As you probably know, there is an element of voyeurism in photography…

I must confess I like to photograph people on benches from behind, and it’s something I do quite often. Looking through my camera roll and recalling the times I “shot people in the back”, I had to laugh, realizing I am a repeat offender. But if the subject(s) never knew I snapped the shutter behind them, their faces and features out of view, their identities undisclosed, have I offended anyone?

Why I like shooting backs & benches:

• They make an interesting composition,
• A faceless person can communicate feelings via body language of their back, neck, and head only,
• There is often a contemplative, pensive mood,
• Sometimes light renders the bench sitter(s) in silhouette to enhance the drama and mood,
• Or, as I often do when I observe people in public, I wonder, what are they thinking and feeling?

A few times when I photographed one or more backs on a bench from behind, when the mood and composition was compelling enough, I politely interrupted the bench sitter(s) to show them the photograph. Most of the time, they asked for a copy with a smile on their face…

Edits & Variations:

Here’s a back and a bench I posted a few days ago with LOVE:

A back-shot with a wall instead of a bench:

And, from a January post, here’s a set of back-views of a bench with birds instead of people, which has plenty of monochromatic moodiness:

You get the idea — backs and benches — it’s a thing!

Camera: iPhone 13 Pro Max
Editing: Hipstamatic app
Photographer: Russ Murray aka “remages”
Location: Cove Island Park, Stamford, CT

See you tomorrow… 

// russ murray