Quote:
Originally Posted by boykinlp
The photographer claimed that he was trying to alert the subway driver with his camera flash!!?? I hope that is true and that he could not have helped the man get back on the platform.
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I completely agree that printing the photo was in horrific taste, but the photographer himself is probably telling the truth. I've spoken to Metropolitan Transit Authority personnel, including motormen. They're trained to ignore people shouting and screaming. Just about the only way to actually stop a subway train is to shine a light...even a flashlight...into the motorman's compartment, preferably waved side to side. The motormen have to pay a light...any bright light...some kind of attention because it may signal an oncoming "runaway". Looking at the camera angle and the huge amounts of the effect we might call redeye that were cleaned up, this guy had his flash trained on the motorman, not the guy about to get hit. There's a security video going around of this from practically the same angle and unless he not only braked, but somehow managed to get the traction motors into reverse and ramrod his throttle, there was no chance of stopping the train.
Another thing you have to remember about NYC subway platforms is that they're not solid concrete structures. They're built like most railroad platforms with an overhang. When that guy put his hand onto the yellow warning paint, he was hanging by said hand and it would have been very difficult to get him up. The photographer could have requested the photos not be published (since he was under contract with the
Post, his other option would have been to turn them into the NYPD, which already had the security footage...the
Post would regardless have been legally obligated to turn copies of the photos over to the NYPD and he would have been paid if the photos appeared or not) and with the
Post, there's always a possibility they just decided the heck with it, this poor guy's photos made a great story. Then again, he really might be a bloodthirsty *** who figured it would be in good taste. Right now, we don't have all the facts, but the usage of a light signal (not everyone carries a flashlight in their backpack, although I do!) and attempted focus on the motorman (the flash bulb is literally turned up so high that we can barely see him) would point to a desperate and last-ditch effort to stop the train.
What isn't being reported is where this happened: at the very far end of the subway platform. Trust me, if you're waiting for a train, VERY few people are going to wait on the very end of the platform. You also typically don't stare at someone or look around. You may get more than what you asked for. Still, the majority of the people on the platform (as can be seen on the security video) are almost 10 yards away from this guy. And
them catching hell is not fair at all. There was even a doctor at the scene who tried reviving the guy and obviously did not see what happened if you look at security tape. The doctor getting flak, in particular, is what I found particularly uncalled-for and almost as disturbing as the photo, quite frankly.