The Policeman (Work 2 of 3)

Posted by Duncan Galbraith (kyoto, Japan) on 2 March 2007 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.

This is part of a group project undertaken by various members here on AM3.

The intimidating presence of armed police in the streets (being from England this took me sometime to get used to) is somehow countered by the old fashioned nature in which the vast majority of policemen move around. I still find it somewhat charming whenever the boys in blue wheel past on bikes which the vast majority of teenagers could probably outrun.

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Comments (24)

Daniel from Olympia, United States

Looks like he'd be weighed down by all that stuff!

2 Mar 2007 12:01am

@Daniel: A bit much isn't it!

H.O from Victoria, Canada

nice shot Duncan-san !
demo omawari-san, chotto tsukareteru mitaine (^^;

2 Mar 2007 12:28am

@H.O: take it easy mate! thanks again for all your input on this. fine stuff from you!

Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand

They cycle with all that on?!! But knowing the traffic, perhaps he would move faster by bicycle than any other mode of transport?! He has a grim expression on his face, I wouldn't try getting out of a ticket with him!

2 Mar 2007 1:16am

@Bronnie: Thanks Bronnie, aye they cycle pretty much everywhere over here, I might post a picture at some point in the future which really illustrates how old their bikes are...its quite amusing.

Sidonie from Sydney, Australia

Armed with what? Looks like he's got a Kodak box Brownie amongst all that! Great focus - colors of his uniform are quite liquid.

2 Mar 2007 3:13am

@Sidonie: Thanks Sidonie!

Abdullah from Esfahan, Iran

He really likes his work! (I think)

2 Mar 2007 3:23am

@Abdullah: I hope so:) thanks abdullah!

newbiee from Karachi, Pakistan

nice still life

2 Mar 2007 4:02am

@newbiee: thanks Newbiee! not quite a still life but I think I get what you mean ;)

Anne from White Rock, Canada

Really nice catch! I'd have liked it better with a fraction less shutter speed and a higher number f stop for a little more dof.

2 Mar 2007 6:29am

@Anne: Thanks Anne! good call, personally I think it worked for me in what I wanted to show but I can see your point entirely.

Craig Persel from Montreal, Canada

Working, watching, and waiting. :-)

2 Mar 2007 7:33am

@Craig Persel: Thanks craig;) think this guy was watching a bunch of elderly ladies who seemed to be forming quite a gaggle in the street. He cycled off in fear shortly after ;)

Makoto from Sapporo, Japan

Very nice!! He wear a lot of tools and look like a robot!
Many thanks Duncan-san.

2 Mar 2007 8:51am

@Makoto: Thanks Makoto!

Untitled from Kyoto, Japan

From the hip...
Like this idea and take...

2 Mar 2007 9:45am

@Untitled: thanks mate!

Jen from Jessup, United States

Nice shot...must be hard to catch anyone with all that gear!!

2 Mar 2007 10:08am

@Jen: aye, looks a bit heavy doesnt it!

Angry Buddha from United States

If he had to pedal fast, he'd probably get knocked out by something flying up off of his knees. He needs a Bat-utility belt.

2 Mar 2007 10:26am

@Angry Buddha: ;) great call Sean!

Alfredo J. Martiz J. from Tokyo, Japan

Nice portrait, you captured his intimidating look in this one!

2 Mar 2007 10:36am

@Alfredo J. Martiz J.: Thanks Alfredo!

Shuva from Hyderabad, India

Yeah the bike thing is not fitting the picture leave alone the actual job.

2 Mar 2007 11:03am

@Shuva: ;)

Stu from Kyoto, Japan

A serious-looking chap. Great jounalistic style shot Duncs. Their mode of transport is kind of humiliating isnt it. Wouldnt work too well on CSI Miami if they were all on these mama charries!

2 Mar 2007 12:26pm

@Stu: thanks mate! aye CSI Miamis solved/unsolved ratio would take a nose dive im sure.

Martine Lapointe from Québec, Canada

Wow! A lot of stock to carry! Nice shot!

2 Mar 2007 12:42pm

@Martine Lapointe: Thanks Martine!

Yvon from Meerkerk, Netherlands

Great shot! We have cycling police in Holland in the big cities, but than in a very sportive uniform without loads of stuff and on pretty fast bikes.

2 Mar 2007 1:24pm

@Yvon: Cheers Yvon! Japans equipment is pretty antiquated although thankfully the crime rate is almost neglible ;)

Still from Valence, France

Interesting idea! This young man seems wearing some clothing too large for him, as Law,
Order and so on...

2 Mar 2007 2:21pm

@Still: Thanks Still!

Manuela Photography from Hainburg (near Frankfurt/Main), Germany

Geee! Isn´t he carrying enough staff!!? He does look very serious... yes, intimidating.

2 Mar 2007 3:45pm

@Manuela Photography: Thanks Manuela!

Michael Zhang from New York City, United States

It's interesting how you have transportation vehicles as a constant through your two photos so far, yesterday with the taxi cab, today with the bicycle and bus in the background.

2 Mar 2007 4:04pm

@Michael Zhang: Cheers Michael, tomorrows breaks that trend however. I do like transportation though...trains especially ;)

Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia

That is an odd juxtaposition, being armed but still getting around on a push bike. It does take the edge of that's for sure. Another great street-image of people going about their daily routines, fantastic stuff mate!

2 Mar 2007 4:11pm

@Chris Sullivan: Thanks again Chris!

jc from Ireland

the wild west comes to kyoto .. it almost looks like he's ready to draw, fingering that holster .. what did you say about my bike? great capture!

2 Mar 2007 5:32pm

@jc: cheers John!

JUN from kyoto, Japan

he is that!

2 Mar 2007 9:52pm

@JUN: hey Jun! welcome to AM3! its great to 'hear' from you. see you soon!

Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada

I have to say this is a very 'Duncan' shot. I mean one look and I'd know it was yours! (That's a good thing.) This is one of the interesting contradictions of Japanese society: it's all so high-tech, but then the public servants look like holdovers from the early seventies. Poor fellows - they do their best, but look like they're left behind. In Toronto the bike police (and medics) have the most bad-ass mountain bikes - I know they wouldn't sign up for duty if they had to ride an obasan's bike with a basket!

3 Mar 2007 9:41am

@Damon Schreiber: Cheers Damon! the 'mama charries' are a tad embarrassing for sure but thank fully they dont seem to need anything too high tech, what with the crime rate and all.

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