In his latest construction worker series, Stephen followed ironworkers, laborers, and carpenters building the new Disney headquarters in West Soho, New York. No matter the technologies employed to design and engineer such large buildings, the final erection still relies on the strength and flexibility of the human body. The work is grueling. But crews unite with a unique spirit. However, that spirit was ultimately tested when a beloved ironworker slipped through loose flooring, falling to his death three stories below. No one was at fault; it was a freak accident. But accidents like these often go unnoticed as developers and unions try to keep these stories out of the press.
Rarely able to see the sky, these workers live in the shadows of bridges, scaffolding, and overhanging steel. We don’t know who these men and women are or who will greet them when they reach home. All we know is their work and commute are part of a tedious routine. Heads dipped, moving on automatic, their lives so repetitive they have no real memory from one day to the next.
16” x 24” giclee prints framed to 23” x 31”
Subterranean commuters shuffle their way home via the Long Island Rail Road in Penn Station, New York.
Work sites that appear more like theatrical stages.
This shot was exhibited as a finalist in the 2017 Soho Photo Gallery National Competition, and was the inspiration for the series Work Patterns.
Iron Worker, 2017, RC Print, 16” x 24” framed to 23” x 31”
