The Herd

Commuters coming and going using New York City as a destination...  This is a look up the passage way from the PATH train from/to New Jersey leading up to Church Street.  This happens to be the evening rush hour, but it would look the same in the morning.  

There are many people, but they are not as close together as they may appear here.  You would get this type of superimposed compression with a telephoto lens.  In this case, however, it is a wide angle that has been cropped closer.  

I think it is interesting to see some of the individual expressions on these faces (click the photo and you will see it larger).  None of them are smiling.  They do smile, but in this picture, they just aren't.  Reminds me of another photo a took a few years ago "Grim Faces".  There is a certain drudgery in mood.  Maybe it's the weather, just starting to be cold.  Maybe its the season?  The holidays are coming quickly, and there is much to do.  And, there are people everywhere.  Sometimes that gets to you too.   

Herd

Burying Pipe

Burying Pipe
Originally uploaded by jfraissi

The town of Harrison, New Jersey (located just across the river from Newark) is being completely redesigned. Harrison is an old factory town. Most of the old industrial buildings have now been abandoned. Broken windows, graffiti, weeds.

Harrison's claim to fame now is that it is a "park and ride" location for commuters who take the PATH train into Manhattan. It is a relatively painless 20 minute ride. And, the grounds of the factories have been used as parking lots for the travelers.

Harrison Factory before demolish
Originally uploaded by jfraissi

About four months ago, many of the parkers were displaced and had to move to lots 5-6 blocks further from the train. And, virtually all of the surrounding blocks were completely razed. There are now blocks and blocks of empty space. Starting to emerge is a new condo complex along the river and they will be building a new soccer stadium that will home of the Red Bulls professional team that now plays at Giants Stadium.

The first photo shows one large land mass that will be occupied by a complex that includes 30,000 square feet of retail stores. And, the giant pipe that the worker is standing on bring some sort of liquid to site (water?). This picture shows the pipe being buried, to be hidden for generations. I like the orange areas in the picture and the dirt falling behind the guy.

The second picture shows what used to be here. Ultimately the mile of land surrounding the train station will be built up with a new glistening town. I suspect then the commuters will have lots of company and will need to find a better place to use as a base.