It was a dark and rainy New York morning. A great time to wander around The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art searching for the ideal patron viewing the perfect painting. Some of the world’s most famous works including Wyeth’s Christina’s World, Monet’s Water Lilies, and van Gogh’s The Starry Night, are on display. While meandering around the several floors of art, I came upon a window from which you can view neighborhood buildings. “Rear Window MOMA” is a reflection on the classic 1954 Hitchcock film. Is there a hint of voyeurism? Innocent as it may be, I’ll let the viewer make that determination.
I stood at one window for a while viewing the offices across the street. The several people with their backs to the window were busy working on their computers. After about 10 minutes, I left to re-view some art; however, as a Street Photographer, something kept calling me back. Another 15 minutes and then — what I was hoping for. Someone from the office below heading upstairs and passing by the mirror. Due to the lighting both inside and out, I had stepped up the ISO to 3200. You see the result; however, printing the image at anything about 8×10 results in significant graininess.
As I’ve stated previously in my Blog posts, there are photographers, like Stefan Draschan, who have spent hours with a camera in galleries and museums. His purpose, like mine: trying to capture museum-goers who closely match the art work they’re looking at in an ironic or humorous way. This being said, try looking around and outside the proverbial “box” while in a museum. You may end up with an even better street image.
I view street photography as a people safari. In this case, walking through a museum, camera at the ready, always keeping your eyes open. Oh, one more thing: by the time I walked away, there were several other photographers equally intrigued by Rear Window MOMA across the street.