New York Daily Photo Analytics

Monday, March 26, 2007

Spike

Here we have the classic NYC character - the city well tolerates this type of emboldened eccentricity, perhaps even encourages it. Frequently seen parading in full regalia, this baroque individual is an amalgam of goth/punk symbols and icons. He's got it well covered - iron crosses, medieval cross earrings (Noctis?), British flags, piercings with studs, a Clash patch and the requisite black leather jacket and boots (I learned a lot about these accoutrement this morning by visiting this British site - Gothic Style ). And don't miss that standout hair spire - his signature pièce de résistance. His militaristic persona was enhanced by his standing at attention for lengths of time. I have seen him a number of times before and this weekend saw him two days in a row. On this second occasion, a number of photographer friends and I were gathered in the park - our increasingly bolder and more obvious photo taking of the subject was not met by resistance. We agreed that perhaps he was a bit of an exhibitionist, n'est-ce pas?

16 comments:

Stephane said...

Nice catch, what was he looking at ?

Anonymous said...

can you imagine this guy in the airport security...He might take at least half hour just to pass the x-ray machine..
I hope I never come across him! ;)

Anonymous said...

It must take hours to strap on that ensemble every day, and do the hair, etc., got to give him credit for the dedication. NYC is such a great haven for intense individualists like this...

Brian Dubé said...

Anon - It's true, it would take a while to dress up like this, get your hair in a do, etc. Kind of like a fashion model.
Brian

isa said...

Absolument!
"I am ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille" comes to mind ;-)

Anonymous said...

Hmmm - maybe this is ageist of me, but he looks too old to be a goth! Over here they're all teenagers.

Brian Dubé said...

Jackie - We were discussing that int the office - the younger people agreed that this guy is a little to old for the goth thing.
Brian

Anonymous said...

Thats the nice thing about New York. Folks like that can let their
freak flag fly and give the pitcha takers a run fo they $$.

Out in the the sticks they would gang tackle this sucker and leave him fir daid.

Which is why I LOVE NY.;)

Merisi said...

I think he looks great, like a guy who knows how to have fun (and a lot of energy, to get his outfit together).
Great photo, be the way! :-)

jb said...

Hot gets cold, but cool is forever

Anonymous said...

Brian, I don't know what I enjoy the most, your photos or your captions. For sure, I learn something new everytime I come in to peek.

I rarely leave comments here, but this photo and its superb caption prompt me to tell you that I admire both aspect of your work here.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Oh dear - poor old chap. Very definitely an exibitionist but as we say in Australia - probably has a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock!

Anonymous said...

Ciao! I was planning my trip to New York and I begun to watch your blog every day, just to see what I was going to see in NY. Than I saw this strange subject, and I could not remove him from my mind. So, when I was in NY last week I met him in Grand central. I could not believe it: i begun to shut: this is what I saw in that blog, but friends could not understand..... So, this is a picture of the strange man, going around in New York!!! ciao Engi http://www.flickr.com/photos/87231616@N00/453800654/

Linda said...

Oh wow--I walked by this man yesterday at Grand Central! What a coincidence!

• Eliane • said...

Oh boy, your commentary cracks me up.

Steve Rosenbach said...

Thanks for this one, Brian - I've seen him at least twice now in Grand Central during photo tours I lead there.

As a photographer, I find him very interesting - thanks to your post, next time I see him, I'll introduce myself and ask if I may take a few photos.