Tag Archives: Brooklyn

photography

Tracking the Light looks at The El.

2 Comments

Way back in the day, before third rail electrification was the rule, compact steam locomotives worked trains on New York’s elevated railways.

Most of the original Els are long gone, and many of today’s elevated structures spanning streets in The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens stem from the electrified era.

Nearly forgotten are the Manhattan Els, all of which were torn down decades ago.

Old postcards survive that show the way things were.

Fujifilm X-T1 digital photograph.
Fujifilm X-T1 digital photograph.
Fujifilm X-T1 digital photograph.
Fujifilm X-T1 digital photograph.

In June, I made these photographs of the elevated structure that survives above the streets at Broadway and Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn. I find it astounding that when Els were more common, they were decried as ‘ugly.’ Simply bizarre.

Under_the_el_at_Marcy_Ave_red_hair_DSCF1398

Turnstile_at_Marcy_Ave_DSCF1389
When I was a kid these turnstiles scared me. I though for sure I’ll be diced to pieces. Fujifilm X-T1 digital photograph.

Tracks_at_Hewes_Street_DSCF1476

M_train_and_J_R42_at_Marcy_w_Williamsburg_Bridge_DSCF1446

J_train_at_Marcy_Ave_DSCF1376NYCTA_maint_train_at_Marcy_Ave_on_el_distant_DSCF1374

Grafitti_truck_Under_the_el_at_Marcy_Ave_DSCF1403

Bus_Under_the_el_at_Marcy_Ave_DSCF1409

Tracking the Light posts new material every morning.

Please share Tracking the Light!

http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/

photography

Broadway Junction—Brooklyn, June 25, 2015.

Leave a comment

A confluence of New York City Subway routes above ground at Broadway Junction offered me myriad photographic opportunities.

Broadway_Junction_with_with_yards_DSCF1171

Trains above and below. At Broadway Junction the 'L-train' makes its appearance above ground. Confusingly the 'L-train' runs mostly underground, while the New York City Subway system is which runs the 'L' operates many elevated lines. Got that?
Trains above and below. At Broadway Junction the ‘L-train’ makes its appearance above ground. Confusingly the ‘L-train’ runs mostly underground, while the New York City Subway system, which runs the ‘L,’ operates many elevated lines (known as the El’). Got that? Oh yeah, and by the way, the Broadway at Broadway Junction, isn’t the same street with all the theaters. That other Broadway is in Manhattan.

After enduring long waits for trains at the Far Rockaway-end of the A-line, it was a pleasure to have trains rolling in all directions and at various levels at Broadway Junction.

Rather than merely change trains, my father, Jack May, Walter Zullig and I spent a while at this busy station making photographs.

An R32 works a J-train service.
An R32 works a J-train service.

R32_on_J-train_at_Broadway_Junction_trailing_with_Junction_DSCF1201

Broadway_Junction_train_and_tracks_w_crossover_DSCF1141

Looking west on the J-line at Broadway Junction.
Looking west on the J-line at Broadway Junction.
The 'L-Train' emerges from the depths.
The ‘L-Train’ emerges from the depths.
What could be more appropriate than an appearance of this train on Tracking the Light?
What could be more appropriate than an appearance of this train on Tracking the Light?

The highlight of our short visit was the passage of the inspection train, which seemed to be the physical manifestation of Tracking the Light!

Tomorrow at look at the R32s—cousins to the Zephyr!

 

Tracking the Light posts new material every morning.

Please share Tracking the Light!

http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/

Uncategorized

Brooklyn, New York—TRACKING THE LIGHT DAILY POST

2 Comments

November 1998.

It was a dull autumn day. My father and I were in New York City to visit a friend. We spent the afternoon wandering around on the subway system.

An L train Brooklyn, New York, November 1998. Exposed with a Nikon F3T with 24mm lens. (The route is L, not to be confused with the colloquial 'El' or Chicago's 'L', just for clarification).
An L train Brooklyn, New York, November 1998. Exposed with a Nikon F3T with 24mm lens. (The route is L, not to be confused with the colloquial ‘El’ or Chicago’s ‘L’, just for clarification).

I made this photo at East New York Junction where the Canarsie Line crosses the Broadway Line.

The sky was dark and swollen and the street lights were just coming on. To make the most of the lighting, I exposed this photo on black & white film with my Nikon F3T with an AI 24mm Nikkor lens.

I’ve always felt there was an apocalyptic aesthetic to this image.

Tracking the Light posts new material every morning.

Please share Tracking the Light!

http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/

 

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta