Book Description
Two gifted photographers have documented every aspect of this extraordinary urban subculture, complete with 239 full-color photographs.
Customer Reviews:
E.S.T........2007-09-21
I grew up on the south side of Chicago during the 80s and had many friends who were "taggers" and got up every chance they got. They had spray-cans, hollowed-out deodorant sticks somehow replaced with ink, fat markers, Griffin, and who knows what else. Though I myself wasnt a graffiti artist or writer or tagger, this book is a great ride down memory lane for those of us who grew up on the streets. For those of us of a certain age, this book, "Subway Art", along with movies like Breakin' I AND II, Beat Street, original hip-hop and old school house music were all of a specific time and place. This book will make you want to break out the Pumas with the fat laces, bring out the tile and start back-spinnin', but it is also one of the the earliest, most definitive and detailed books on graffiti ever.
BRONX GRAFFITI WRITERS UNITED AGAIN !!!.......2007-07-03
Wow, this book just took me back to my days in the Bronx and the 2 line.
All the greats are in this one..Doing those T and B's and hitting the yards, and dodging the DT's Now those were the great days of the BRONX.
Long live
MIKE170..TAV 1..ALE..AJAX..SUPER SEX..BLADE..COMET..FUZZ..POPEYE..
MIKE 170....
This is what got me back into graff.......2006-12-06
I started doing graff back in the late 90's; I was 14 at the time and to be honest with you; like all great writers we were all toy's at one time but has time went by and we got better with our skills, we all have read this book at one time or another. On with the book review.
This book is just simply AMAZING...you have old school pieces from the Godfather of Graffiti: SEEN, BLADE (which he has painted 5,000 trains during the golden age of the MTA in NYC; since I saw the graffiti scene on the trains at the tender age of six and seven in NYC, I was simply amazed at that age on how people could sneak in at night and do this with spray-paint but I digress), LADY PINK, and the list goes on. If your just starting out in graffit, this is a great book on to connect letters, bubble letter's, block's, and some old school color schemes, though I would not call it the Bible of Graffiti, it is pretty darn close to it. Check it out.
THIS BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE FOR A WHILE BUT NOW I'M 34.......2006-07-01
Subway Art. What can I say? This, Style Wars, Beat Street, Break Dance... they all had their influence on me (& a whole generation) back in the day.
Hip Hop isn't what it used to be, though. Most of what we hear these days is mixed up with R'n'B, commercialised, repackaged and shipped for your dissatisfaction. If you ask me... when it comes to Hip Hop, stick with the old school.
I was brought up in Melbourne, Australia, and did quite a bit of graffiti there during the 1980s. Melbourne had plenty of weird & wonderful characters who were into graff back then. The vast majority have gone their separate ways. But there's always the rare psycho who's still bombing (I'm not referring to the younger generation - but to old school dudes who are still around). There's also those who got into graphic art and made a career for themselves out of graff.
I recommend checking out some of the original Vaughn Bode cartoons for yourself through a simple Google search.
Additional to this, I recommend Getting Up: Subway Graffitti in New York" by Craig Castleman. It has some pictures of trains and so on, but it is more for the reader. A copy was stolen from a local library near me - go figure.
And if you're ever in NYC... Check out the Hall of Fame. It's located on the corner of 106th Street and Park Avenue.
THE word on old school graff........2005-10-05
This classic book, along with "Broken Windows: Graffiti NYC" is all you need to know about NYC graff. Anyone up needs both of these books. Knowledge is king!
Book Description
"An exceptional history . . . Derrick's well-written narrative is packed with thoroughly researched facts and reasoning."
—Library Journal
"Derrick's book goes more into the details of the behind the scenes actions that surrounded the construction of the largest public transportation system ever."
—Bronx Times
"...a valuable case study in the micropolitics of one of the Progressive era's signature projects."
—The Wall Street Journal
"[An] excellent addition to the literature of the city's planning, development and economics."
—Publishers Weekly
"Illuminating . . . Yes, the city built the subway (with a lot of help from the private sector), but more important, the subway built the city, which remains dependent on its intricate structure."
—New York magazine
"As the most detailed and thorough account available of the dual system, Derrick's book has improved out understanding of rapid transit politics and urban planning."
—The Journal of American History, June 2002
In 1910, New York City was bursting at the seams as more and more people crowded into a limited supply of housing in the tenement districts of Manhattan and the older areas of Brooklyn. With no outlet for its exploding population, and the burgeoning social problems created by the overwhelming congestion, New York faced a serious crisis which city and state leaders addressed with dramatic measures. In March 1913, public officials and officers of the two existing rapid transit networks shook hands to seal a deal for a greatly expanded subway system which would more than double the size of the two existing transit networks.
At the time the largest and most expensive single municipal project ever attempted, the Dual System of Rapid Transit set the pattern of growth in New York City for decades to come, helped provide millions of families a better quality of life, and, in the words of Manhattan borough president George McAneny (1910-1913), "proved the city's physical salvation." It stands as that rare success story, an enormously complicated project undertaken against great odds which proved successful beyond all measure.
Published in conjunction with the History of the City of New York Project.
Customer Reviews:
A political-financial history of the "Dual Contracts".......2001-08-24
Peter Derrick's book covers the "Dual Contracts" era of subway construction in New York, when numerous lines were built between 1910 and 1931 by the IRT and the BRT /BMT. Derrick focuses on the interactions between executives of the then-existing subway companies and municipal politicians. Only a few paragraphs cover the "Independent" subway system, which was built after 1931.
Endnotes, bibliography, etc., comprise 155 pages of this book, or nearly a third of its pages. There are eight maps and 24 period photographs. There is nothing in this book about station design, track layouts, operating procedures, or rolling stock. In fact, the book ends when construction began. It was a worthy endeavor of historical research to document the political deal-making of this period, but some readers may be disappointed that the author's interest was solely in the back-room political gamesmanship that preceded construction
New York City's Pivotal Moment.......2001-04-15
No other historian has identified so important a piece of NYC's history on which so little is known, and written so lucidly about it. This is not just enjoyable history. You cannot understand New York City today without reading Derrick's book.
The greatest city of the modern era had its pivotal moment early in the 20th century with the decision in 1913 to double the size of its subway system: the largest public-works expenditure in the Western Hemisphere to that date. This decision, a dozen years and more in the making and led by Manhattan Borough President George McAneny, was propelled by the inability to resolve the problems of disease, crime, prosititution, overpopulation and poverty that overwhelmed Manhattan's Lower East Side, spilling into more affluent neighborhoods throughout the city. Getting employees out of impoverishment and to their jobs was now an impediment to development and modernization. The vision that turned farm lands into an urban center was a leap into the unknown and Derrick meticulously details this exciting chapter in NYC's history, a chapter that when fully understood, reveals how issues get resolved and great accomplishments propelled. In comparison, the highway system of the Robert Moses era was but an anxilary event.
Book Description
Along the Way is a tour through New York's underground museum of contemporary art, works commissioned by MTA Arts for Transit for the subway system. Vivid murals by Roy Lichtenstein and Romare Bearden convey the energy of Times Square while Robert Wilson's Coney Island Baby captures the festive spirit of the city's playland. Currently underway are a photographic installation by Mike and Doug Starn at the new Fulton Street Transit Center and an intricate skylight by James Carpenter at the South Ferry complex.
Initiated in 1985, this collection of site-specific public art now encompasses more than 150 pieces in mosaic, terra-cotta, bronze, faceted glass, and mixed media. The program takes its cue from the original mandate that the subways be "designed, constructed, and maintained with a view to the beauty of their appearance, as well as to their efficiency." Arts for Transit is committed to the preservation and restoration of the original ornament of the system and to commissioning new works that will exemplify the principles of public art, relating directly to the places in which they are installed and the community around them.
Introduction by noted actor Stanley Tucci, who has been riding the New York City subways for the past thirty-five years.
Customer Reviews:
Suway Art Guide.......2007-01-09
A much desired book, this "manual" is a colorful, handsome guide to the art in New York's subway system as well as train service into the city from various geographical locations. Copy is an excellent introduction to the artists who created the art, and photos give a teasing glimpse of the art itself. Value may have been elevated with more photos, but that is a minor carp!
Average customer rating:
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Transitwise (NYC) (Streetwise)
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Frommer's New York City 2007 (Frommer's Complete)
ASIN: 0935039198 |
Book Description
TRANSITWISE
Revised yearly, TRANSITWISE is the best-selling map of the NEW YORK METROPOLITAN COMMUTER RAIL ROUTES, with coverage from Eastchester to Coney Island. Localities covered are Long Island Railroads, New York City Subways, Metro North Trains, New Jersey Transit, and Path Trains & AMTRAK. Laminated for durability, accordion folded to fit in your pocket or purse, TRANSITWISE gives you the NEW YORK METROPOLITAN COMMUTER RAIL ROUTES in a clear, concise, and convenient format.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful.......2007-01-21
Purchased for my daughter prior to her attending college in NYC. She says this has been very helpful in navigating her way around
Book Description
A collaborative labor of love by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York Transit Museum, Gene Sansone's Evolution of New York City Subways: An Illustrated History of New York City's Transit Cars, 1867-1997 -- now available from the Johns Hopkins University Press with a new foreword by Clifton Hood -- offers an extensive array of photographs, line drawings, and stories about the city's most treasured railcars. Subway buffs, railfans, students of New York City history, and specialists in the history of technology will appreciate this authoritative account. MTA New York City Transit and Sansone provide a record of the rolling stock that helped make New York City one of the great cities of the world.
Customer Reviews:
NYC Subway Fan's Delight!!!.......2003-04-03
I'm a native New Yorker, born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, so the NYC subway system means a great deal to me. I'm also a railfan, so my interests in the inner workings of the IND, BMT, and IRT run very deep as well. That's why I can say that Evolution of New York City Subways truly is a subway fan's delight. Gene Sansone has written an incredibly fact-filled, engaging chronicle of the rolling stock of the MTA and its predecessors, as only an insider can. The comprehensive text is accompanied by excellent interior and exterior photos, plus detailed diagrams and specifications. I predict that this book will soon become the reference standard on this subject. I sincerely urge all subway fans to get a copy immediately: they won't be able to put it down!
Book Description
A newly discovered cache of magnificent historical photographs.
There have been, and will be, other books on the New York City subway system, but none have had access to the wonderful photographic prints from the collections of the New York Transit Museum that are presented in this volume. Made from 8 x 10-inch glass negatives after the turn of the last century, and reproduced here in glorious duotone, over 175 images show the incredible construction techniques and details involved in creating the underground marvel we enjoy today. From "cut and cover" and deep tunneling to sinking under-river tubes and disastrous cave-ins, these photographs are nothing short of awe-inspiring. The book is accompanied by an engaging, illustrated history of the subway system. Published in honor of the New York City subway's centennial, A City Beneath Us will fascinate anyone who's ever been amazed by the gigantic undertaking that is New York City transportation. 175 duotone and 40 black-and-white photographs.
Customer Reviews:
I never knew..........2007-06-25
This is a fresh and eye-opening narrative of the history of the subway --and the history of the city, too. It's rich in unforgettable anecdotes of forgotten heroes, forgotten initiatives (successes and disasters), and ingenious developers. The photographs are a marvel. It's one of my favorite books.
Saved by the photos.......2006-06-25
The City Beneath Us is a superb collection of photos weighed down by a less-than-stellar text. The text reads like it was assembled by a committee, with each committee member writing a chapter. A more thorough editing could have smoothed the transitions and given the book a more unified feel. Though, the contributing writers are unified in one thing -- they are sure of who the New York subway's enemies were throughout the years. This strident finger-pointing also detracts. But then there are the pictures. Nearly all is forgiven in the face of these wonderful images. If you get geeked by trains or things underground, this is a great, if flawed, book.
No Maps!.......2004-12-27
The book presents an illustrated history of the NY subway in the first 81 pages with the remainder of the 160+ pages devoted to historic photographs. Since it was published by the NY Transit Museum I had high hopes. After reading the book, I felt that the history narrative was somewhat condensed being that 100 years were covered in 81 pages including photos. I was disappointed that there is not a single map or line drawing of the NYC transit system in the entire book! (I still find this hard to believe.) Having lived in NYC for 25 years I am familiar with the geography and layout of the subway system. But without a map, readers who are unfamiliar with the layout will be totally lost. How is one supposed to know the how the BRT, IRT and IND lines relate to each other geographically without a map? I had hoped that the book would illustrate how the subway expanded over time using maps and diagrams which it did not. I also expected more engineering drawings or diagrams. If you are looking for some great photos of building the subway then this book has hundreds of excellent pictures. If you are looking for a more detailed explanation of the history to include maps of how the subway expanded over the first 40 years then look for another book. I gave this book 4 stars because of the excellent photographs.
Not as impressed as I thought I'd be.......2004-12-01
I had high hopes for this book, after several delays and all the hype. But I was somewhat disappointed by the very poor quality of materials (especially the dustjacket), despite it being printed in Italy. The photos are worth 5 stars, but I expected more of them and a more coherent presentation. There are plenty of good histories of the NYC Subway--this book was supposed to be a treasure trove of photos.
I also think this book would have been more impressive if it were a larger format.
Amazon.com
Unlikely as it may seem, the 100th anniversary of the New York City subway system was the impetus for a handsome book, Subway Style: 100 Years of Architecture & Design in the New York City Subway. Produced by the New York Transit Museum, this abundantly illustrated design history traces the origins and development of subway cars and stations, including ceramic and metalwork detailing, ticket booths, signage, route maps and advertising. Treated in a merely dutiful way, this material would probably be of interest only to subway buffs. But Subway Style boasts high-quality photographs, an inviting design, and a succinct and wryly amusing text that relates subway developments to other cultural happenings and isn't too proud to explain specialized terms. It's the kind of book that makes the evolution of turnstiles sound fascinating. With a contractual mandate to instill "beauty" into "a great public work," the IRT--the first of three subway lines--originally featured elaborate Beaux Arts ceramic detailing displaying historical scenes or symbolizing local landmarks. Gracious bronze grilles served as ticket windows, and station names were painstakingly spelled out in glass mosaic tiles. Succeeding generations morphed these features into increasingly streamlined versions utilizing the latest technology and design trends. Wood station seats gave way to cast terrazzo perches cantilevered from the wall, then to molded fiberglass, polyurethane and finally back to wood. Usable maps were a long time in coming. In 1958, 18 years after the three lines were united, the Transit Authority finally published a single guide showing the entire system. Massimo Vignelli--whose bold, color-keyed station signage was a major innovation--later produced an abstract, all but useless map that was, as the book says, "emblematic of New York's 1970s retreat from urban life." The chapter on subway ads is (naturally) the most fun, ranging from Amelia Opdyke "Oppy" Jones' expressive cartoon characters--caught in the act of dropping gum wrappers or propping their feet on the seats--to head shots of women hoping to be voted "Miss Subways." —Cathy Curtis
Book Description
October 2004 marks the 100th anniversary of the largest underground transit network in the world. Love it or hate it, if you're a New Yorker, you can't live without it: 3.5 million people ride the rails every day. The subway is as much a symbol of New York City as Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. Commemorating its centennial, this official publication presents an illustrated history of the architecture and design of the entire complex, from the interiors of the trains and the mosaic signage at the stations to the evolution of the token and the intricacy of the intertwined, rainbow-colored lines on the free, foldout map.
Produced with the New York City Transit Museum, Subway Style documents the aesthetic experience of the system through more than 250 exclusive pictures. The book includes newly commissioned color photographs of historic and contemporary station ornamentation as well as imagery from the Museum's archives. The images span the full century, from the system's inception in the early 1900s up to and including architectural renderings for the still-to-be-built Second Avenue line. AUTHOR BIO: The NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM is one of only a handful of museums in the world dedicated to urban public transportation. The Museum's collections of objects, documents, photographs, films, and historic rolling stock illustrate the story of mass transit's critical role in the region's economic and residential development since the beginning of the 20th century. The Transit Museum's main facility is located in a decommissioned 1936 subway station in Brooklyn Heights, an ideal setting for the Museum's 20 vintage subway and elevated cars, and wide-ranging educational programs for children and adults. A gallery annex in Grand Central Terminal presents changing exhibits relevant to the millions of commuters who use mass transit every day.
Photographer Andrew Garn has exhibited his work in galleries around New York City and across the country. His photographs are also held in numerous museum and private collections.
Customer Reviews:
A beautiful book.......2007-05-19
This book is a beautiful catalog of the visuals associated with the New York City subway system. I have seen books with pictures of the cars, but no other book shows the stations, the history of the transit maps, subway advertisements, even the various designs of tokens that have been used. It's a great job and I'm happy to give it a 5-star rating!
if you appreciate art, architecture, urban history then this is for you.......2007-02-21
I've always appreciated the unique style and details of the NYC subway system. And being a history affecionado as well, this book satisfied my curiosity. A nice blend of historical description, nice collection of photos. I think ultimately it's more on the photo side, but there are succinct captions for each of them.
This is not really a thorough history book but I would describe more as a jumping point should you decide it's something you want to know more about.
NEW YORKS UNDERGROUND JEWEL.......2006-10-26
Finally a book that appreciates New York's iconic subway system..yeah London has the clean and modern "Tube" and Paris has it's efficient "Metro", but the most famous or infamous and most recognizable is the NYC "Subway". The images in this book are fantastic and the text kept me interested all the way to the last word. I really came away with an appreciation for the history of this great transportantion system and it's surprising beauty..who knew? Highly recommended.
Best book published for centennary.......2005-04-13
After having seen too many books narrating the history, especially the first years, of the NYC Subway, this book is quite a surprise. Stunning photographs, with interesting details!
A few errors.......2005-01-02
Interesting - The book is copyright 2004 by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The legal name for the parent agency is Metropolitan TRANSPORTATION Authority. So is this book legal?
Book Description
Arranged as a travelogue, this funny and insightful book takes us deep inside the exotic, subterranean land that is the New York subway, revealing: -Its inhabitants: The Tango Man; the traveling magician; and Mayor Bloomberg -Its wildlife: The subway-riding pigeons of Far Rockaway; and the famous Fulton Street cat -Its odd customs: Door blocking; leg spreading; pole hugging; and token sucking -Its government: The sheriff of Grand Central; the water patrol; and the motorman who took the last No. 1 train beneath the World Trade Center -Tips for the traveler: How to get a seat; how to get a date; and the fine art of 'pre-walking'. Subwayland also includes an introduction by the author explain-ing the idea behind the 'Tunnel Vision' column and the subway's unique place in the life of New York City. He also provides an inside look at the often strange job of reporting and writing the column.
Customer Reviews:
when the mta shuts down, new york city shuts down..........2006-01-26
new yorkers learned first hand how vital the iron horses are to the city when the mta went on strike for three days last year. i have never taken the work the subway operators do for granted. coming from a small town, i think it's cool to jump on the train at any time and go anywhere. of all the transportation systems i have ridden, MBTA, Chicago Transit Authority, San Francisco MUNI, Paris Metro, London Underground, etc, mta transit is hands down the best...randall kennedy's essays cover the exploits of the subway workers, the people who ride the trains and the underground characters who bring life to the subway. kennedy, a new york times writer, also gives you a history of the new york city subway, which is also quite cool...it was interesting to discover that the g train is the only train that doesn't go into manhattan or that the travel time on the a train can take over an hour, it being the longest route in the subway system, going from queens to manhattan or that the mayor rides the iron horse once a week...this book is cool...
A little flavor of the Big Apple.......2005-09-11
I've traveled a bit but I've never spent any time in NYC. I am going to spend a week in the city in October and besides some good tour books I wanted to read something that made me feel like I lived in the city. This book was a nice journey. The essays are well written and amusing but also help explain, for those of us who live elsewhere some of the humanity and heart of the city and why people love to live there...
A great compilation of NYC facts, personalities and stories.......2005-08-10
For years, Randy Kennedy's columns were the most enjoyable part of the NY times. Their combination of humor, sociology, and history made them a great window on life in NYC.
This compilation of his best columns does not disappoint - it has the token suckers,the subway performers, the pigeons that ride the train and the dreaded leg-spreaders. Every New Yorker will thoroughly enjoy this book. Even if you don't live in the city, you'll find these vignettes of the great subway melting pot enjoyable.
As above, so below..........2004-10-18
"Subwayland", collated from the New York Times' column "Tunnel Vision" by Randy Kennedy over a period of several years, immediately brings to mind the word - MICROCOSM. As an itinerant contract programmer, I am currently a street-walking New Yorker - which to many would be a contradiction in terms, but here I am. So, I was fascinated and really thrilled to learn more about this world that exists a few levels below the streets that I see every weekday.
The articles give a good perspective on how the subways enforce brotherhood and/or tolerance amongst New Yorkers, who represent a vast diversity of ethnic and monetary backgrounds. This is seen as central in building a New York state of mind, and contributes significantly to the "melting pot" simile that is almost synonymous with NYC.
The book glorifies the subway as a world unto itself. A world that has developed its own cadences, sleep patterns, behaviours, characters, and identity. I read that pigeons ride the subway for food, and get off at the next stop. I was adviced that the E train is the best for spending a homeless night of sleep, because it rides entirely underground, which makes it very desirable in winter.
I learnt that hardcore subway buffs are called "foamers" because they tend to foam at their mouths (!);
that the lettered lines (E,A,G..) and the numbered lines (6,7..) actually descend from two different transit systems;
about crimes like "token sucking" that are unique to the subway;
about subway stations that double as schools;
about monster vacuum-trains that suck muck off the tracks at the rate of 72,000 cfm and sound like the "end of the world";
about hi-sci-fi "train geometry" cars that run at night and ensure that the 370-odd miles of subway are fit for another day's pounding;
about the fact that the hydraulics department matter-of-factly pump thousands of gallons of seawater seeping into the tunnels everyday;
about using "racial profiling" for increasing your chances of getting a seat when jockeying into position near the most likely candidate to get off at the next station (e.g., Chinese person before Canal Street);
about the characters - both subway performers and transit personnel - that make the subway their home and livelihood;
and, about the behavioural adaptations "subwayland" engenders (e.g. - the "subway stare", the "leg spread" for marking territory, and so on.)
It is a quick read, humourous in spurts. The book's final chapter is "The day the trains stopped" , which refers to the special trials and challenges of September 11, when the subway station under the towers was among the many casualties of that day. I'm especially happy to have read this book just before the official centenary (Oct 27th 2004) of the subway, so that I can feel some history the next time I'm down there.
Fascinating piece of sociology and urban history.......2004-06-11
Kennedy's book, a collection of his NY Times columns was a fascinating read (although if you look closely on the cover, there are two discarded NY Times papers on the sidewalk--kudos to the Times for it's oh so subtle product placement). I do not get to read Mr. Kennedy's columns as I don't subscribe to the Times or read it online enough. However, I might well check out his column weekly from now on. The book is a delight. It is fascinating account of the hidden history of a city. I think New Yorkers or ex-New Yorkers will love this book the most, but even as someone who ridden the subways as tourist, I can revel in his prose and tales. It reminds a bit of Joe Gould. Fine writing and his love the people shines through.
Book Description
This New York City Subways Map includes all subway lines, subway stations, transfer stations, a comprehensive train schedule, connecting bus routes, and rush hour services. Travel directions to popular destinations are also included.
Customer Reviews:
It is what it is.......2007-08-14
This is a great detailed map of the subway system. It's large, easy to read and with details of subway stations, places of interest, etc. This is a good map for preplanning a trip and for the price, it's a bargain. However, it is a fold up map with all the problems of refolding it after you open it and not very durable where the paper is folded.
very helpful.......2007-01-21
Purchased for my daughter for her move to NYC for college. She keeps this in her purse and uses it frequently
Book Description
All over New York City, hidden behind unassuming historic facades, sits the gigantic machinery of the power stations that once moved the subways. For over a century, the 125,000-pound converters and related equipment of the substations remained largely unchanged, but in 1999 the last manually operated substation was shut down and since then they have been systematically dismantled and sold as scrap.
In 1997, author Christopher Payne was introduced to the substations by an official of the Metropolitan Transit Authority's Power Division. Since then, he has rushed to photograph, draw, and write the history of these amazing buildings and their machines before they are completely gone. With virtually unlimited access to the substations, he has developed an intimate bond with the buildings that most people know only in passing. His beautiful photographs and detailed drawings bring these lost treasures to life, while his illuminating text tells their fascinating story. Anyone interested in the art of industrial America or the New York subway will find this book a delight.
Customer Reviews:
New York's forgotten Substations.......2007-08-08
An excellent high quality work at a very reasonable price.
Well written interesting text, superb high quality photographs and professional architectural drawings. A great buy for anyone interested in the subject.
Amazon's rapid response to my order was also impressive. This is the first time I've ordered from Amazon. The book was shipped from stock and arrived just a few days after I placed my order. Excellent service.
Better than I could have imagined........2006-12-13
I'm not an architecture student, or an art fan. I just happen to have an obsession with infrastructure. This book was completely satisfying. It's filled with gorgeous pictures of off-limits places. That alone would have been just a tease, but the author's extensive research pays off for the reader. He fills the book with history and technical details. Worth every penny and then some.
Power book.......2006-10-09
Who would have thought that a collection of buildings containing basically the same thing would have produced such a fascinating book and who but Princeton would take a chance and publish it. It seems to fit right into their quirky line of Americana, which includes, for instance, a history of paint-by-numbers (ISBN 1568982828) a photo tour of the brothels of Nevada (ISBN 1568984189) or a collection of amateur QSL cards (156898281X).
Christopher Payne has done his best to record the contents of these buildings before they are gone forever. His efforts are perfect examples of what industrial archaeology photography should look like, well lit, straightforward and content rich images with fortunately no angled shots, no out-of-focus areas merging into darkness or meaningless close-ups. These photos really tell a story and being well printed (200dpi) on quality paper helps, too.
As well as the fifty-four main photos there are others taken by him and several historical ones in the essay describing the workings of the subway electrical supply (some of the technical drawings included in the essay could have been larger though) and like his photos Payne makes the world of rotary converters, transformers, bus boards and potheads come alive.
All in all a super little book and a good example of how a tiny part of industrial America can become fascinating with well-written words and elegant photography.
Balanced and Beautiful.......2006-06-25
Many photo history books suffer from an imbalance between the strength of the prose and the strength of the photographs. Christopher Payne's New York's Forgotten Substations does not. The writing is crisp, bringing you into the subject matter and explaining the basics of subway power and the history of these substations. The photos capture the magnificence of the substations in they heyday, and the seeming pathos of their abandonment. This is black and white photography at its best. Forgotten Substations is a feast for subway buffs, engineering geeks, and appreciators of industrial aesthetic alike.
A large audience will find a fascinating account.......2003-05-15
New York's Forgotten Substations: The Power Behind The Subway is hard to easily categorize this title, but any with an interest in New York history and culture will find this a fascinating topic - and worthy of a visit. The author was introduced to the substations by an official of the NYC Transit Author's Power Department; he photographed and wrote the history of these buildings, and his photos and drawings embellish a little-known side of New York history. A large audience will find a fascinating account here.
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