Underground New York Public Library
The Underground New York Public Library is a visual library featuring the Reading-Riders of the NYC subways.
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“Rich People Things: Real-Life Secrets of the Predator Class,” by Chris Lehmann
“The Gay Science,” by Friedrich Nietzsche, Translated by Thomas Common
After I took this picture, she said something quietly to me. I couldn’t hear her so I got up to listen. She said very quietly again, “You like my shoes. You took a picture of my shoes.” I told them that I took their picture because he was reading. They laughed but really I do like her shoes. They have little pearls on them.
Do you ever run into anyone who gets upset or angry that you took his/her photo?
rawcuriosity
Yea. It happened last weekend.
He was reading on the platform up against the wall. I went and stood in front of him and took his picture. I expected him to notice me and he did. His face reddened with anger and he asked me in a yell if I had just taken a picture of him. I told him that I did and was about to explain why but he didn’t give me a chance. He repeatedly exclaimed, “delete my picture! delete my picture right now!” So I did. I showed him that I was deleting his picture. When I was done deleting it, he still continued to shout, “delete it! you better delete it! now!” I told him that I had no further way of demonstrating to him that I deleted his picture, because I had already deleted it. He became silent so I took the opportunity to quickly tell him why I took his picture, and I explained that I did it without asking him because I wanted to capture his true reading experience. After that I was about to just move on, when he began to yell again. This time though, with a different angle. “They’ll hurt you!” he said. “They’ll smash your camera!” He was even waving his fists. “Where are you from?!” he asked me. I told him that I was from nowhere. That I was from right here in NYC, and that I’ve been taking pictures this way for years. “Don’t ever do it again!” he warned.
I just kind of said ok and walked away, when I noticed a handholding newspaper carrying couple were laughing and smiling at me. I smiled back understanding that they had shared in the moment. The woman pointed at her man and said, “he’s a photographer so he figured it out right away. We saw you taking pictures and you’re photographing the people who are reading. Want us to hold our newspapers up for you and pretend to read?” I told them that I was interested only in books. I was grateful anyway for their invitation because it countered my experience from the moment before and reset my nerves.
This story is one answer to your question. It describes only the moment as it happened. It doesn’t describe the way I perceive anyone who would feel upset that their picture was taken without their assent.
“Avos D’Rebbi Nosson,” Translated by Avraham Yaakov Finkel
“The Elephant Vanishes,” by Haruki Murakami
And the man vanishes behind the book. I waited a bit to see if he would show his expression, but that’s just the way he insisted on reading from when I saw him until I moved on.
“Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things,” by Michael Braungart
I think this blog is by far the most interesting, inspiring, and beautiful blog I have ever seen. The photography itself is superb, but I also find the content fascinating. I read a comment that I agree with 100%- I am sometimes surprised by the choice of book based solely on the appearance of the reader. I suppose this only reiterates the saying, "Do not judge a book by its cover." Just fantastic. Thank you.
aphotagrafft
This is one of the most gratifying sentiments that I’m seeing around the underground library. If these photos are making us look again at the individuals, seeing them as individuals and not as “covers”, then my efforts for this series are fully rewarded. Thank you so much.
“New York,” by Edward Rutherfurd
“You can do what you like, sir, but I’ll tell you this. New York is the true capital of America. Every New Yorker knows it, and by God, we always shall.”
― Edward Rutherfurd, New York: The Novel (via Goodreads)
