From the Archives/ Photo Essay

O’Hare Airport, Chicago, December 1986

Thirty-six years ago, in December 1986, I was a college student in the Chicago suburbs. I don’t remember now, but it must’ve been a documentary assignment and so I chose to capture life at the world’s busiest airport, Chicago’s O’Hare. I didn’t own a car at the time, so I had to catch the Metra train into the heart of the city, then hop a Blue Line L train out to the airport.

Back in those days, while security was always there, things weren’t as tight as they are today. A young guy carrying a camera bag around the airport didn’t arouse suspicions like it would today, so I was able to walk around unhindered for several hours, even going through security multiple times without a boarding pass to take pictures at the gates. Back then, anyone could meet their loved ones at the gate as they walked off the plane, after going through the metal detector (this was fifteen years before we had to remove our shoes).

I spent two days shooting at O’Hare, on December 4th and 9th. The airport was already decorated for Christmas, though it seemed like most travelers were businessmen or elderly passengers, possibly leaving the impending Chicago winter to fly south towards the sun. I remember it was cold on both days I was there, with a snowstorm brewing on the 4th, and planes had to be de-iced before taking off.

My main focus (no pun intended) was the people. I didn’t ask anyone if I could take their picture; I wanted spontaneous, natural portraits of the passengers and inhabitants of the airport going about their business- waiting in line, going through security, working at the ticketing desks, sleeping at the gates, waiting for the inevitable delayed flights. I tried to be as discreet as possible, and capture life as it happened.

What really interests me now is where these people might be today. Many of them have since passed away. A 50 year old businessman back then would now, if still alive, be in his late 80’s. A young 35 year old airline employee would now be 71 and retired.

And just look at what people are doing in the pictures– compared to what they’d be doing today. The only ones on a phone are those lined up at the many pay phones on the walls. If you needed to get a hold of someone, you waited for a phone to free up, then dropped your money in the slot and made your calls (this was even before pre-paid phone cards). At the gates or waiting in line at the check-in desks, passengers read the newspaper or a good book, or even talked to each other… so unlike today when almost everyone resides in their own smartphone world. Some passengers puffed on a cigarette in the days before they were banned from indoor public spaces. And there’s more… your plane tickets were still physical things that you carried with you– multi-page computer generated tickets with a piece of red carbon paper sandwiched in between the leaves.

All images were taken using Kodak Tri-X 400 film and a Canon A-1 camera. Email enquiries to prints@hudsonfineart.com.