Magnum Photograph Writing Exercise

Caption: Washington Square roller skater
Credit: Thomas Hoepker

As the caption suggests, this is a photograph of a man roller skating in Washington Square.  I chose the picture because I was impressed that the author seemed to be able to capture the movement of the roller skater, despite the lack of blur (which, in my mind, is usually a telltale sign of movement in a picture).  The roller skater is the focus of the photo and appears graceful and off in his own little world, seemingly unaware of the people watching him. I'm also interested in the photographer's choice of vantage point.  The background features a number of people, some watching the roller skater while others are not.  The presence of the Washington Square Arch would tell us that the photograph was taken in Washington Square Park (if the caption didn't already tell us this).  The lack of leaves on the tree and people in the background wearing jackets tells me that it's probably towards the end of winter. There appears to be another roller skater cut off on the right side of the photograph.  This makes me think that there was some sort of show or exhibition going on.  Or, perhaps, it was just a bunch of people that got together to roller skate in the park.  My favorite par of this photograph is the angle of the roller skater.  He's slanted at an angle while the rest of the photo is not.  I think this helps to immediately draw the viewer's eye to the skater.  It makes him stand out and I think also helps to make him appear to be in motion.  Overall, I think this picture effectively documents life in motion - the goings on of Washington Square Park on this particular sunny day.