IN TRANSIT – people, going
Travel is a big part of Life. It makes some people happy, some sad. It never leaves you indifferent. So, why wait until we reach our destination, before reaching for the camera…?
“Cancun? There’s nothing but tourists in Cancun! That’s not real Mexico!” Perhaps these jaded commuters on the R1 bus beg to differ. By the way, the busker was allowed to board without a ticket, he played a few songs, made some change, and payed for his ride on the way off the bus. That, my friends, is travelling in true style.
This is great! And then i want to go on top of that castle… Rome.
Not so happy on the Metro A, Rome.
Hey, it’s going to leave soon! Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
Unhappy in the rain, shot from a city bus, Via Nazionale, Rome.
Happiness is moving. Sometimes in more ways than one. Southern Mexico.
Definitely not happy in Mexico City’s blazing sunlight for hours on end.
Happy though it’s raining. (God’s people are always happy, aren’t they?) Rome.
Happy if she makes it (she did). Commuter train, Rome.
Wife beater, ragtop, and a shiny vintage Fiat 500. This spells more that happiness: in Rome this is pure bliss.
This is the first step of a project i’ve been mulling over for years. Just us ordinary joes, when we’re going from one place to another. The way we look. The way we temporarily lose our individuality as we cram together into public tansportation, filling the spaces, taking their shape as water does inside a bottle. When we fit together in brief, ever-shifting jigsaw puzzles.
I had been mulling over this for some time and the prompt form the daily post suggested the topic for today’s post. Which, i’m quite sure, i will be touching again soon. http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/daily-prompt-trains-planes-and-automobiles/
Hope you enjoyed a bit of movement…
Alessandro Ciapanna
ciapannaphoto 
32 Responses to “IN TRANSIT – people, going”
Enjoyed it very much, thank you!
Thank you for coming along!
We do travel for different reasons. Lovely thought.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, bluebeadpublications! Thanks.
Absolutely agree with you about bringing the camera out before you reach the destination. Your photos always tell a story and they give us a glimpse into these peoples lives! For instance, the ‘not so happy’ man on the metro – I’m sure he could do with a stiff drink!! And the hand clutching onto the rail – this is an every day scene, but one that millions of metro goers will connect with! Great album!
Thanks Lianne. That one man looked particularly humbled by the commute, with an almost childlike look in his eyes. Yet he sat the ride out with great dignity, pesky photographer notwithstanding… Only joking: i shot that one with the camera hanging on my chest, the man never even knew he’d been framed.
If the rest of the project will be as good as this, then I can’t wait, Alessandro.
Quality, i am only just beginning to realize, takes time. Sometimes, lots of it. I promise to try my very best at making the wait worth the effort…
Thanks, Bente!
Molto bella la “decapitata”, è sicuramente la mia preferita!
Grazie, era una donna di un’eleganza stratosferica. Russa, credo.
Wonderful collection of images! But you know what my favorite part was about this post? That I recognized your style immediately when your photos displayed in my reader. You have a gift for capturing these small moments and turning them into art.
Style is not something one consciuosly chooses (at least i never did), but rather something that develops naturally over time. So, you telling me that my style is recognizeable truly warms my heart. And yes – it is the small things of life that make for the greatest images, sometimes.
Thank you so much!
Nice series of shots! The rain one (5th) is really effective, I love the nun, and the unhappy old bloke on the metro is unhappy because he has someone’s arm growing out of his nose! 🙂
And another growing out of his neck! I’d be sad too – well pointed out 😉
Thanks!
Loved this collection of photos, especially “Unhappy in the rain” and “Happiness is moving”. Fantastic!
Those two in particular always give me some emotion. And – i’m finally beginning to get it – photography is not about how something looks, photography is about how something makes us feel…
Lovely comment – thanks!
Wonderful set Alessandro! Hopefully, someday you will travel to India, which can be quite an experience( good and bad)..the first shot reminds me of the trains and buses here, on which singers board, make some money and then get down..no tickets…
Thanks Know-All. Your wonderful country unfortunately has quite complex and rather unique rules concerning passport visas, which put me off no longer than about nine months ago. I was there once, for three months, but only had time to properly visit the south. Hopefully, i will be back, just, not right now…
haha…i can quite imagine how frustrating our famed red-tape can be!! Its a way of life, and I dont find it amusing! 🙂
Looking forward to seeing more of the project. To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive?
If travel is an analogy to life, then the destination is perhaps best avoided altogether…
Thanks, Andrew!
As always- such a wonderful eye- your series tell great stories. Love the nun in particular.
Thanks for the lovely feedback, wedgeintheround!
I really enjoy this series, how you relate between Rome and Mexico. My favorites are the girl who looked out of the bus window, the “unhappy in the rain” and “happiness is moving” 🙂
Thanks, Muthe. We see eye to eye on those three you mention. 🙂
A wonderful reminder that we are all in this together. A beautiful set of shots!
It is indeed the universality of moving, in its infinite declinations, that really tickles my fancy. Thank you!
I like the words you use to describe this project, they ring true. A very good idea and a wonderful series.
And the story about the busker, fantastic!
Thanks, Karen, i have my work cut for years…
That busker – i found that simple act of humanity deeply touching.
All classics 🙂 Happiness is moving is my absolute favourite, next to the nun…. You have captured the spirit of movement, no doubt about that!!!
This comment is precious to me. When shooting, I tend to focus on what something looks like, but looking back, i find that my better pictures are the ones that capture the feeling, the mood or – as you say – the spirit of something. I can’t thank you enough for this feedback, Paula 🙂
Awwww, I feel great now 🙂 *baci*