In The Station

This work was photographed over two days in Philadelphia in January of 1978 in the spacious environs of Penn Center, sometimes called 30th Street Station, an enormous classical structure overlooking the Schuylkill River as it meanders past the historic city. Although this particular day was frigidly cold, the sun's energy was visually ntensified by a recent accumulation of snow.

Inside was relatively dark except for powerful streams of brilliant light slicing into the cavernous room through large panels of frosted glass rising 15 or 20 feet beside the waiting room benches. The difference between the deep, recessed shadows and the strong directional light was very exciting for a young photographer like myself.

At first I photographed cautiously; from behind trash cans, with the camera on my knee or placed on the bench to be as inconspicuous as possible. At times I held it above my head to capture passengers behind me. After a while I became less inhibited and was in the end climbing on the radiators for alternate views.

What strikes me the most about these images is the solitude, the way each individual occupies their own space in the waiting room, their own piece of bench in a world unique and private unto themselves.