The lovely gentlemen in the picture above are Raphael (on the left) and Felix (on the right). I met Raphael first and found out his favorite movie (Clockwork Orange) and favorite food (pizza, specifically mushroom and onion). He's from Paris, and is halfway through spending a year in New York working in finance and taxes. We talked some about people looking "vacant" on the subway, and he told me he thought the phenomenon was even more present in Paris. Maybe someday I'll have to check it out, maybe do an onthedeux segment. You never know. Raphael's advice to the world is to travel. "See new cultures, new languages, new people." While I was photographing Raphael, I was charmed by Felix. He had a big shopping bag from the M&M store at his feet and a plastic bagful of the most colorful assortment of the candies I've ever seen in my life in his hands. He was snacking a little, and there was something about his face...he looks very, very happy, the deep inside, real kind of happy. Felix is a journalist from Moscow visiting the city. Although we didn't have time to talk very much, Felix did show me all of his M&M purchases and I admired each in turn.
So here's my favorite thing about the picture of Raphael and Felix. Not only did I not know either of them before I got on the train Saturday, but they didn't know each other either. They look like old friends in the picture, don't they?
Cool. : )
