Close-up of the number 32 on a trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland

Close-up of the number 32 on a trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland

Close-up of the number 32 on a trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland

Close-up of the number 32 on a trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland

This set of photographs was motivated by the interesting shapes and contrasting colors of the number 32 on a trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland. This, of course, is the same trolley car that was the subject of the rusty trolley, trolley wheel, and suspension posts. The first photograph in this set captures the number 32 in its most abstract form; each successive photograph becomes less abstract and reveals the identity of and some degree of context for the number.

Paint peels from the rusty chassis of a trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland.

Paint peels from the rusty chassis of a trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland.

Paint peels from the rusty chassis of a trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland.

This trolley car’s rusty chassis and peeling paint reflect its age and exposure to the elements. Besides providing great texture for photographing, the rust and peeling paint reveal what is no longer visible as well: the innumerable stories of its riders. Who were they, and where were they going? To work; to visit a loved one; to school. Maybe some simply got on to enjoy the ride and the sound of its steel wheels on the rails.

Extreme close-up shot of a trolley wheel in Glen Echo Park, Maryland

Close-up shot of a trolley wheel in Glen Echo Park, Maryland

These two photos were taken after the I took the photos of the rusty suspension parts of the trolley car. I was drawn to the hub of trolley wheel, which was nicely textured by the rust and had bolts resembling eyes.

Rusty suspension parts on a street trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland

Close-up of a rusty shock on a street trolley car in Glen Echo Park, Maryland

Just behind one of small art gallery in Glen Echo Park is an antique street trolley car that sits on a set of rails. No one is allowed to sit in the car, of course, but there’s nothing to stop you from getting as close as possible or even touch the car. The texture of the rusty suspension parts pulled me low to the ground and partially underneath the trolley car. After fifteen minutes of shooting, I had finished my last roll of film; and my knees were telling me that it was time to stand up.

The front of an antique blue car parked on the streets of Capitol Hill

The rear of an antique blue car parked on the streets of Capitol Hill

Since I’d made plans to meet some friends at the Folger Shakespeare Library one Saturday morning, I decided to get to Capitol Hill early to take a few photographs to finish off a roll of slide film. After walking around for thirty minutes, I came across this antique car parked on the street. I’m sure that if I reviewed all of the slides, I’d find one with the actual brand of the car visible.

I suppose knowing the brand isn’t that important, but what I remember most is that there was a pothole filled with water about three feet from me. As a result, muddy water would splash on me every time a car would drive by. When I got to the Folger Library, everyone wondered why I was covered in brown water spots.

A close-up of a riverboat's paddle wheel in the Fells Point neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland

A riverboat is docked in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.

One of the most prominent features of Fells Point is the riverboat that sits in the dock. Shortly after photographing the rope that moored the riverboat to the dock, I was drawn to the paddle wheel and decided to make its vivid colors, angles, shapes, and lines the focal point of these photographs.