Man in crowd #3...

Ya know, there is something that's always interested me about photographs. As a matter of fact, when it comes to artistic mediums it's probably my favorite. I especially like historical photography. While strictly speaking all photography by it's very nature is historic; but I mean professional slice of life pictures. What fascinates me is looking at the people subjects in these photographs - not the main point of the photo but rather the nameless people that are as integral a part of the shot as the main subject would be.

Look at this 1957 photograph by photographer Jim Shaughnessy showing a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train and operator handing up train orders in Leolyn, Pennsylvania.

When I look at it I think "Who was that guy standing there in the snow handing up the messages to the engineer of that train? What was his name? He looks happy. What was his life like? Was he married? Did he have kids? What made him laugh? What were his dreams?"

I guess I can't answer that anymore than people reading this blog can realistically say about me. Perhaps, when it comes to the playing out of our lives, we're all just trying to not end up being remembered as Man in Crowd #3.

- Farmer Ted