Wednesday, November 14, 2007

watching

Photo copyright 2007 Gazelle

Recently, I've travelled a bit by plane, subway, and ferries. Aside from those times when you meet an interesting person and engage in conversation, it's watching people that passes the time better than anything in these circumstances. The things people do and say, the clothes and accessories they wear, the mannerisms - all this makes for high quality, cheap entertainment. Maybe that's part of what Walker Evans had in mind with his subway portraits...

"Stare. It is the way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long."

- Walker Evans

It's high time I plot some new photographic staring and eavesdropping.

3 comments:

twin said...

Excellent!

When I first moved to Portland...I lived one block off Burnside. I walked everywhere...stopping and staring along the way.

ras said...

an interesiting quote. I never heard anyone promoting staring. why should we not stare? we have eyes.

Gazelle said...

Staring gets a bad rap...