The Men That Build America

Posted by Laurie (New Jersey, United States) on 11 September 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

This is probably my favorite photo in this series on Jersey City. I walked past these three men, construction workers, on the street while they were waiting for their ride after a long day working. The man standing called out to me "why don't you take a picture of the men that build America?" Of course how could I not? The men and women who build this country are the backbone, the very soul of us. These 3 guys were very proud and very pleasant to chat with. I thank them so much for allowing me the honor of taking their photo. I never did catch their names.

I had my fisheye lens on the camera and I warned them that it might look a little strange, but I was pleased with the powerful perspective it gave this photo.

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9.11.01 It's been 7 years.
Never Forget

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Comments (31)

MontereyJohn from Salinas, California, United States

15mm? Are you shooting full frame? This is REALLY good.

Tomorrow in 9/11. no, I'll never forget. Nephew Shawn is leaving for "over there" the first of next month, they got moved up. Nope, night likely to forget.

11 Sep 2008 5:20am

@MontereyJohn: Thanks. Not yet...but soon I hope. I got my sights set on a D700. This is actually a 10.5 mm.

My thoughts, prayers, and deepest gratitude are with your nephew.

For what it's worth I've heard that deployments are now being shortened to 12 months from 15. I know it's still a long time but it's better than 15.

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States

i am in full agreement with you -- this shot ROCKS! wow! just lovely and marvelously done! it indeed packs a wonderful punch! bravo!! lovely b/w treatment too!

11 Sep 2008 5:21am

@dj.tigersprout: Thanks.

Craig from Vacaville, California, United States

A fine people shot!!!

11 Sep 2008 10:28am

@Craig: Thanks.

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

A very sympatheic shot, very relaxed people. Love it!

11 Sep 2008 11:52am

@MadScientist: Thanks. I imagine they were looking forward to kicking back with a cold beer.

Betsy Barron from Glenmoore, United States

This is an all-telling street portrait. The way they gave you a shout, being so proud of what they do.. great image, Laurie.

11 Sep 2008 12:45pm

@Betsy Barron: Thanks. It was a moment I could not possibly pass up.

PhotoSam from London, United Kingdom

excellent street shot!... and once again, the distortion works...

11 Sep 2008 1:02pm

@PhotoSam: Thanks.

rem_la from Villiers, France

joli portrait !

11 Sep 2008 1:26pm

@rem_la: Thanks.

Rebel Streetshooter from New York City, United States

A candid and simple "slice of life". Well done image and presentation.

11 Sep 2008 1:41pm

@Rebel Streetshooter: Thanks.

Jennifer Hatcher from Alpharetta, United States

What an absolutely great photo, love the fisheye effect, and what a great story.
Thanks for sharing Laurie

11 Sep 2008 2:00pm

@Jennifer Hatcher: Thanks.

Luis Rodrigues from Lisbon, Portugal

Stunning perspective..a great catch!

11 Sep 2008 3:28pm

@Luis Rodrigues: Thanks.

paulski from Muncie, IN, United States

well, congrats back to ya (on 250). great image, too. i would love to have a fisheye/wide angle; this is such a fun, expressive shot. superb!

11 Sep 2008 3:30pm

@paulski: Thanks.

alex centrella from California, United States

great shot and angle of view.

11 Sep 2008 3:31pm

@alex centrella: Thanks.

Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada

It is a lucky accident that you had that 15mm on the camera. It gave it the strength and took the shot out of the ordinary.

11 Sep 2008 4:53pm

@Michael Rawluk: Thanks. I was a little worried because I had only just gotten it the day before and I was not confident about my ability to effectively use it for portraits.

Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa

Great shot, like the effect!

11 Sep 2008 7:08pm

@Ina: Thanks.

dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa

I really like this one, and especially the commentary. And I completly agree with your "never forget" comment on 911. I think, though, that one should also "never forget" that buliding America, or anything for that matter, is a combination of the people that dream and design the work, and the people, like these folk, that then to the hard work putting it all together. It's a joint effort.

11 Sep 2008 7:51pm

@dobbino: Thanks...I agree, however, there was a time when the dreamers, designers, and engineers, were also the builders; the pioneers that laid the foundation, even clearing their own land and cutting their own lumber, living every moment from the land. That is the spirit that actually built this country and that is the heart and soul to which I am referring to in this post. In it's infancy this nation was not forged with engineers and architects with fancy degrees. There were no permits or blueprints on file at the town hall, no contractors or fancy real estate developers. Just Pilgrims and pioneers that had to use what was here to build their communities from scratch. That is the heart and soul that built this country, and it is that spirit which will endure.

Jasp from Plymouth, United Kingdom

Fisheye and construction seem to go together somehow. It makes a great portrait.. the framing with the standing man under the curved traffic light ...the B&W mode...great stuff.

11 Sep 2008 7:57pm

@Jasp: Thanks.

Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom

cracking shot, very good work with the fish eye

11 Sep 2008 8:18pm

@Alun Lambert: Thanks.

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Really Cool...your techniques constantly amaze me.

11 Sep 2008 10:45pm

@Ana Lúcia: Thanks.

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

This is simply amazing photography, I love the crisp b&W...... nice !

11 Sep 2008 11:07pm

@Observing: Thanks.

Anita from West Nottingham, United States

The fisheye lens worked well for this photo--the buildings and street light are wrapping themselves around the 3 men.
I understand that people with trade skills will be employable even when many others loose their jobs to other countries. I am encouraged by the construction of a new technical highschool/college in my area of southeast Pennsylvania, USA, as it offers more students the option of learning a trade that will serve them well in the future.

12 Sep 2008 12:36am

@Anita: Thanks. With global competition becoming such a reality in so many fields largely because of the high tech world that we live in, it is good to know that there are good paying high skill jobs out there to be had. We've had a Vocational Technical High School both part and full time in our county for as long as I can remember. It has expanded to include many fields.

Nina from Hamburg, Germany

Really a great image...I like this photo in b/w as well as the perspective and the clarity which are simply fantastic here, Laurie!

12 Sep 2008 1:44am

@Nina: Thanks.

Daryl from Amagasaki, Japan

That's a very cool image, congrats!

12 Sep 2008 3:50am

@Daryl: Thanks.

Tse Min from Melbourne, Australia

i like the fish eye view. gives it the wow factor.

12 Sep 2008 5:23am

@Tse Min: Thanks.

Jason Kravitz from Brussels, Belgium

this is a great image - fisheye was a good choice and you really show the character of these guys
I like the title too

12 Sep 2008 10:02am

@Jason Kravitz: Thanks.

Rags from Plano, United States

This image is a winner. You have turned what could easily be an ordinary image into an eye catching one. The lens as well as the buildings in the background makes the image really appealing.

12 Sep 2008 4:25pm

@Rags: Thanks.

Jose Antonio from Barcelona, Spain

Su aspecto es de gente muy noble y grandes trabajadores. La toma es potente, y el b/n ayuda a transmitir el mensaje de la foto, las personas y los edificios. La sonrisa abierta de los personajes es todo un lujo. Cuanto mas la miro mas me gusta. Enhorabuena!!.

12 Sep 2008 5:40pm

@Jose Antonio: Thanks.

Zing from Hamilton, New Zealand

Great angle, nice bw photo!

12 Sep 2008 7:00pm

@Zing: Thanks.

danthro from Suburbia, United States

Excellent Photo!! the fishy eye makes the composition even more interesting, but love the expressions on the guys' faces. they look like nice, friendly people -- who clearly make a very important contribution

13 Sep 2008 10:20pm

@danthro: Thanks.

Ron from Saint Louis, United States

I love this photo ... there is such a tremendous sense of character in the broad smiles of these three men ... they truly are proud to be "the men that build America" and deservedly so. The fisheye is great, here, it just makes these guys seem larger than life ... so cool!

15 Sep 2008 12:57am

@Ron: Thanks.