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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Alone with People, on the Lower East Side

Alone
Photo by myself at Ludlow and Rivington Streets, on the Lower East Side.

Mikey's Burgers specializes in burgers and shakes, on the lower East Side. There is just enough room inside to sit around the bar.

It's a common paradox of life in the city - you can be up against people all day long but still wind up feeling very much alone.

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I don't mean to be a downer, but I want to be honest about living here. Of course, everyone has different experiences. I'm sure some people run around single and fancy free.

Speaking of fancy free, I overheard one guy on the subway not long ago speaking loudly about the women he knew, objectifying each one. He announced that he would 'upgrade' soon (that is, trade his current girlfriend in). It was absolutely outrageous. And just when I was ready to record him on my phone, he and his friend stepped off the train.

I'll post some happy photos, of course, never fear.

Related posts: A Moment Alone in the East Village, Sun Salutation, in the East Village and Before the Game, in Alphabet City.

17 comments:

Olivier said...

cette photo montre bien la solitude dans les villes et elle nous raconte une histoire, bravo

matt said...

Wow! he does look down in the mouth, that's the flip side to cities,but maybe he's waiting for someone who's late!

m. said...

I can easily imagine how does he feel like at this moment on your picture. I lived almost two years in biggest polish city (not very big when compare to NY) and I had few days like that.

I like this picture very much.

Greetings from Poland! I am still fan of your blog! :)

auchnacree said...

Your take on loneliness is almost a universal truth applying in communities irrespective of size or location.
The conversation regarding "trading up" needs to be treated with disdain and is a reminder if ever necessary that human expression knows few limits even if some expression is repellant.
Great shot however matching loneliness

Alistair

Ken said...

kitty, you show all aspects of NYC. The good the bad the happy , the sad.etc. I wouldn't expect any less.

LittleRobinBird said...

You captured the feeling perfectly, I can understand how he feels lonely when there's a lot of people around. I love seeing details of New York on your blog. Keep up the good work!

Carole Weber said...

The objectifier is preempting the breakup he knows is coming since his girlfriend is probably tired of his shriveled wiener. The guy was a creep who can't has a real relationship with a real person so he is often dumped when a human being comes along. Loud braggarts are pathetic.

Washington Cesar Takeuchi said...

The light contributes to the mood of loneliness of the picture. Great shot.

Leif Hagen said...

I wonder what Tom's story is? I mean, is he bummed out about something? Tough day at work?

dianasfaria.com said...

I have a feeling that loud man on the subway would have loved being recorded. He sounds hungry for attention.
So true about being alone and surrounded by people. I think that is what appeals to me about NY. Since I like being alone but it's nice to have people around me too, which I know may not make a lot of sense to some. The sad thing is when people are lonely. No one should be lonely.
I like your sensitive perfectly caught capture Kitty.

Catz said...

My daughter and I were just talking about the number of people in our city who say that they find it hard to make friends and feel very lonely in this big city a lot of the time. You captured this perfectly. I like the picture very much.

Pierre said...

it's the paradox of human beings. There's good and bad. First degree and magic. The photo can magnify all these images of the city.

Banjo52 said...

Yeah, that first, thin guy and the four of them in relation to each other pretty much make your point. That's a good, if somber portrait.

Guys like the one on the train give the rest of us a bad name. Wish they'd shut up.

Anonymous said...

I love the atmosphere and subtle colours in your photos. I visited New York (Manhattan area) last year and loved it. As a traveller, however, it is too easy to rush through the "highlights" and miss the real life stories. Loving your blog www.rosalierigby.blogspot.com

khUthU said...

ughh.. u might ahve caught chester beninngton of linkin park there hihi he's got those tragical melodramatic song writing going on, rite? hmm.. best resemblance. nice pic. as always :)

Efrutik said...

when I lived in NY two years ago very briefly that is how I often felt. Alone in a big giant people's field. An odd combination but it is definitely true.

Laurent said...

I just LOVE this photo. Everything is perfect, the fraling, the light, the guy's look. Very nice work.