Empty

I've been teaching a class in photojournalism with a friend, a well-known NY photographer. Last week I showed the class a bunch of my pictures that I thought qualified as photojournalism & then showed a few like this one. My friend kept asking things like, "Why did you take it? What were you trying to do? What is it a picture of?" His questions were well-meaning. He wasn't condemning my pictures. He really wanted to know. I answered, "It's a picture of emptiness."

 

That's true but also perhaps a bit evasive. I've been taking pictures like this for nearly 30 years, starting with B & W. Unlike most of the pictures I've taken of people, I have absolutely no ambivalence about these "empty" shots. I know I want them & ,after shooting them, I know I've got them. But I don't know what they mean exactly.

 

I'm curious what you think. I'd like to post a series of these & have you react to them, not in terms of light & color & composition etc. -- not even necessarily rationally -- but in terms of feelings, evocation, meaning, if you think they have any -- what pops into your head, what comes to mind? Some of you may not be interested in doing this & if so, that's fine. Any comment is appreciated, as always. But if you are interested, I'd especially appreciate your thoughts.

 

Better larger: flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=23058340&size=o

 

Done