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A Day in the Heart of the CTA Station
This gallery invites you into a day at Wilson Station, offering a glimpse into the vibrant tapestry of commuters' daily lives as observed through my lens.
This is a Wilson metro station, located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood at 4620 North Broadway. According to the Governors Advisory Panel report, published in 2012, Wilson is “one of the busiest stations in the CTA system,” serving both Red and Purple line commuters.
At 1:38 on Monday afternoon, Chris was waiting for the 95th Dan Ryan train that will take him to downtown Chicago. He said he works at a hotel.
This is a moment when Chris turned his head to observe the upcoming CTA train leading to Howard station. That is not the train he is taking but the 95th Dan Ryan train arrived 3 minutes later.
The train going in both directions just had left but the station kept welcoming more people.
Darlene, with her fresh and vibrant blue braids from a recent salon visit, observed tenacious pigeons at CTA stations, undeterred by anti-bird spikes, as they curiously explored the cracks of a blue roof.
This is the moment Darlene noticed my camera. Her body language immediately changed from being relaxed to tense. Yet she still smiled.
While waiting for the train, Andree was listening to soul music. Soul music, known for its combination of blues and gospel, became popular in the 1950s. She said music helps her remain centered in the present.
Andree casually styled her hair while observing commuters boarding the train headed to Howard station, opposite her direction.
A theatre major at Loyola University, this young woman, much like fellow commuters, found solace in the world of music as she awaited her train.
The medium shot zooms in on intricate details of her ensemble, highlighting silver-like earrings and a ring necklace, while her meticulously applied makeup reflects the dedication and time she invested in front of the mirror.
This marks the moment when a young man approached her, initiating a conversation sparked by curiosity. His inquiry revolved around whether she had a background in modeling.
The young woman, alerted by a passerby that I was photographing her, turned towards me with a warm smile. In our ensuing conversation, she shared that her best friend is a photographer, and she frequently models for her friend's projects.
In a shared moment of laughter, this young woman enjoyed a joke from a fellow commuter, and as I departed, they exchanged numbers.
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