Canongo_HW1_090423

Photographer: Suzanne Stein

Title: DSCFO930 (unknown)

The photo I chose doesn’t seem to have a title besides “ DSCF0930” by photographer Suzanne Stein. This photograph comes from her New York Street One collection and really caught my attention.The subject matter appears to be the person sitting on the bench while hugging themselves as if seeking a sense of comfort or maybe even hiding. The location of the photograph is the New York City subway, probably the 6th ave subway. What I perceive to be Suzanne’s intention while taking this picture and the majority of her New York Street collection is how New Yorkers live. The city that “never sleeps” with its “big city lights” is depicted in movies and other photographers. However this photo highlights what many people can tend to go through. The person portrayed may be overworked or genuinely tired, perhaps cold judging by the gloves and clothing. As a New Yorker, I have dealt with this too. Nights can be especially overwhelming and I end up drifting into a nap on the benches missing my train. The mood the photograph gives off would be isolation. Despite there being more people in the background, they display individuality. No one is engaging with the person sitting on the bench, and even then the person seems to be holding himself as if wanting to seek shelter. Posture indicates they probably want to be left alone. When I look at the photo, I don’t necessarily feel sad, but sympathetic, to try and understand the person. 

I would argue that frame within a frame is conveyed and does help to convey mood and feeling in this photograph. While there is no door frame or window to frame the subject, the bench does seem to frame them. The bench seat really hugs the subject isolating him from everything despite their being open space around him. His body provides an outline as if enclosing him. The almost “unfinished frame” helps with setting the isolation mood, and even a feeling of being trapped. Brings the subject to the center and our attention as well. I definitely think that if the subject was perhaps standing, it would have a bit less of an impact as compared to when they are sitting, looking so vulnerable. 

Leading lines, despite them being a bit small allow us to pinpoint what seems to be the subject matter. We have the floor tile lines lead us to the person. We also have the yellow line in the back and the lines located on the train, lining up from the back him. We even have the pillar, as if pointing down, watching it completely disappear. We get to appreciate the background, but no matter how much we look around, we always look back to the person. I could possibly try to state that symmetry is also shown within the subject, but the pillar does slightly throw me off and the bench is all on the right. However, the asymmetry is possibly the best so far, really sets the tiring and also overwhelming feel of New York life. 

Figure to ground could possibly be one for the fact that there really is a contrast between subject and background. For one, the subject is focused while the background train is blurred. Whether or not that is intentional, it does also allow movement within the photo. As if the train is departing, leaving our subject alone in the train station. Furthermore, the contrast of color is something to notice. While our subject isn’t necessarily wearing the most vibrant outfit, it’s perhaps the darkest while being surrounded by other more slightly vibrant colors. His outfit color really makes us view him more, making us barely notice the white bag next to him, despite it being very light in contrast to his clothes. The cup below by their feet as well is ignored despite the slight bright color of the straw in contrast to the floor and their shoes. While the yellow and red colors are more popping colors, we can almost ignore them.

Overall, the image really brings out the struggles of people. This one in particular i could connect with. I liked the composition of this image. I feel like if the train was not included, it would have been slightly more dramatic for the fact that the subject would be in what would look like a void. Empty space and no filler in the background. It’s something done in many images and would also convey the mood more, however the train gives it movement and a beauty thats slightly indescribable. In general, I do like this photograph.