'The Tunnel (of Love?)'

This man and his 'ex' seem 'in love' again as they get together and wait

for a 'light rail' tram in Seattle's underground transit tunnel. Note detail

of dog lapping in dish, lower left. Your ratings and critiques are invited

and most welcome as well as your remarks. If you rate harshly, or very

critically or just wish to be heard, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment; please share your photographic knowledge to

help improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

Original & very nice!

One or two cameras (three here) go everywhere.

When opportunity knocks, I strike.

I had just evaded seven potential thieves (even taken photos of two of them above ground spread-eagled against a department store wall on a Seattle Street by bicycle cops.  Spread 'em, said the cop to one of the guys, who complained, as the cop separated two of the seven who started to give a loose tail to me when I started to go one direction.

A man in this bus tunnel saw the 'stop', identified one of the stopped men as a man he'd seen a previous week stomping the head of a rival young man seriously injuring the young man.  Cops I spoke to said the young men were 'real trouble' but at that time they had to let them go, but since the cops knew they were up to 'no good' (and I told them the guys were starting to follow me since the cops had not seen that part), I felt pretty well taken care of by Seattle's finest.

My cameras then were hidden in a rolled up windbreaker . . . . . straps still around my neck, as I felt 'uncertain' with late night comers and goers, and sure enough . . . . .

Cops said the nearby 'bus and tram tunnel' here was relatively safe and patrolled, so I went, out came the cameras, and this is the result.

Well worth the trouble and effort.

I had not intended to be downtown late at night and overstayed at the fabulous "Kau Kau' Chinese restaurant at Seattle's Chinatown which serves, get this, well over 6,500 pounds of roast Chinese pork daily (mostly BBQ!)  through its modest restaurant, most of it take-out and at very modest prices . . . . . a real treat for Seattleites.

I lived there once and it evaded me; I'll make it a stop from now on.

(statistics from owner and several patrons).

As to the photo, sometimes they just unfold . . . .

john

John (Crosley)

Don't you just love the street, I mean it really is a jungle out there and if you let your wits down for even a second  in the wrong enviroment it could be your last mistake.

I have been stabbed (more than once) had a camera taken, had a gun held to my head, threatened with a hypodermic needle (recently used) and had to fight on more than a few occasion, but would I stop photographing the streets.,,

Never!

Nice shot of an all to familiar story.

Hugh Hill

You spoke very interested story about this shot!

Svetlana.

I have been shot (see the forums for the story, it's a current entry, of my prior listings) but that was in my early 20s just after Martin Luther King got assassinated, and changed my life.

Since then, although I've been accosted, I've had nowhere near the encounters you have had.  I have a severe case of 'street smarts' and 'eyes in the back of my head' as my mother often said she did (whenever there was too much silence from her children).

I know how to run, cross the street into heavy traffic, turn abruptly and walk against traffic flow, create a disruption, scream at the top of my lungs, and the worst is I've been shoved since that time in 1968 (three times).

People have 'cased me out' for worse, but they always seem to pass me over.

I never drink or show signs of weakness on the street -- that's the kiss of death for one and one's photoapparat from the hooligans who hang around looking to get aggressive.

I never stop to chat with ne'er do wells who hurl remarks at me, seeking to engage me so they can figure out how to separate me from my equipment or just judge how strong I am before they try an assault, or make friends with me to lure me somewhere. 

But I also use discretion and make wonderful friends on the street, as here, this skeptical looking guy really was in a world of bliss, as I had to explain to his girlfriend.  She just couldn't read the bliss, but I could, and explained it to her.

The bliss was shown by the fact that he was there (and not articulate), I explained and close to her.  He could have been anywhere, and probably was wounded from past encounters, but there he was, up close.

And squeezing.

Enough said, I told her.

He needn't have smiled.

His presence was a smile.

She needed to learn that for this guy in particular as his facial language was not typical, as say, mine.

I did understand him, instinctively, and he did not contradict me as I explained him to his girlfriend 'ex', and so I think my point was exceedingly well taken.  I was rewarded by the ability to take this photo.

Hugh, as they said in the old TV series, 'Hill Street Blues' (no pun intended):  'Be Careful Out There'.

john

John (Crosley)

Frankly now, (pravda), when you look at such a photo, aren't you often curious to know more than just 'how did this photo come about?'

Where did it come from?

'I can't imagine my making such a photo, so maybe I am not such a good photographer, but the truth is if you were in such circumstances, you might make a better or more original one since you're also an outstanding photographer . . . .and entirely original.

I had no idea this would make a good photo for posting until I came upon it in my captures and said to myself 'I have to work this one up because it's interesting'. 

That's all:  It's Interesting.

And there was a story, and instead of posting photos of the prospective criminal actors with hands against the wall taken with a telephoto (not good photos) I chose to tell the story.  (I have photos in case there are doubters though).

My best to you, this Spring in Ukraine.

john

John (Crosley)