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I have been taking photos like this on London Underground since summer 2004. I've currently built a collection of around 250 of these portraits. I feel the passengers arrive arbitrarily in my 'studio', one to three seats opposite mine. My intention is to catch people in their own time and space. They could be viewed as a modern take on Walker Evans subway shots in his series 'Many are Called', however I only discovered his pictures once this was well under way.

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Brett Rogers said...

Its certainly a rich subject to choose and you are right to recall Walker Evans candid snapshots (taken with a hidden camera) on the New York subway during the 30s. I can see what you were aiming to articulate with this shot - to set up a contrast between the two completely opposing "types" - the besuited businessman who is concentrating and focussed on his newspaper and the dejected young man who is totally self-absorbed. But somehow it doesnt really work for me - the two figures needed to be more on the same plane - the angle of the lens distorts them too much and the surrounding space becomes far too distracting.

Posted on 17/01/2008 18:21

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virgorama said...

Thanks again for taking the time to comment on my photos... When I take these, I have very little opportunity to pre-judge the composition and do the best I can not to alert the subjects which would take them out of their own space. This isn't always possible of course! This composition is unusual as the passengers usually occupy the same plane. I think it's for that reason that I like this one, it's awkwardness.

Posted on 17/01/2008 20:13

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parrpolygon said...

Can I chip in here? The awawardness is of course the main event in this photo, but because you are so near to the guy on the left, the distortion of your lens kicks in and this then becomes part of the subject matter. I think with this shot , had you have been a little further back, you would have maintained the edge in the relationship and helped that come through. I am suprised to hear myself say this, as normally I say get in closer!

Posted on 18/01/2008 21:24

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virgorama said...

Thanks for chipping in! It's great to have this kind of constructive/critical dialogue which is highly valuable.

Posted on 19/01/2008 11:06

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