p5 : an ordinary miracle

p5 : an ordinary miracle, originally uploaded by light paintbrush.

quotidie
pilot week
day 5 (december 29)

this couple sits opposite me on the tube home. she is tired. the train is still quite crowded, with a lot of chatter in the air. she begins to doze off, facing straight ahead, elbow on bag, chin resting on hands. i stare for a bit and think, what a cute photo it would make. i am holding my camera but in fear that her eyes would suddenly flicker open and see a camera facing her direction, i do not use it.

she changes her position and leans towards the arm rest where her arm is now propped.

and then the train is a little more quiet, there are less people, and she changes her position again and snuggles up against her partner as much as being seated in a public mode of transport would allow her.

her right arm is around the back of his neck, but folds back so that her hand can hold the back of his ear, playing with it lazily. her other arm is in front of her, winds around the arm that holds a magazine, and meets with her partner's right hand. the hand automatically attaches itself to hers. from time to time, it reaches out to turn the page, and then as if realizing it was slacking off duty, it zooms back to its position over the female hand. the thumb rubs gently and thoughtfully at her skin.

the woman does not look exceptionally made up. she is comfortable in her self that is sleeping, eyes getting a bit of shade from the man's profile. the man is dressed casually and reads a magazine while he easily, very simply holds the soul of this woman.

i sit and watch them until they get off. i wonder if they realize the miracle they share. the miracle that is a love so remarkably ordinary that it is an incredibly moving sight on a crowded train home.

this photo doesn't show much. i took it discreetly, the camera just resting on the bag on my lap. i even coughed when i pressed the shutter release. i wish That Much that i were invisible while taking photographs.

but perhaps such candor in the composition of this photograph makes it all the more significant.

i didn't take this on the 29th of december, the 5th day of quotidie. and there is no excuse for my lack of photography (that i was happy about) for the 5th day.

but when i took this (21st), i knew that i had to give it a day in this project.