Sleepers - A Series (critique please)

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two40

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Not long ago I was on the train next to a very tired lady that kept dozing off. She would close her eyes, her head would get heavy and she would kiss her chest only to bounce out of sleep looking around wondering where she was and then look out the window to see if she missed her stop. Satisfied she was still a few stops away she would doze off again. Once or twice her head rested on my shoulder resulting in a strange mixed look of apology and embaresment when she realised what she did. It seemed she was helpless and a slave to her sleep needs.

After some time I started to notice a lot of travelers on the way home doing the same. The day takes it out of them and the boring ride home is the last straw. This is where I got the idea to do a series of 'Sleepers - The Train Kind'.

Since I am on the train 10 times a week you can expect to see this series continue for some time. I'm sure there will be periods when I just don't get any usable shots and yet others when I ride the train end to end and come up with a dozen in a day.

All shot with an Olympus 35 SP

1 - delta 400

2 - 400tx

3 - delta 400

4 - delta 400

5 - 400tx


I have more but these are the pick of the bunch for now. It would be a dream to show a series of these at a gallery once I've shot about a years worth. I'm sure there'll be some interesting ones to pick out. Alas, I am new to photography and only 5 rolls of film old so I've a lot to learn before I can even think of anything like that. For now it's all about learning so lend a hand and give some critique please.

cheers
 
i like the first shot, because of the framing/composition. i like the last shot, because of the multiple sleepers, all in various states of exhaustion. the others aren't as strong; their compositions don't seem thought out very well. it is difficult to photograph people on public transport in the best way without moving, and yet moving calls attention to one's self, potentially disturbing the scene.

if you haven't been doing it already, try to pick a position (seat) that gives you the greatest number of opportunities for a good photo, considering lighting, framing, etc. other than that, it's often a roll of the dice. best of luck to you.
 
I like them alot! However i think you need to get closer to achieve a more intersting angel. No idea how you would does this but they are asleep so if you tiptoe and use a camera with a leaf shutter 🙂
 
EcoLeica said:
I like them alot! However i think you need to get closer to achieve a more intersting angel. No idea how you would does this but they are asleep so if you tiptoe and use a camera with a leaf shutter 🙂
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If I was nodding off and woke up to find you taking my picture, I'd grab your camera and pull the film out and expose it! I dislike most types of "Street Photography" since I consider it a gross invasion of privacy. It seems to me that most people engaging in candid street shooting just want to make unflattering images of strangers. In my opinion, this series falls into that category.
 
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I like it, and don't think there's anything wrong with you doing it, really. If somebody wakes up and objects, then you ought to agree not to use that photo. But the train is part of the public sphere.

Shooting in somebody's bedroom window is an invasion of privacy. Or getting right up in their personal space. But this seems OK to me.

You might try a longer lens...
 
Thanks for all your comments people. I take it all on board. 🙂

Zathras said:
If I was nodding off and woke up to find you taking my picture, I'd grab your camera and pull the film out and expose it! I dislike most types of "Street Photography" since I consider it a gross invasion of privacy. It seems to me that most people engaging in candid street shooting just want to make unflattering images of strangers. In my opinion, this series falls into that category.
Click to expand...

It really is dissapointing to say the least to hear this from a fellow photographer. Your uninformed comment about gross invasion of privacy after you state that you would take my camera and expose my film is just too funny. Are you honestly being serious here?

Anyway, you seem to miss the point of street photography alltogether. It has absolutely nothing to do with unflattering images in the public sphere. It has everything to do with documenting all aspects of public life as it happens at any given time. To me these images are more beautiful and real than most portraits these people have ever taken.

Consider this: A photo of a polar bear in its natural habitat is an invasion of privacy. From now on we shall only take photos of the polar bear at the zoo. This is how we will study them and this is how our future generations will come to know them.
 
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