Paul Walsh shares how he captured a moment of stillness amidst the hustle and bustle of the Russian capital.
Briefly describe the photograph
A man emerges from an underground subway station in the centre of Moscow.
Where was the photograph made?
I was making photographs around Red Square, the area was busy with tourists and street vendors. Most of the people were there because of St. Basil's Cathedral, and I was making street photography images of people passing through the area.
Why was the photograph made?
My series Moscow Circular looks at everyday events that occur amidst the streets of Moscow, more specifically around subway entrances. I decided to walk the Koltsevaya metro line above ground, which is the circular line that orbits central Moscow. The project idea was really about finding a route into the city that enabled me to make photographs, however the repetitive cyclical journey of the metro train also seemed to underline the monotonous everyday events that take place in cities. It took me five days to walk the route using my map, which led me through many different areas that I otherwise would not have discovered.
What was happening outside of the frame?
Directly behind me when I made the image was St. Basils Cathedral, where a myriad of tourists were taking photographs. I wasnt so interested in photographing the Cathedral and upon turning around I saw this view of the city, which looked like layers stretching out towards the horizon. I stood there composing an image when a man emerged out of the subway station holding his bag. He stood for just a few seconds and I managed to snatch two frames before he was gone.
Tell us a key fact about this photograph?
Instinctively I tried to compose the figure in the picture to be aligned with the tall white building in the background. The building is actually one of the Seven Sisters which surround central Moscow. They were erected in Moscow in the 1940s and 1950s and have come to symbolise the new Moscow in the aftermath of WWII.
Why is this photograph important to you?
I made this image In 2013, when five photographers from MAP6 traveled to Moscow for their first time working abroad together. The trip went on to define the way that we now collaborate and make work. That first trip really changed the way I approach picture making and editing, allowing others to openly influence my ideas and edit my work was something I had never done before. For me this photograph represents the start of my collaborative journey with MAP6.