No People -- Reflection

Over the river south of Cincinnati, I stepped out of the hotel door and into this frame. I have a penchant for urban scenes with interesting angles and strong contrasts. When I looked at this photograph later, it struck me that in urban neighborhoods we have so much stuff, but sometimes not a person in sight. Sure, there were cars rolling overhead, barges on the river, people walking on the sidewalk behind me, but for that moment I was the only person in the world, like my own Twilight Zone episode. The remnants of burgeoning humanity were there, but not the evidence.

It was not a bad day, weather-wise. In fact, it was downlight pleasant. The sun was out, with a light breeze. I could smell the river, and (unfortunately), the tuna sandwich someone had dropped into the trash can the day before. So could a rat -- because the bag had a big hole chewed in it.

I was reminded that it is possible to get into our cars in our garages, drive to work to park in another garage, and literally never see the light of day. It's convenient to not have to bump into anyone that is not pre-screened when we go from pod to pod in this way. Yes, I would not have been forced to smell that sandwich and deal with the reality of the likely rat. But I would also not have been able to snap some great photos, and to breathe relatively fresh air, and place myself within the landscape of this big world.

Reflection Points: This PhotoSinryu invites us to examine our environments, and how we as individuals fit into them. Do you participate in the pageantry of your neighborhood? Or do you sneak through it like a thief in the night? Do you know your neighbors? Do you know when something is amiss in your neighborhood, when there's something wrong? Are you an asset to your neighborhood?

© 2020, by Brian Kokensparger. Return to PhotoSinryu List.