the stranger, toronto canada, august 2005

[zyzyly]

I was wandering around toronto taking pictures and came across an urban park where there were all sorts of people doing all sorts of things.
I watched this woman for a while as she sat at the fountain.
There was a certain vulnerability that attracted me to her.
Even though I never saw her face, I knew that there was something wrong.
She held her head in her hands.
I considered asking her if she was ok. But I didn't.

When I look at this picture, I wonder what it was that kept me from talking to her.

Comments

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

i think a lot of the time people do not want to intrude... which is sort of a shame isn't it, as a kind word even from a stranger can make a world of difference.
perhaps she was just tired.... :-)

[carocrow.livejournal.com]

She looks so vulnerable.

Aren't boundaries a strange thing?

don't beat yourself up

[sunshine-two.livejournal.com]

Some times, people need time to acknowledge their feelings in order to get on with life. It kinda looks to me like she's coming to terms with some type of disappointment. It kinda looks like she's lost in her thoughts based on her back to the crowds.

[taniwhanui.livejournal.com]

I like this photo.

Can understand both why you wanted to talk with her, and why you didn't.

Life can be funny like that. /-:

I think the other 2-3 commenters pretty much summed things up.

Taniwha

[(Anonymous)]

Anything else you need to tell me before I go?

[pumpkin-pie-m.livejournal.com]

Wow, I can really relate to that photo. Agree with the comment that she is probably coming to terms with a huge disappointment.

Makes me want to give her a hug.

[niyabinghi.livejournal.com]

It's interesting what people can project on to an image....

...she could have *merely* had a migraine. ;)

[myasma.livejournal.com]

It seemed like there was something more--as if at any moment she would get up and jump into the fountain.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

they are, and are sometimes multi-layered. it brings up the question in my mind--whose boundaries was I respecting--hers or mine? Perhaps both.

Re: don't beat yourself up

[myasma.livejournal.com]

It could really be almost anything going on. That is what makes it intruiging.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

Yeah--the more i think about, it the more interesting it becomes.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

exactly.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I know--you're right!

[whirledpeas.livejournal.com]

Wow. Maybe this is where I am in my day right now...
...goofy and happy.

But I saw this and even saw her holding her head in her hands and I thought, "she's wondering where she might be able to pick up another pair of underwear...the ones she's wearing, they're a little beeeeg."