Observation Series: Strangers' Subconscious Actions

I love observing strangers' subconscious actions. More dramatically - or perhaps more creepily - I love observing their thought processes when they expect nobody to be paying attention. 

It might be the little boy’s quick steps to catch up to his dad, or his “shush” to the seagulls to stay in tune with his imagination so that they might understand what he is telling them. 

It might be a woman’s afternoon beach walk where she snaps a photo of a seagull on a rock that captures her beach camping weekend experience but will likely never be looked at for more than a fraction of a second ever again.

It might be a couple setting up a tent and when she giggles & lightly shoves him then looks for the next task to cover up her smirk you know that she is thinking about how happy she is to be here with him in this moment and that if not already, she is falling deeply in love. 

The normality of people’s subconscious in their personal lives is comforting. The human experience is such a beautiful thing. 

Pūrākaunui Bay, New Zealand

January 26, 2026 - Written by Maddy Dunn