Saturday, May 26, 2012Mostly Cloudy 19°C
City

Toronto Photo Essay: Law & Disorder

Posted by Guest Contributor / February 6, 2008

20080206_photoessay01.jpg
Photographs and writing by guest contributor Michael Talbot.

These photos, all of which were taken on the streets of Toronto, attempt to visualize the complex relationship between law and disorder, and the consequences when these two polarities meet. Some of the photos lack authoritarian figures, like police officers or security guards, but I feel they all possess a feeling of uneasiness that is often present on the streets of big cities like Toronto.

Whether it's two drinking buddies downing a bottle of Jack Daniels while eying me menacingly; a dazed, bleeding woman gazing into my lens; or a young, fresh-faced teen being slammed into the back of cruiser, the photos are filled with the tension that exists between law and disorder.

Photo essay continues after the jump.

Not big enough? View as fullscreen slideshow.

--

Toronto Photo Essays are visual, themed collections of photographs submitted by readers of blogTO and members of the blogTO Flickr Pool. We appreciate the interactive, collaborative nature of this column, and encourage readers to submit photo essays for future consideration.

Discussion

4 Comments

Carrie / February 6, 2008 at 12:20 pm
user-pic
This is a really interesting photo set...some powerful images.

Michael -- what camera do you use when shooting these scenarios? SLR? How do those in the photos react? Do you shoot mostly from the hip or do your subjects obviously know you're photographing them?

There are some other really great photos on Flickr that weren't included in this set that everyone should take a look at, too.
mike / February 6, 2008 at 12:26 pm
user-pic
Hey carrie, thanks for your comment. i shot most of these using old film cameras, either a canon ae-1 or various rangefinders from the 70s. A few were shot with a small fuji digicam that i usually carry with me at all times. These shots weren't taken from the hip, although i employ that method from time to time. It's very nerve wracking taking shots of people being arrested etc., because i know my presence isn't welcome by the authorities, but i just go for it rather than kick myself later for chickening out. I've had very few confrontations over the years that i've been a street photographer. thanks again!
Danielle / February 6, 2008 at 06:30 pm
user-pic
Great essay, I'm curious about the decision to go black and white or grayscale?
mike / February 6, 2008 at 09:15 pm
user-pic
hey danielle, most of the shots were taken with film cameras using either ilford xp2 or ilford hp5 black and white film. I always enjoy the natural grains and grittiness that black and white offers. thanks for your interest.

Add a Comment

Other Cities: VancouverMontreal