Many of the Hipstamatic images I have taken on the TTC (Toronto’s mass transit) recently have shown fatigue: the faces of people being steadily worn down by the demands of living and working in Toronto. Today’s image is different. Yes, this commuter’s eyes are closed, but I did not get a sense of weariness from him, but rather more of a sense of serenity and peace.
As an ex-smoker I have to feel some sympathy for people who still smoke. I took this picture yesterday in downtown Toronto outside the Eaton Centre. Was he hiding from the wind, or the no smoking sign he was so close to?
(Nikon F, 50mm f1.4 lens, Ilford Delta 400 at Box speed, developed in HC-110, dilution B)
Today, another image from my daily commute on the TTC. Again I took it using my iPhone, with the Hipstamatic app. For someone who is primarily known as a film photographer, this recent trend may be surprising to many people I know. However, I think I’d rather be known as someone who who used whatever worked to create an image that conveys what I saw and felt. Much of the time I will use film, but not always.
The rough, lo-fi look of the Hipstamatic to me is perfect for this subject, and this time of day (normally early morning, before 7 a.m.). It is a dark, gritty, unfocused time of day. With the iPhone I can take this images unobtrusively, in a manner not really possible with other cameras.
On a cold January 1st, we went and spent time at the Toronto Zoo. I took along my Speed Graphic 2×3, and guessed at exposure, using the Sunny 16 approach. The Polar bears didn’t seem to be minding the cold.
I took some more Hipstamatic images on the way to work today, and since I can’t decide between them, I’m going to post them both :-). The first one I like because of the blurred background on the left; rather than the interior of the subway train it looks like it could be part of a dream landscape.
The second image is of the same rider a moment or two later; fatigue and life written clearly in the lines on his face.
If I drove to work, I would miss these opportunities.
I’ve been having a lot of fun with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone, and so here is another Hipstamatic image: my good friend Ken at the Only Cafe in Toronto. The photo is dark, not particularly sharp, and rather gritty. However, the lighting in the Only is not bright, and the pub does have a gritty ambiance, so in this case I think the image is more realistic, more true to the moment than a perfectly sharp, properly lit image would be.
I originally started taking photographs of this rider on the subway because I thought his hat was interesting, but looking at the images later, this one really caught my eye because of the completely blank windows. The train was above ground at this point, but seeing nothing through the train windows, just the light gives the image a strange feeling for me.
Coming home from work the other day, waiting for the bus at Broadview station I noticed this woman. She seemed to be in a different world, standing almost at attention, looking straight ahead, but with her eyes almost completely closed. It was impossible to really get a sense of what was going on.
On the subway to work this morning, the intensity of this man’s expression caught my attention; he spent the whole time whispering to himself under his breath.
I love looking at the people on the TTC (and since I have a one hour plus commute to work each day, I have plenty of time to look!).
Today’s image was taken on Sunday morning on the TTC. It’s been awhile since I have seen so much of the pain and weariness that life holds for some people etched on a person’s face.
My Third Eye 