15-OCT-2009
Street market, Istanbul, Turkey, 2009
Istanbul’s street markets are chaotic jumbles of people and merchandise on the move. I tried to capture the flavor of one such street here, focusing on a man determinedly pulling a huge load of bales in a wagon, very much as men have done in Istanbul for a thousand years. There is tension in his face and arms, and that tension is echoed by the tension in the plastic bag being dragged through the foreground. The head of an intense young man adds additional context – he seems to be pushing the cart from behind.
21-OCT-2009
Ringing up the bill, Bucharest, Romania, 2009
This traditional Romanian restaurant, which has been in business for over a century, shows its past, present and future in this image. The stained glass windows and richly carved staircases and balconies speak of an age now lost in nostalgia. The crowds of people and rushing waiters express its current status as successful dining establishment. The waitress punching up the bill on a sleek computer links the technology of today to a business steeped in tradition. A 14mm wideangle focal length gathers it all together in a single frame.
19-OCT-2009
No urgency, Kiev, Ukraine, 2009
I was drawn to the fruity colors on the poster on this refreshment stand and then saw the woman staring at me out of that door, looking as if she had eternity on her hands. And then I saw the sign – she is most likely a rest room attendant. And when there are no customers, she seems to have little but time on her hands. It is an image of a workplace where the work is yet to come.
22-OCT-2009
Toil, Bucharest, Romania, 2009
Hefting a crowbar, this woman is breaking up a concrete sidewalk in a churchyard. Candles glow softly behind her as she bends to her task. She works persistently and steadily at a job that in many places would be done by men. It is the 21st century, but this image could just as well been made, had there been cameras, at any time in Bucharest’s thousand-year history. I do not show the work at hand. I show instead how that work must feel.
29-SEP-2009
Car rental clerk, Jasper railway station, Canada, 2009
We spent a lot of time waiting in the Jasper train station for our train from Jasper National Park to Vancouver – it was running an hour late. For some, a train station is also a workplace, and there were a number of opportunities for me to make images of people on the job. This rental car clerk has just finished dealing with a long line of passengers and finally finds a moment of rest. I saw it in her eyes – she seems to look at no place in particular as she covers her lower face with her hand. The passengers coming through this station are almost all on vacation. Meanwhile, others, such as this clerk, must be there to serve their needs.
01-OCT-2009
A professional, Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada, 2009
I met this newswoman as she was shooting a video of a booth in Granville Island’s Public Market. I approached with my camera, and she turned to look at me over her shoulder. I could see the questions form on her brow as I made this shot, and I explained that I was simply making images of life in the market. She said, “I hope I didn’t break your camera,” and continued her own project. Her camera is a lot bigger than my camera, yet she handled it as if it was a toy. She was a professional, doing the work of a professional. It comes through in this image.
24-SEP-2009
Office worker, Toronto, Canada, 2009
I saw this woman studying some papers just outside of her office building in downtown Toronto. I was struck by the frequency of red in this scene – her lipstick, the flowers, and even the zipper on her plastic folder seemed to belong to each other. I waited until she picked up the folder and put it and the purse on her lap, bringing the red zipper into line with the flowers on either side of it. The image humanizes the business world and those who serve in it.
24-SEP-2009
Squeegee artist, Toronto, Canada, 2009
By shooting this window washer through a soapy glass door, I am able to abstract him and make his form become part of the job itself. The early morning light comes from him, illuminating the swirls of soapy water, and casting the shadow of the squeegee itself upon the task. The swirls symbolize energy, and that is precisely what he brings to this task.
03-OCT-2009
Making movies, Vancouver, Canada, 2009
While walking through the port of Vancouver, I stepped right into the middle of a movie set. The grips were setting up lights to illuminate the streets just outside of the city’s new convention center. Using a 400mm telephoto lens, I photographed this particular grip from a good distance away for about fifteen minutes as he arranged the position of the huge lamps. His expression and body language changed repeatedly as his task became ever more demanding. This particular image communicates through tension, an emotion that is often found in the workplace. His lips are tightly pursed as he leans into the lamp. He works within deep shadows, while highlights outline one side of his face and arm. These shadows abstract the scene, and add a mysterious mood to his machinations, intensifying the emotional content of the image.
20-JUL-2009
Roadside call, Salem, Massachusetts, 2009
The mobile phone puts an office in every car. Only this fellow is smart enough to pull off and park before making his call, enabling him to concentrate on his conversation instead of diverting attention from his driving. His body language expresses a relaxed confidence, as he holds his phone to his ear with one hand, and points a cigar over the roof of the car with his other hand. One window of his car reflects an abstraction of his shirt, while another echoes his call. He demonstrates consideration for others in two ways here – he smokes outdoors, and he avoids a dangerous driving while calling situation.
23-JUL-2009
Fisherman, Gloucester, Massachusetts, 2009
This fisherman navigates Gloucester harbor by rowboat, throwing his whole body into his work. Many of Gloucester’s fishermen came to the US from Sicily, accounting for the Italian names and the frequent use of both Italian and American flag decorations on the boats.
29-JUL-2009
Courier, New York City, New York, 2009
I followed the course of this FedEx courier as he pushed a bin full of deliveries up the slope of Murray Hill in midtown Manhattan. As he reached the crest of the hill at Park Avenue and 34th Street, I made this image of him, using a fairly wide aperture and a long telephoto lens. I was able to focus selectively on him, using the crowds around him as softly focused context. The purple in his gloves and uniform also help distinguish him from others. The flow of such couriers from building to building are an indication of the pace and intensity of business in the heart of New York City.