Christmas Eve's Eve

elaine: 4th Jan 2006 - 17:18 GMT

he probably wasn't terribly happy.
do you think i would score high on emotional intelligence?

Jamie: 4th Jan 2006 - 17:19 GMT

i like your little subway people narratives. i'd never have been so bold as to do this.

Peter: 4th Jan 2006 - 17:22 GMT

yes, the arrival of the holidaze seems to bring out the extremes of expressions on people's faces... its as if you can read the passersby... those with money, family and celebrations to go home to are often hyperanimated, giggly and grinning... while those erasing whatever pain the holidays bring with vodka, on the train, tend to wear profoundly somber, glazed-over gazes into blank infinity...

and as the vodka took hold, his expression melted from a hardened, hurt stare into a slack, loose smile...

Peter: 4th Jan 2006 - 17:28 GMT

its not particularly bold to make these sorts of series. remember that in nyc, one can get away with almost anything without raising much attention, particularly if suitable amounts of subtlety and tact are used. i turn off the shutter-sound on my cameraphone, conceil it with a tight clasp of my hand, sitting very still, snapping photos silently.

sometimes, there is the odd devil's advocate that will give you a nasty look for making such surreptitious photos, but in this case, that person kicked the poor guy's vodka-bottle cap at him immediately after scowling at me, so you never know.

dramas played out in public (particularly on the train) fascinate me. theres few more public/high-traffic places you can go in nyc than the train to play out your drinking binge. ergo, although i surely empathize with this man and his condition, i most definitely consider this situation fair and easy game for a brief photo story.

elaine: 4th Jan 2006 - 17:30 GMT

i have my sounds off too, but i still can't get the birdies on the window ledge to ignore me, despite they are urban birdies

Catherine Penfold-Waxman: 4th Jan 2006 - 17:33 GMT

If you made a flick-book, you could get the animation of this guy going down.

ian: 5th Jan 2006 - 06:00 GMT

I tried to get away with something similar, a sleeping guy on the train, but it wasn't possible with my D70 :P

jack: 6th Jan 2006 - 15:57 GMT

i think that he would have done the same thing on any other day of the year. he's a hobo, a lush, a drunk. he's sad. no life. he could be anyone of us.

cartoon network: 6th Jan 2006 - 19:44 GMT

glad to see somebody had a warm christmas