affection

The Nocturnalists

15/30

After a great evening meeting up with a local photography club, having a drink and a few snacks at an American bar, it was time to head home for the night. I wasn’t too confident in the photos I had taken during the hour the photo club designated. The prompt was to take photos of single people enjoying the city, but most people by themselves weren’t doing anything too interesting. I had a few half hearted photos I was prepared to try to make work for the blog, however, when I stepped onto the tram, I found myself surrounded by potential subjects. 

On this night, the tram was filled with interesting characters. There were two men next to me donned in what looked like biker clothes, but I felt like I was too close (and maybe too intimidated) to snap their photo. I was very intrigued by this couple in the back, who were first standing and eventually moved to share a seat. 

I have always felt a little admiration towards the couples in Prague. They are not shy about their affection in public at all— especially on public transportation. I like to think they’re enjoying each other’s  company after a long day, sharing their tiredness, and getting ready to go home. Living in the US, public displays of affection are a little frowned upon, which thinking about it now, doesn’t really make sense, especially late at night. Everyone here minds their own business and lets couples be couples. 

This was my last and favorite photo of the night, and it’s one of my favorite photos I have taken on this trip so far. Although it is nothing special, no beautiful scene or grand architecture, it captures the essence of street photography that makes it so special, which is the decisive moment. It is one moment that can’t be recreated and is over in a split second. This moment of vulnerability— a couple letting their guard down to simply enjoy each other’s presence— reminds me of the daily, candid moments we forget that I would like to see captured in a photo.