Two Riders by Chipka
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Description
Float by on a train and watch what passes on the other side of grimy, ad-encrusted glass. Towers loom, casting their rectilinear shadows onto concrete (and steel) below. Figures (human) recall industrious, bipedal ants. Above them, by only a dozen feet, you drift on the clatter on train wheels on narrow, heavy tracks. Before you, and around you, figures (human) recalls detached, men and detached women. Float by on a train and watch the world around you. The sight is never the same thing, twice, but always, it seems unchanging.
I took this photo on the way from Albany Park to Chicago’s tower-shadowed core. I sat beside Corey, as we made our way to Washington and State. Tara and Bill were in town. It was their first Saturday in the city. Because it was Saturday, the mood on the Brown Line was less corporate constipated. There were more seats. There were more tourists and weekenders, chattering to one another, or texting friends…elsewhere. This is the scene directly in front of me. I was drawn by the woman, in her own musical world. I saw something I judged as familiar. The set of her features. The color of her hair. I thought of Czech women, relaxed in their own little worlds of digital music. She isn’t Czech. Her cell phone rang and she spoke to the person on the other end of the connection. She spoke Polish. Quickly. Casually. The male—perhaps an Agent—in some shadowy organization showed no concern with the sound of spoken Polish. (Polish, for those who are interested, sounds a bit like Czech, only much, much wetter.) The male (I doubt he speaks Polish) was, perhaps, simply reading the city as it scrolled past the door-mounted windows before him. His concerns, like the expressions of everyone else on the train, were far, far away.
I liked the light on that particular Saturday. I liked the reflections. And of course, I was drawn to human faces…the faces of strangers, at least one of whom spoke a language rich in slushy, gloppy, organic susurrations.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend. Things are still pinched, but getting better. I’m still as busy as a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest, but at least I’m getting breathing time now.
Comments (19)
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
MrsRatbag
Separate worlds, in a single existence...wonderful capture!
RodS
I like these frozen moments you post for us, Chip. It's fun to imagine the stories of these two riders... What are they thinking - where are they going - what is happening in thier lives that places them at this place in this point in time?
auntietk
They seem so relaxed and at home, each in their own way. They are not staring out the windows, pointing at the sights, asking their local friends odd questions. They probably knew how to obtain their public transit pass without instruction, were familiar with the way one pays the entrance fee for such a conveyance, knew how many stops before they disembarked. Unlike you-know-who! LOL! I love his GQ look, her comfortable pose. Excellent capture!
NefariousDrO
That could easily be part of an advertisement for iPods. Both have their music going, lost in their own worlds. I do wonder what they are seeing at that moment, though.
charpix
Interesting world we live in. Wonderful picture of people in their own world.
Digitaleagle
I love these captures of live in motion, makes my mind muse about what is going on in there's. The man looking mechanical to me, alone in his thought of life maybe what is before him or maybe what lays behind. It's becoming hard for him to tell the difference between works beginning and end. The line has become obscure with time. The girl caught up in her music and thoughts, the songs and music fading with each thought. Melancholy reflections of what could have been, what should have been, and the harsh reality of what is with no clear direction to reclaim her dreams. Two stories one image, excellent. My imagination and I thank you for sharing this thoughtful image, beautifully captured!
jocko500
do look wonderful
netot
I love the immersion of them in their private worlds.
wysiwig
This image speaks volumes. A crowded city and yet each of them is alone. No one looks at anyone. No one speaks. They stare off in opposite directions. A perfect metaphor for the city, for us. It reminds me of some song lyrics about loneliness in the city; They roll by just like water And I guess we never learn Go thru life parched and empty Standing knee deep in a river And dieing of thirst Outstanding work.
fallen21
Beautiful capture!
tibet2004uk
Love the guy in the background. To me, he's the interesting subject in this shot and makes the mood of the pic. I think I would have cropped the image horizontally to focus even more on him. But it's just an idea. Love the moment nonetheless. Very interesting shot.
durleybeachbum
Different countries, different ways. It is getting like yours here, each cut off, scared even to speak or make eye contact. My age group still makes conversation with strangers, but chance would be a fine thing with folk with plugs in their ears. But in Trinidad, where my lodger Christel comes from, people are mainly warm and outgoing. SO, on first getting onto the bus in the rush hour here, she cried "Good morning everyone!What a beautiful day!" She was astounded at the lack of response and the shifty looks. BTW, a superb pic.
Sea_Dog
Well done, Chip. An interesting candid capture of these two people - each sharing a few minutes on the train but each in their own little world as well.
jmb007
bien vu
helanker
She looks so calm and happy. I hope she is. Both her and the guy behind the glass are in each their own world. A beautiful shot, Chip.
bmac62
Earphones, digital music, an Ipod or maybe an Iphone pulling down music from "the cloud"...she is on that cloud...drifting along. He on the other hand is intently listening to a podcast of a self improvement course. One separating herself from her surroundings...could she be secretly a little worried about you and Corey:) He, wearing his 3D glasses, is wondering why he is seeing only in 2D and is wondering if he has a couple of spare batteries in his backpack. Well, that's what I see here. And who can say I don't??? ;-) Super pic my friend. Kind of gets the creative juices flowing.
flavia49
wonderful
dragonmuse
What an excellent photo. Love how they are both lsot in their own worlds though sharing a common one.