Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary in Dublin…

I’m always on the lookout for the shot with just one person in it. I play mind games with myself. Why is that person doing this? Why would that person be sitting there? What’s the story behind that face? I occasionally post photos of the lonely folk… you don’t have to scroll too far down this page to see the solitary woman in the ‘Dear Irish Rail? post… or, even the solitary busking musicians on the busy Grafton Street in the heart of Dublin.

Mostly I see loneliness… sadness… even depression. The city is a cruel place. Hard, uncompromising. Survival of the fittest. Folk the world over flock to cities to escape their own personal dilemmas in the countryside… only to be forced into the solitude of city survival.

This week’s challenge… solitary… did not take me too long to find a few photos. Actually picture I’ve wanted to use before but couldn’t quite link up. There are so many variables to solitary. Mostly I think the harsh reality of modern city life force folk into an unwelcome solitude. Then… on the odd bright day folk can flee their oppressive dwellings to find a bit of peace or comfort in the warmth of the sun. Like the fellow above… staring at the water. His solitude is quite palpable… almost accusing. Look at me… it shouts… here I am, craving for companionship yet I have to stare at the water. Lonely, pensive… or just out relaxing?

On the odd occasion solitary may have a slightly lighter side… like when I hurriedly captured the photo of the lad pushing his bicycle along the busy road. One can make out the damage to the front wheel… it’s buckled… forcing the lad to push his machine home. But the sight also made me wonder…

Is solitude the result of broken dreams or are dreams broken because of solitude?