Alen MacWeeney is a new find for me. I really miss the library. So one of the things Ive been doing is researching people and history through public libraries online databases if they have them. Today I found Alen MacWeeney has Photography through the NYPL, in the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs.

Lets go through some of my favorite images I found in this collection with an immediate raw and honest response.

Brief Bio

Alen was born in 1932 in Dublin, Ireland. Alen started Photography in 1952. He used Leica because of their craftsmanship. His earliest series was Irish Travellers. Alen MacWeeneys photography is very unique. In the subway series were looking at today, he often uses one train moving and one still. He captures mood, emotion, and fashion extremely well in his Photographs. Hes still in NYC, check his website out.

Review, Reflect.

So initially we’re drawn to the Gentleman with the Hat. Hes making direct eye contact. It really separates him from the other subjects as their eyes are cast down. You can get the 70s from the image. The fur coat, the leather jackets and importantly his hat. And for being such a wide shot, you get so much from him. But the sides contribute to the story, its not just noise.

I think the feeling this shot captures is Tired and Patient.
Standing room, long days at work. I imagine much of their work schedule was on the commute itself. God, the amount of standing. The split second of this photo snapped in between a breath and a sigh. I can imagine the smell of his cologne, or the cuban waiting to be lit in his pocket. Its a beautiful pause in time.

Review, Reflect.

Colored Girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is final. During the 70s there was still a lot of prejudice and hate crimes happening. The mental anguish that has on people has just wore us down. This is to remind those that because you’re not a color on the rainbow doesn’t mean you’re not beautiful. I love the composition as the mural is looking directly at the man in subway hall.

I am sure the feeling had to be rather alarming doing all this photography in the NYC Subway. Usually a place crowded with people. Its rather frightening seeing just one person in the tunnels. This whole photo has a sense of dread to it. Its heavy.

To use the mural like this. Its really creative.

Review, Reflect.

Olivia Newton must not popular at that gate. I love the contrast of this. Fast moving train with a static poster and man waiting with gentle light on his coat and hair. Hes soft, while the poster is harsh and alarming. It has a great method of telling a story. Just two images. That is so hard to do.

And the story hes telling can be open to interpretation. But there is one, and its set within 2 images. Hes giving you that much to go off. Alen is brilliant.

Review, Reflect.

Man, is she lost in thought. How Alen used the midtones in two areas. Intentional maybe? But its the wall, the empty space, and the woman with her hair in a bun in a long gaze. That is poetic.

Also is the other woman behind her wearing the same jacket?

Do you see the people at the end of the hall on the right? Is that a jacket or someone hugging?

How about the super slick dude with the crew cut under the 59th st sign. The scene is full, and there are many moments happening here. Almost like they all could have their portrait taken right then and there. Even the woman reading the newspaper against the wall on the left.

What a way to fill a frame.

Review, Reflect.

Look at the silver cast in this image. Its beautiful. The jackets all have hard lighting, and the depth of field used to capture the faces is beautiful. Whats so interesting about pairing them into a scene like this how it makes the man with the hat appear behind the woman on the left with the Afro. Again, we see the tired but more anxious feeling of the men on the right, paired with an image where they are all looking the same direction.

I wonder if shes irritated. Seems like everyone has mustaches. Except these guys.

Thanks for checking out Alen MacWeeney and his Photography with me. I might try something like this. At first I thought, X-Pan? I loved it. Check out more of his work here.