Triggered: Patrick Clelland

© Patrick Clelland

Much of my photography is inspired by travel and the excitement of exploring new and foreign places. This photo was taken in Taiwan, a place I’ve made many trips to over the years as I’ve always found its urban environments, a contrast of decaying old and ultra-modern, visually intriguing. In a small city down south called Tainan, I was out late one night and wandered down a long pedestrian tunnel that ran under the main train station. I walked to the end and decided to turn back, thinking I would go somewhere else or go back to the hotel.

At some point this view caught my eye as there seemed to be a strange balance between the clean and bright condition of the tunnel, which in its own way was somewhat aged and crumbling, and the man asleep at the top of the steps. People passing by paid no attention, and it occurred to me had I seen a similar scene in my own city, I probably would not have paid attention either.