New York; Subway by Sarah Ainley

These subway pictures were taken about a year ago while I was in school for a bit in New York. Being trapped in a confined subway car forced face to face with other strangers probably thinking the same thing. It’s an interesting experience. But one of my favorite daily routines. Most likely, because of the undeniable exposure and unbearable tension felt in that car.

Everyone keeps their heads down but we’re thinking the same thing. “What is the person across from me thinking?”. At least, that’s what I like to imagine. Because, in the end, people can’t help but relate to one another or crave relation. Even if it’s just for a few short stops and even for a few seconds. You can still feel it. I’m still searching for the reason I take candid pictures. Sometimes, I feel very guilty over the fact I’m taking pictures of strangers.

I cannot put it into words or come up with a whole process behind this feeling I’ve been experiencing for so long. I’ve always had this urge to document moments I cannot take back. The vulnerability. The anger. The moment flashes in front of your eyes for a brief moment and then vanishes before you know it. And you want to hold it for as long as you can. Call it commitment issues or just the craving for understanding other human beings. Either way, you have that picture in your hands. You hold it and all of these feelings from that one specific moment on a Monday afternoon at 2:43 pm on that rainy mutually miserable day comes flooding back. And it hurts so good. I’m not great with words but I guess what i’m trying to say is that photography is that one component that helps us just connect a little bit more with one another. To stare into someone else’s eyes for as long as you want without feeling like you have to look down. I’m still learning this whole game of life and having that security of a camera in my hands makes it all a little bit more worthwhile. [Official Website]