'The Metro Riders'

It's just another day in the Metro, jammed with all sorts of people,

from all walks of life, and it seems nothing can surprise the jaded

Metro rider . . . or can it? Your ratings, critiques,and remarks are

invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly, very critically, or wish

to post an observation,please submit a helpful and constructive

comment; please share your photographic knowledge to help

improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! john

Hi John,

I can't say I've seen it all if I now see this because I'm sure there's more strange things to see.  It's not just funny to see the blockhead on the subway but the other people's expressions are fantastic.  The person to the left looks like I either have to laugh or run away...  But, I csan also identify with the blockhead because in my brief encounters on subways and commuter trains, I can safely say, I long for my personal space that I don't get to have when I'm on one.  Putting a magical wall around my head is a wonderful idea to get back what's mine.

Bob Belanger, what a wonderful idea, envisioning the 'blockhead' as having placed a 'magical wall' between himself and the rest of the Metro riders to 'reclaim personal space' - a precious thing when one is condemned to use mass transit (emphasis on MASS) with so many others.  It only works well if it indeed is MASS, as in a large MASS of people, and indeed that leaves little room for 'personal space'.

So, kudos to you not only for recognizing the ultra-obvious - the expression(s) of the other(s) -- but for recognizing that the 'blockhead' has some interest to protect to. That puts this whole photo in a different and somewhat unexpected perspective for me, the photographer.

Very well observed!  Special recognition for a great comment.

john

John (Crosley)

John, that takes the cake.  This is a decisive moment to die for.  A guy with a box on his head.  Just when you think you've seen everything.

Alex Shishin, when I saw this guy (and others like him similarly topped), on the Metro as it went into a station, I thought I'd died and gone to street photographer's heaven.  I rode with this guy (and his friends -- not seen because they're far to the left), for two or three stops, not being able to ask them what the heck they were doing with these frames and cheesecloth type boxes on their shoulders with a small screen (like a white burka) to see through.

I guess it was just a 'fugue state' or something like that, but I have images to prove it wasn't just my imagination, and it wasn't a setup - I didn't hire a bunch of people (guys?) and put them up to this - life is too strange, and I'm far too limited in my imagination to dream up something so strange.

Maybe an artist like Cristo, or someone of his ilk, but not John C.

Maybe some 'performance artist' could set this up (and maybe had?) but I just wander around, keep an eye out, and what most people step far aside for, to avoid the crowds gathering, I step forward for, to record to share with others such as you and the PN audience (and hopefully for posterity with some of my better works).

Because of my willingness to step forth, I think I see so much more than most anybody else . . . . if you or others were to come across this scene and not be ready to record it and be 'on the prowl' constantly as I so often am, I doubt you'd have gotten close enough to even notice the passenger's eyes, and might never have gotten close to the blockheaded person -- maybe out of politeness or to give that person 'space'.

With a camera, you give yourself permission to step up and enter the situation -- a sort of self-appointed artist/historian of the moment, entrusted with preserving that moment for all time.

;~))

I doubt I'll ever learn what the purpose of the blockhead device was; it may be more interesting that way.

Thanks for your comment, Alex.

john

John (Crosley)

... it's the gaze of the guy on the left that makes this photo. His look is just perfect, and I think what most of us would look like.

A very strong photo, John, for me streetphotography at its best.

I took (and posted) two entirely different (however very unusual) photos of this buy (and his companion).

This shows him being nocied, which you remarked on.

The other shows him and his companion with the entire Metro (subway) car behind him being entirely ignored.

Both were unique in their own right.

Both were 'out of the box' if you'll excuse the expression.

You know the photo Gods have smiled when a whole troop of people wearing boxes on their heads and shoulders piles onto a Metro coach along with you, the photographer.

Bless you for commenting.

john

John (Crosley)