I have always been fascinated by the way people move through places. Having lived in various cities around the world, I know that people commute in unique ways, which adds to a place's character. Cities are different depending on the type of transport you choose.
In this series, I photographed all these images while living in Chicago. During this time, I spent a lot of time cycling in the city and sometimes on the “L”, the elevated train transport.
While riding, you are in the city. The sights, sounds, and smells breathe life into a place. Over time, you develop an intimate knowledge of the streets. You feel the city's heartbeat because you are its veins. Like being a red blood cell moving from wherever you are to wherever you need to be. And when you look around at everyone else, they are all the same.
Stepping into a train, the city remains outside. (Especially in Chicago, where trains are warm inside.) Most of the time, you are above the streets. You get a different perspective. It's a voyeuristic experience to look at people below and into the apartments as the train rides past. I got these brief glimpses of people and places, seeing figments of unfolding stories, not knowing what happened before and after that exact moment.
The train stops. The doors open. People standing at the door walk out. New faces walk in. Some find seats. The doors close, and the train moves. It’s eternal. With this rhythm going on, all that changes are the people you share your space with. Millions of people share these confined spaces and fleeting moments daily. It makes you feel like you are doing something significant. Instead, we all are just getting around.
