I know that neither the photo or the smoker are intending to be political, but I cannot help be confronted its revealing a very different set of values to my own. Particularly as I am increasing surrounded by people who are (quite properly) obsessed with their health. Does the smoker in fact represent a kind of selflessness that I can never hope to understand?
I regret to this day not having taken a picture in the eastern Berlin U-Bahn in the times when the message placards were flashing the smoking prohibition, and not only would people just light up, especially in the evenings, but the huge ashtrays were left in place, brimming with buts. Those Germans, so obedient to authority!
{ 4 comments }
John Quiggin 03.13.22 at 8:22 pm
Reminds me of a lot of the classic shots of European cities in the 1950s and 1960s, though those were mostly black and white
Alan White 03.13.22 at 9:24 pm
The light and dark contrast captures a sense of closeness. The smoke in the light is a great focus point.
Duke the lost engine 03.13.22 at 9:33 pm
I know that neither the photo or the smoker are intending to be political, but I cannot help be confronted its revealing a very different set of values to my own. Particularly as I am increasing surrounded by people who are (quite properly) obsessed with their health. Does the smoker in fact represent a kind of selflessness that I can never hope to understand?
Peter Hovde 03.16.22 at 10:28 pm
I regret to this day not having taken a picture in the eastern Berlin U-Bahn in the times when the message placards were flashing the smoking prohibition, and not only would people just light up, especially in the evenings, but the huge ashtrays were left in place, brimming with buts. Those Germans, so obedient to authority!
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