Scott Areman: The People of Sound Transit

Over drinks and Mexican food, Atlanta-based portrait photographer Scott Areman and Sound Transit‘s senior graphic designer, Elizabeth Trunkey, worked out a new photography plan for Puget Sound’s regional transit authority. Scott’s idea was to ride Sound Transit for two days straight and meet and photograph the people who ride their trains, buses and light rail. Elizabeth liked the concept, so at 6 am on a Thursday, Scott boarded the Sounder Train from Tacoma to Seattle and began to approach some strangers.

For the next two days, Scott shot non-stop. He spent most of his time on the trains and buses asking transit customers if he could take their picture. Scott says he wanted the shoot to have, ”an editorial, gritty, natural, on-the-fly feel,” so he kept his equipment to a minimum. They finished up the shoot late on Friday night after following a crowd home from a Mariners v. Phillies game, ending their journey after midnight on the bus back to Seattle.

According to Scott, the biggest challenge on this shoot was approaching complete strangers and asking to take their picture. However, he says it wasn’t that big of an issue for him.

I’m very good at this kind of challenge, and had a great time talking to strangers. Most people who ride Sound Transit value it, so they were happy to be a part of a shoot promoting it. My favorite quote about my work those two days came from my client after watching me approach dozens of strangers: “He’s fearless!”

The team loved the photos and felt they conveyed the experiences of riding Sound Transit very well. The images are now being used on Sound Transit’s website, in their annual report, and in other collateral pieces.

See more of Scott‘s photos on Instagram.

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