Capturing the secrets of the New York City subway
August 28, 2020 2:36 PM Subscribe
Aw! I worked with Patrick on a project for NYCT a few years ago, and he is such a wonderful person, a talented eye, and a total transit nerd. (But in fairness, it’s so easy to get sucked into transit nerdery. The NYCT/MTA staff are like 90% Nerds Who Truly Care but lack the funds to actually do what they envision, IME.)
He shared some of his catalog with me, as I needed better images than I could find in their photo library, and it was astounding to me that *so much of these images never get used,* in favor of low res, weirdly shot or cropped pictures. Or generic stock photos? Somehow??
I ended up needing a specific shotlist for certain deliverables, and he was all I’M IN, I’LL HIT THE TRACKS TODAY. I reaaaally wanted to get track training for myself, so I could go with him... and I feel like I was close? But the timing just didn’t work.
So yeah. Hard working, dedicated, nerdy, sharp, adventurous, and creative. Good dude.
posted by functionequalsform at 5:31 PM on August 28, 2020 [13 favorites]
He shared some of his catalog with me, as I needed better images than I could find in their photo library, and it was astounding to me that *so much of these images never get used,* in favor of low res, weirdly shot or cropped pictures. Or generic stock photos? Somehow??
I ended up needing a specific shotlist for certain deliverables, and he was all I’M IN, I’LL HIT THE TRACKS TODAY. I reaaaally wanted to get track training for myself, so I could go with him... and I feel like I was close? But the timing just didn’t work.
So yeah. Hard working, dedicated, nerdy, sharp, adventurous, and creative. Good dude.
posted by functionequalsform at 5:31 PM on August 28, 2020 [13 favorites]
Why is so many weird grammars in caption? The photos are nice.
posted by snofoam at 7:23 PM on August 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by snofoam at 7:23 PM on August 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
"Why is so many weird grammars in caption? The photos are nice."
I think I might have an answer to that question... It may make you start to pay attention to captions in photojournalism as a whole (as it did for me when it was explained to me). A caption must capture, in very few words: who, what, when, and where. It will be in sentence form (as opposed to a comma separated list, for example). The amount of information packed into captions is somewhat mind-blowing (to me, anyways). These short sentences generally won't flow like most writing does.
"Wynton Habersham, former Chief Electrical Officer for the MTA New York City Transit subway system examines water damage in dispatcher’s office at the end of the South Ferry train station caused by Hurricane Sandy. 1/2013"
You have a who there - title, name, and the indication he doesn't hold the job anymore. You have the 'what' there ("examines water damage"). You have the 'where' (office at the end of south ferry train station). For bonus points you have a why ('caused by Hurricane Sandy'). I'd challenge you to get that much information imparted less awkwardly.
A great thing about a good caption is that the photo can be seperated from the context and still be completely understandable - no accompanying article needed, no other pictures from the (inevitable) series of photos that surround it.
Other than the terrifying heights he seems to require to do his job, this seems like an incredible job - I would say he's lucky, but he obviously has the skill to have earned his job.
posted by el io at 8:28 PM on August 28, 2020 [3 favorites]
I think I might have an answer to that question... It may make you start to pay attention to captions in photojournalism as a whole (as it did for me when it was explained to me). A caption must capture, in very few words: who, what, when, and where. It will be in sentence form (as opposed to a comma separated list, for example). The amount of information packed into captions is somewhat mind-blowing (to me, anyways). These short sentences generally won't flow like most writing does.
"Wynton Habersham, former Chief Electrical Officer for the MTA New York City Transit subway system examines water damage in dispatcher’s office at the end of the South Ferry train station caused by Hurricane Sandy. 1/2013"
You have a who there - title, name, and the indication he doesn't hold the job anymore. You have the 'what' there ("examines water damage"). You have the 'where' (office at the end of south ferry train station). For bonus points you have a why ('caused by Hurricane Sandy'). I'd challenge you to get that much information imparted less awkwardly.
A great thing about a good caption is that the photo can be seperated from the context and still be completely understandable - no accompanying article needed, no other pictures from the (inevitable) series of photos that surround it.
Other than the terrifying heights he seems to require to do his job, this seems like an incredible job - I would say he's lucky, but he obviously has the skill to have earned his job.
posted by el io at 8:28 PM on August 28, 2020 [3 favorites]
Wow, very cool. I would not have imagined that position to take the photographer to such depths and heights but I guess it makes sense.
posted by obfuscation at 4:12 AM on August 29, 2020
posted by obfuscation at 4:12 AM on August 29, 2020
this is neat. what insightful photographs. it's nice to see the employees of the subway being featured rather than the passengers. the latter get a lot more coverage - via things like 'subway creatures' on Insta' and the like. although, this does often generate a fair few giggles. I hope Cashin plans to do some other city networks.
posted by thiosux at 2:03 AM on August 31, 2020
posted by thiosux at 2:03 AM on August 31, 2020
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I was today years old when I found out that there's an NYC bridge with a gun turret on it.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:47 PM on August 28, 2020 [4 favorites]