Artist: Suzanne Stein
Photograph: After School
Stein captures a scene on the L train to Brooklyn after a school day in this picture. The photograph has many aspects, such as the hands holding onto the pole and the vague faces in the background. However, the image focuses on the mom holding up her child while she leans her head on her chest. The mom looks tired, with low eyes and a blank expression. However, she holds her child up while she rests. Stein’s intention with this vision was to depict New York City life, especially for mothers and families who take public transportation. The way everyone stands so close to each other shows how packed the train is; on top, you can tell it is winter based on how they’re dressed. The image looks gloomy, and the lighting makes everything look gray and almost dirty. As someone who takes the train in winter and as the image’s viewer, it hits close to home. After a long day, the last thing you want to do is walk through the cold streets of NY to wait for the train, then have to stand up the whole time, too. Unfortunately, that’s the reality of living in the city. Stein wanted the photograph’s viewers to see the tiredness on everyone’s face and feel the image was exhausting. A mom who had a long day and a child who had a long day standing on the train together.
The main element I see in this photo is the rule of thirds. The photo’s subject is not placed in the center of the image but more on the left side. If there were a grid over it, the mom and her child would fall onto one of the intersections, which perfectly shows the rule of thirds. Along with that element, there is a sense of patterns with the hands gripping the standing pole. The arms are closer to the camera, and the hands are stacked on top of one another, giving you a sense of a pattern. It is ideally different but similar enough to where it grabs your attention. The last element that brought the image together is leading lines, simply because of the pole again. Its placed right in the center of the photo. The right side just has random arms coming in while the left has faces and emotions which lead you to the subject.
https://www.suzannesteinphoto.com/New-York/i-DmNVLTb#
As you state, the image is super relatable. We have all felt as tired as the woman here, just wanting to get home.
I agree that the rule of thirds is used here. I think having the right half of the photo filled by those two arms makes it feel crowded. You can’t move past those two arms as they block the way into the rest of the train or the rest of the photo. the woman and her child are wedged into the photo just as one might be wedged into a crowded train on the wy home.