better, I do need the photographic fresh air for awhile. Cheers!
I love the lines in this shot.
23 Feb 2007 12:07pm
@Angry Buddha: Many thanks, Sean!
i love the fact that the only movement in the shot is downward, to join the workaday crowd, there is a certain inevitability about it, the bright lights bring us finally to a standtill on a subway platform ..
23 Feb 2007 7:51pm
@jc: Aye, a certain inevitability - that would make a great title. I watched as the crowd grew larger and larger and more people walked downstairs. There is however, no defining moment, and I think the picture suffers for that.
great lines--nicely lit from centre of shot--keep away from the subs--they're depressing Spring's coming--let's get outside--billy
23 Feb 2007 9:02pm
@bronzebilly u.k.: Thanks for the kind thoughts, Billy. I enjoy Winter, but Spring's my favourite!
"...islands keeping their distance where possible..." I thought that was a very eloquent way to describe it. Really enjoyed this series Damon.
28 Feb 2007 2:28am
@Untitled: Thanks for the kind words, Shadow. I borrowed the imagery of the islands from Haruki Murakami's novel 'Sputnik Sweetheart', a great meditation on the inevitability of lonliness. I remember being impressed after reading that description.
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