Street Photography: "The Unknown Citizen"

[The Dude]

The last shots of the weekend... Tomorrow I am back to work as such... I thought I'd put a little something together. The theme is "who wants an ordinary life?" Not me - no way - can't stand the thought of it. As such I am listening to God Put A Smile Upon Your Face and setting the stage with The Unknown Citizen a poem by W.H. Auden... As I am doing this I have a major migraine but gotta do it now while it is fresh, the pictures have already been formatted and uploaded and the text inserted - here it comes, enjoy.


The Unknown Citizen by W.H . Auden

(To JS/07 M 378 This Marble Monument Is Erected by the State)

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be
One against whom there was no official complaint,
And all the reports on his conduct agree
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a
saint,



Busking for a living, the life less ordinary!

For in everything he did he served the Greater Community.
Except for the War till the day he retired
He worked in a factory and never got fired,



Here is a guy who decided to NOT work for the man!

But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.
Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views,



This is out of the ordinary...

For his Union reports that he paid his dues,
(Our report on his Union shows it was sound)
And our Social Psychology workers found
That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink.



In da mall! Life outside is way better..!

The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day
And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way.
Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured,



An accident waiting to happen... Roller blades on a bicycle

And his Health-card shows he was once in a hospital but left it cured.
Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare
He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan
And had everything necessary to the Modern Man,



I keep seeing the same folks

A phonograph, a radio, a car and a Frigidaire.
Our researchers into Public Opinion are content
That he held the proper opinions for the time of year;



Golden moment!

When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war, he went.
He was married and added five children to the population,



Hummm I wonder what's under there?

Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his
generation.
And our teachers report that he never interfered with their
education.



To grab or not to grab... That is the question!

Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd:
Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.



Dancing man

Comments on the poem

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

Where do we go nobody knows
I've gotta' say I'm on my way down
God give me style and give me grace
God put a smile upon my face
Where do we go to draw the line



I went into the fountain to get this shot...

I've gotta' say I've wasted all your time,
honey honey Where do I go to fall from grace
God put a smile upon your face, yeah



Nice bike but not my cup of tea...



Now when you work it out
I'm worse than you Yeah
when you work it out
I want it too
Now when you work out
where to draw the line



Couple numero one

Your guess is as good as mine Where do we go nobody knows



The shot of the day, "What are you looking at buddy!?"

Don't ever say you're on your way down,
when God gave you style and gave you grace



Where is he going with that..?

And put a smile upon your face,
oh yeah Now when you work it out
I'm worse than you
Yeah when you work it out I want it too



Playing with fire, a professional busker - From Montreal originally. Up coming story











I like how the flash light up this one...

Now when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine



Nap time, there is nothing like it on a lazy Saturday



It's as good as mine
It's as good as mine
It's as good as mine



Couple numero two



Couple numero three

Na nana nana,
Na nana nana



Couple numero four

As good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine
As good as mine



How fortunate we are..!



Where do we go nobody knows
Don't ever say you're on your way down,



She has some style!

When God gave you style
and gave you grace



Trust me I am famous! In my own mind - I am...

And put a smile upon your face



That's it folks, hope you enjoyed, have a great weekend!

Have a great...

[SLRdude]

How awesome is that!
Keep them coming cause I sure am enjoying them.

[JJ Irani]

Hi Patrick,

Once more, your camera has captured the city of Toronto in its purity and most natural elements. You have a keen eye and quick reflexes. Your pictures are sheer poetry in motion.

JJ

[RogerF]

Great pics Patrick. That's it next weekend I am going with you on your tour. Coffee and street dogs on me!

[The Dude]

Free food - I'll priovide the babes :-)

[RogerF]

Originally Posted by The Dude

Free food - I'll priovide the babes :-)

as long as the dvp is not closed I'm soooo there. We can visit Brian Archee's second cup :) I'll see if Michael is avail.

[mailman]

Great post. Keep em coming

[gforce]

Awsome pictures! I enjoyed everysingle one!

Now I want to goto Toronto