(Image source: Gothamist )

 

BY LYNDSEY GARZA

 

A New York City man is being called out for his voyeuristic hobby — secretly photographing women on the subway. The man has captured more than 100 women on his YouTube feed and blog. New York’s WPIX has the dirty details...

“Shot after shot after shot of women on the subway. A man who says he goes by the name John Zippy calls it art according to his videos on YouTube and an online blog titled ‘New York Subway Girls’.”

The New York Post confronted Zippy, who likened his work to Salvador Dali’s — not the work of a voyeur. The man behind the hidden camera, who names his YouTube videos “Sexy Asian Girls” or “Hot Nerd Girl,” defended his art.

“I totally understand that many people consider it sorta creepy. It is. I have over the years had conversations with people . . . about how they saw the ‘most beautiful,’ ‘the hottest,’ ‘most amazing,’ ‘the finest’ woman on the Subway followed by a vivid description worthy of a sonnet.”

What Zippy is doing isn’t exactly illegal — unless the photographs are deemed “intimate” by a jury. Authorities say filming unsuspecting people in public is not a crime. But Jezebel argues it’s still an invasion of privacy.

“We're going to have to never fall asleep on public transportation. And we should all wear Snuggies in public at all times to protect ourselves. Because really it's all our fault— when it is NOT our fault? — for being so sexy and inspiring Zippy to create his ‘art.’”

Zippy told New York Magazine he knows he’s not dealing with a “cooperative audience”, but insists his intentions are pure. But a writer for the magazine isn’t buying it...

“Remember, ladies: Having a stranger film you and post the footage online under ‘hot nerd girl’ or ‘sexy high-heeled boots’ is pretty much the modern-day equivalent of Shakespeare writing you a sonnet.”

The Huffington Post questions — is Zippy simply a misguided or “misunderstood artist” or simply a “bonafide creep”? The answer might be vague, insists the Post.

“It's not like our male editors haven't looked at SubwayCrush.net or the Tumblr ‘New York Subway Guys’ to see if they were on it. Regardless, sites of the kind are undeniably invasive whether the targets are male or female. Creepy? Yes, but does this make Zippy a ‘pervert’?”

The man had uploaded more than 35 videos and 102 photos before his YouTube channel and blog were shut down.

If prosecuted for taking “intimate” photographs of the unsuspecting, Zippy could face four years in jail.