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In this picture, my friend Lauren Janczewski is in the process of purchasing a ticket at the PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation) Speedline Station in Collingswood, New Jersey to board a train headed towards Lindenwold where she will transfer onto a bus that will bring her to Camden County College. This photo was taken on morning of December 2, 2013. The time is approximately 6:25 AM. Lauren customarily has a FREEDOM card, which is a prepaid credit card essentially for PATCO passengers that eliminates the hassle of paying for each ticket, but she accidentally left it at home.

In this picture, my friend Lauren Janczewski is in the process of purchasing a ticket at the PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation) Speedline Station in Collingswood, New Jersey to board a train headed towards Lindenwold where she will transfer onto a bus that will bring her to Camden County College. This photo was taken on the morning of December 2, 2013. The time is approximately 6:25 AM. Lauren customarily has a FREEDOM card, which is a prepaid credit card essentially for PATCO passengers that eliminates the hassle of paying for each ticket, but she accidentally left it at home. (Keanan Carter 12/2/13)

This photo essay encompasses the daily routine of my longtime friend, Lauren Janczewski, as she embarks on her journey riding the PATCO Speedline train from the Collingswood station to the Lindenwold station to transfer onto a New Jersey Transit bus en route to Camden County College. The topic relates to my “life as I know it” because I use the same means of transportation to get to school. Lauren and I congregate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Collingswood PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation) station’s lobby before venturing up the stairs to the platform where we board our train. Both Lauren and I are in similar situations in terms of not owning vehicles and the fact that regardless of not having our own car, we would most likely opt to use the Speedline to save money and conserve gas as it is very affordable, only costing $3.20 for a round trip to and from Lindenwold. And with the extremely close access to the Speedline station, living a block away from each other and only a few strides across the street to the station, the Speedline has become a predominant form of transportation for both of us not exclusively to get to school, but also for work in Camden and spur-of-the-moment trips to Philadelphia. The point that I am alluding to is essentially that the PATCO Speedline has become a part of our identity in a sense as we rely on it regularly and hopefully this compilation of shots of Lauren will present a good glimpse through our eyes on the tracks.

I viewed this ordinary occurrence of Lauren and I as a prime photography opportunity because for the both of us, riding the PATCO Speedline has become second nature. Yet, to many who have never climbed aboard a PATCO train or even heard of the Speedline before, riding a train through wooded areas like we do on the way to Lindenwold or gliding over the Delaware on the Ben Franklin Bridge with the Philadelphia skyline in perfect sight can create a fascinating experience in their minds. I grasped this topic as a chance to show a “behind the scenes” look almost to those who may have or never have ridden the PATCO Speedline. It is a simple concept; purchase a ticket, follow the directory map, wait to board the next incoming train towards Philadelphia (15th & 16th & Locust Street being the final stop across the bridge) and Lindenwold on the platform, and following the signs at each station to reach your destination with ease. But, the constant hassle of schedule changes and express trains in the morning are aspects that only a regular passenger can truly portray.

In a way, this photo essay can serve as an in-depth perspective of our lives (Lauren and I) on the morning of school days. Although the process becomes mundane at times, I still look at it as an adventure of sorts every time I step on board. Riding the train as a kid, it would be a treat to look outside the window and watch the surroundings swirl by at a rapid pace. For instance, as I did as a child with my grandmother, I will on occasion trek to the front car on the platform and plant myself in the very first seat next to the conductor if it is available to act like I’m bracing for a roller coaster ride. As I see kids and their grandparents alike do the same today, it brings back nostalgic memories. With that being said, it ties into my friendship with Lauren and how we have grown up together, walking to events in town side-by-side, and we now ride the train to school as fellow commuting college students next to each other as well. Like everything in life, this everyday ride of ours will come full circle in the end as displayed in this essay.

At around 6:30 AM on the morning of December 2, 2013, Lauren hops on the elevator at the PATCO Speedline Station in Collingswood, New Jersey to catch her train. This picture possesses great symbolism as she ascends to the boarding platform before the sun has come up. This is Lauren's routine start to her school day.

At around 6:30 AM on the morning of December 2, 2013, Lauren hops on the elevator at the PATCO Speedline Station in Collingswood, New Jersey to catch her train. This picture possesses great symbolism as she ascends to the boarding platform before the sun has come up. This is Lauren’s routine start to her school day. (Keanan Carter 12/2/13)

Lauren patiently awaits the arrival of the train which is headed towards Lindenwold. The train is scheduled to reach it's destination at the Collingswood PATCO Speedline Station at 6:34 AM on the morning of December 2, 2013, but due to track work during the late night hours, it rolls in at approximately 6:37 AM. Amid a scenic early morning sky shaded with a peaceful indigo color, Lauren gazes at the beaming headlights of the front train car off in the distance. The light may appear far away but it arrives a mere ten seconds or so later. For this very reason in the case of a delay, Lauren prides herself on being prompt, and she is ready to climb aboard when it finally reaches the station.

Lauren patiently awaits the arrival of the train which is headed towards Lindenwold. The train is scheduled to reach it’s destination at the Collingswood PATCO Speedline Station at 6:34 AM on the morning of December 2, 2013, but due to track work during the late night hours, it rolls in at approximately 6:37 AM. Amid a scenic early morning sky shaded with a peaceful indigo color, Lauren gazes at the beaming headlights of the front train car off in the distance. The light may appear far away but it arrives a mere ten seconds or so later. For this very reason in the case of a delay, Lauren prides herself on being prompt, and she is ready to climb aboard when it finally reaches the station. (Keanan Carter 12/2/13)

In this picture, Lauren and I are situated in our seats and sharing a few laughs on the train headed eastbound towards Lindenwold on the morning of December 2, 2013 in our route to school. We are discussing our Thanksgiving weekend festivities and telling funny stories about each others' family members that wound putting smiles on both of our faces, with Lauren's being captured in this shot.

In this picture, Lauren and I are situated in our seats and sharing a few laughs on the train headed eastbound towards Lindenwold on the morning of December 2, 2013 in our route to school. We are discussing our Thanksgiving weekend festivities and telling funny stories about each others’ family members that wound putting smiles on both of our faces, with Lauren’s being captured in this shot. (Keanan Carter 12/2/13)

Here, Lauren is pictured on the morning of December 2, 2013 on the PATCO train headed to Lindenwold. The train is close to pulling into the final stop on the Speedline's rail at the Lindenwold PATCO station where she will transfer onto a bus to bring her to Camden County College's Blackwood campus. She is depicted zoning out with possibly a good amount of thoughts running through her mind at a fast pace like the train she is riding, burning down the tracks. Whether she is focused on school assignments, events that took place during the holiday weekend or any other miscellaneous contemplation, these early morning train rides seem to be a great way to clear the brain before a busy day of learning for Lauren.

Here, Lauren is pictured on the morning of December 2, 2013 on the PATCO Speedline train headed to Lindenwold. The train is close to pulling into the final stop on the Speedline’s rail at the Lindenwold PATCO station where she will transfer onto a bus to bring her to Camden County College’s Blackwood campus. She is depicted zoning out with possibly a good amount of thoughts running through her mind at a fast pace like the train she is riding, burning down the tracks. Whether she is focused on school assignments, events that took place during the holiday weekend or any other miscellaneous contemplation, these early morning train rides seem to be a great way to clear the brain before a busy day of learning for Lauren. (Keanan Carter 12/2/13)

Lauren is pictured here starring out the window of the Lindenwold PATCO Station on the morning of December 2, 2013. Lauren anxiously awaits the arrival of the 459 Avandale bus that will transport her to Camden County College. The NJ Transit bus is scheduled to arrive at 7:09 AM, so Lauren decided to post up under the heating vent with a view at the road so that she can gain a head start on the line that will form while also avoiding the chilly weather outside. This picture is a representation of how her original train ride has come full circle, with the sun now up and the station begins to bustle with other passengers in comparison to the peaceful, nearly empty station in Collingswood.

Lauren is pictured here staring out the window of the Lindenwold PATCO Station on the morning of December 2, 2013. Lauren anxiously awaits the arrival of the 459 Avandale bus that will transport her to Camden County College. The NJ Transit bus is scheduled to arrive at 7:09 AM, so Lauren decided to post up under the heating vent with a view at the road so that she can gain a head start on the line that will form while also avoiding the chilly weather outside. This picture is a representation of how her original train ride has come full circle, with the sun now up and the station begins to bustle with other passengers in comparison to the peaceful, nearly empty station in Collingswood. (Keanan Carter 12/2/13)

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