The three photos shown here represent me. The pictures are nothing without me, yet you don't really see who I am. Can anyone else really know you? The whole you?
Each of these photos were taken at a bus stop. Most of my adult life, I would take the bus to and from my office in downtown Chicago. I did not own a car. The first two photos are reflections of me at night in a glass enclosed bus shelter. And yes, those are Jennifer Aniston's eyes watching me in photo number one. The third photo, showing my shadow and the shadow of the bus sign, was taken in front of my apartment building. Rain or snow, day or night, I would faithfully make my daily journey.
The bus ride was the passage way from home to work and back again. I enjoyed traveling along Lake Shore Drive, because I could look out and see Lake Michigan and its many temperaments as the days and seasons passed. The light and openness of the water gave me a spiritual lift. (It still does.)
The bus ride was responsible for a substantial body of work that I made over a six or seven year period. I photographed the other passengers around me. The diversity of people, in essence, represented society. There were people of all ages and races, some very much alone, while others were wrapped up in conversations or body language as they related to each other. They were oblivious that I was photographing them.
A little bit of history of that period was also captured by my camera. Newspapers that people were reading featured headlines about the new residents at the White House (the Obamas) and later queried if a healthcare bill would ever be passed. The date and time flashed in light at the front of the vehicle. As the years went on, smart phones became the focus of attention of more and more passengers. Even I began using my own smart phone, instead of my 35mm camera, to document the scene.
I was there, yet was not there. People got on. People got off. The bus ride became a metaphor for traveling through life.
I like the idea of your three series of reflective portraits. It's this last one that I find to be striking because of the graphics, composition and textures and a combination that's almost an abstract image is strong!