Find a Seat: Observational Sitting 1

On Monday we were introduced to Visual Narratives, our first brief and the first task of that brief. We were told to sit in three separate places observing, taking notes and thinking about the location we are in. The research we gather from these places will lead directly into the second task in this brief.

On the way home I decided to complete my first observation at the train station in York. I found a seat at the Costa Coffee situated between station there and prepared myself for an hour of bitter cold note taking.

I began by taking photos of my seat and the surround areas visible from my seat before being approached by the security staff at the station almost immediately. I had to explain that I was completing a brief for my course. Although they were polite this irritated me. We really do live in a culture of fear where someone simply taking a photograph is considered a potential threat.

I also asked three ladies; whether they travel by train often, do they enjoy it and is there anything they don't like? The average response was that they travel once a month or so by train, the travelling isn't too bad but it is too expensive and stressful with not enough stations in the country.

Here are some photos from my first observational sitting: