The ghost of 'lectricity...
JR Sagano San-In Line (Train Series 2 of 3)
Posted by Duncan Galbraith (kyoto, Japan) on 28 November 2006 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
H.O from Victoria, Canada
Oh,The Japan... I can't go there(busy train)....
Nice capture Duncan !
28 Nov 2006 5:15am
@H.O: Thanks H.O love your blog. congratulations btw...Youre in the Top 100 of photblogs.org hotlist!
@badala: Cheers badala. You've got some fine work.
Suby from Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Have to say I like this, there is just something about this shot :)
SUby
28 Nov 2006 7:51am
@Suby: Cheers Suby. I check your stuff daily. Lovely work.
krizalid from Sendai, Japan
I like this picture. You were pretty close to that women, right? I would like to make some like this, I mean taking people while being close to them in the subway, but I guess I do not dare...
Ok... seeing this makes me want to try again tomorrow. ;) Thanks.
28 Nov 2006 9:50am
@krizalid: It's strange, some people are scared to ask someone, and others are scared not too. I'm the former. You have a great site by the way. Love that recent train shot!
@Myst: Thanks Myst! much appreciated.
Cyrille from PARIS, France
I love the way this woman's arm and head is making a frame for the photo.
28 Nov 2006 10:26am
@Cyrille: Merci Beaucoup Cyrille! and congratulations again on finding that 'secret street'!
Zach Siebert from Bologna, Italy
the distorted-looking arm makes the shot work out of any otherwise mundane scene.
28 Nov 2006 12:50pm
@Zach Siebert: Thank you for your comment Zach.
Darren Halliday from Toyko, Japan
Another nice shot train shot you got there mate. Cool wide angle.
28 Nov 2006 1:02pm
@Darren Halliday: Thanks man. Keep those posts coming from Kanto.
@Joe Thorn: Cheers Joe. much appreciated.
Mike from Sheffield, United Kingdom
Graet capture - I do like your B&W photos of people!
28 Nov 2006 2:29pm
@Mike: Hey Mike, good to hear from a fellow yorkshire man (Todmorden to be precise). Keep posting mate, you're delivering me a little piece of home with each shot.
Colour blind from Tokyo, Japan
Mate, if you're name was Mike then, "I wanna be like Mike!!!" How on earth do you get shots like this?? I'm such a chicken I can't take photo's of people...maybe because I look Japanese and people often mistake that about me....I guess you have an excuse or your a scary looking fella. Great angle!!! Your camera isn't an SLR right?? Great digital though!!
28 Nov 2006 3:31pm
@Colour blind: Hey Colourblind. Your comment has made me beam from ear to ear mate. As for the 'scary looking fella' bit, far from it...I may be too small for most people to notice I'm there though...
@wangyang: hey wangyang! thanks for visiting, your photo of the lama is fantastic mate.
Stu from Kyoto, Japan
Nice one mate. I feel claustrophobic just looking at it!
See you when I get back mate.
28 Nov 2006 5:34pm
@Stu: Enjoy bali stu, go wild with your EOS!
Ryan Yam from Quezon City, Philippines
Wow, interesting candid shot. Nice the wide angle :)
28 Nov 2006 5:51pm
@Ryan Yam: Cheers Ryan, all the best to your family mate.
Aaron Schmidt from Auckland, New Zealand
Great candid photograph ... I can't believe no one noticed you taking the picture.
28 Nov 2006 7:22pm
@Aaron Schmidt: I think they might have noticed to be honest...although sometimes it's worth the gamble. This couldve gone either way but I'm quite pleased with the end result. Its not perfect by any means but I didnt get scolded/told to @!#! off/ beaten about the face and neck by anyone who knows Karate/Judo...hence the pleasure.
Still from VALENCE, France
In the parisian metro, it is the same spectacle! Nice one.
28 Nov 2006 8:51pm
@Still: Hey Still, rush hours hell isnt it. Run for those seats! Thanks for your comment, its most welcome.
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
You've made magic again. This is ordinary life, and as people have said here, so hard to capture. This scene reminds me of a thousand times when I've thought, Oh, I wish I could take a photo of what I'm seeing right now, but I never can because I don't have the camera with me or I'm not bold enough, etc. It's truly amazing that people are so lost in their own worlds that nobody notices (or minds at any rate) you taking a photo at such close quarters. And the composition seals the deal.
28 Nov 2006 9:27pm
@Damon Schreiber: Thanks man. Your input is always valued. I have noticed people zoning out a lot on trains, oblivious to their surroundings, and I've always thought about trying to capture that state. Ive actually become more confident through experience at this sort of thing. I've found that by edging around unconfidently they clock me right away, so I tend to just bring the camera out, and shoot the one shot. The shot from the lap is always low risk, even less so if you have a flippable lcd screen. Its undoubtedly more nerve wracking being in a confined space with your subject as you've nowhere to go if someone takes offence which is something I certainly dont want. I find that not lifting the camera to my face helps a lot. Basically, its a judgement call as to who's 'shootable'...good luck if you fancy giving it a go. Aaron recently plucked up the courage to ask someone to pose...now thats infinetly more scary for me...
Mommith in Chief from Naperville, United States
Very interesting way to capture such a normal thing.
28 Nov 2006 10:04pm
@Mommith in Chief: Thanks man, Im loving your recent illustrative forays by the way. Very expressive.
@Martine Lapointe: Thanks Martine. From your blog I see the frost has hit. Stay warm!
Michael Zhang from New York City, United States
Very candid. I'm surprised no one noticed! These shots are the best, because 10 years later, everything will be different.
28 Nov 2006 11:44pm
@Michael Zhang: Thanks Michael. You're producing an interesting portfolio yourself mate. Love the New York stuff, heck of a playground you've got to shoot in there and the recent portrait class should produce some fine work. Im looking forward to your next posts.
Ben from New York City, United States
That's a very nice perspective! What exactly did you do to get this picture?
29 Nov 2006 12:14am
@Ben: Hey Ben, thanks man for the comment. As for what I did, take a look at the reply to Damons post. Basically..the arm went up, and I fired it off as quick as possible.
Dan from New York, United States
The perspective and framing of the arm give a real sense of what it must've felt like in the train - very crowded! Also the decision to make the photo black and white does a very good job in conveying this feeling.
Good Job!
29 Nov 2006 1:43am
@Dan: Thanks Dan. Ive tried a number of shots from eye level and theyve always been unsuccessful, not to mention I feel quite uncomfortable doing so. By basically hoisting the camera up and not focusing centrally on any given subject it takes away the feeling of being 'sniped' I feel. With the wide angle its possible to compose an image without putting anyone in the crosshairs.
@Craig Persel: Thanks Craig. Cracking Self Portrait you've got up today btw...
Kenn from New York, United States
yes, exactly as ben asked. i read above that you actually asked her to take the picture. was it before the shot or did you take the picture and then tell her?
29 Nov 2006 4:36am
@Kenn: Thanks Kenn. I didnt ask but she was aware.
Blain from Toride, Japan
You can really feel the energy in this shot. There's something else too. Something like tension mixed with discomfort. I like it at any rate.
29 Nov 2006 11:29am
@Blain: Thanks Blain. I like your reading of this. I often struggle to verbalize what I want to express so this kind of reading is most appreciated.
Sheldon from Houston, United States
Very good. I love the angle of the shot and the somewhat philosophical aspect of it.
3 Dec 2006 6:07am
@Sheldon: Hey Sheldon. Thanks so much for your comment. you and the fiancee are producing some fine stuff! keep it up!
Fujifilm FinePix S9000
1/27 second
F/2.8
ISO 400
7 mm