Weekly Photo Challenge: Color

Hi F&F,

I’ve been enjoying the many submissions for this week’s photo challenge – color.  I noticed that lots of folks looked up for color; sharing images of the sky in azure, cerulean, and cornflower. Even more people cast their gaze downward; capturing images of the flashiest flora sprouting from the soil.

I too looked down (way down) for my inspiration for this challenge.  I found my shot of color underground, in the New York City subway system. It may seem like an unlikely place to find a photo worthy of this challenge, but in actuality, the transportation system is suffused with hues beyond the black and gray one would expect from a subterranean transportation system, that has been serving millions of people 24 hours day/7 days a week; for over 100 years.

Here are my photos for the Weekly Photo Challenge – Color.

The first photo is of a glass mosaic at the 42^nd street – Port Authority subway station.  It was created by Lisa Dinhofer and it is just one of the art installations that can be found at station stops throughout the subway system. It’s all courtesy of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Art for Transit and Urban Design program. Click HERE to learn about the program and see more of New York’s underground art exhibit. It demonstrates that the city is an art capital to its very core.

I also, owe my second entry for this challenge to the MTA and to an intense moment of downheartedness.  This photo is of a very distorted view (via an Instagram special effect) of the Tang colored interior (that’s the real color) of an R68A class subway car.  This picture was taken while I was on my way to see my dying mother. I was alone in the train car for several stops.  I was suddenly awash in feelings of anxiety. At each stop I was tempted to bolt, yet at the same time I was keen to see how I’d manage these feelings. I felt like I was both the participant and the observer of this situation. I took a picture.

In hindsight, I think I pulled out my cellphone to take the picture because I hoped the phone would act as a witness.  I think I was expecting to be able to capture some image as tangible evidence, of my pulsating anxiety. Of course, to my disappointment the picture revealed nothing.  Thankfully, that feeling was fleeting yet I’m glad that I was able to approximate my feelings visually. I call it Subway Anxiety and I think of it as my version of The Scream.

Peace,

ATreeGrowsinBklyn

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