Soon after setting out to capture this photo, I realized I was way too focused on the darker side of solitude.
I was going out of my way to convey solitude through depression and isolation but I had neglected its more benevolent side.
We each experience solitude on a daily basis during those brief seconds where our own thoughts puncture through the constant drone of life.
In an underpass like this one on Central Avenue, the city seems much more quiet and suppressed, and those who decide to hesitate a second instead of rushing to ascend back into the mass of people will find themselves oddly alone.
As I prepared to take this photo, I watched my friend stand against the railing and observe the cars as they rushed by.
She was still while the world moved by at the speed of light, and this struck me as a perfect example of what everyday solitude really is.
Downtown, one is hard-pressed to get distance between oneself and others, so solitude comes in brief moments like this.
In my hurry to get out before the sun went down (an effort that was in vain), I forgot my tripod, so this shot was a challenge.
I set up the camera on the railing and after much trial and error in the dark underpass, I got the focus and framing right. My shutter speed was eight seconds while cars rushed past and she stood still.
Contact the columnist at Courtney.Pedroza@asu.edu.
