Well, I just got back from my trip to New Jersey. Following the Passaic River.

Shot about 110 sheets of 4×5 film. I can hardly wait to see how they turn out.
If they don’t suck too much I’ll be posting some of them here over the next few
weeks, with accompanying stories. In the meantime here’s a rundown on the nuts
and bolts of the trip:

Left Ottawa and got into the States no problem, except for a border guard who
couldn’t believe I was taking so much gear in for “non-commercial purposes”.
He let us in anyway.

We drove for 8 hours to Bernardsville, New Jersey. Walked into the library and the
librarian asked : “Can I help you?” I replied: “Yes, I’m looking for the source of the
Passaic River”. She didn’t bat an eye, just took us back to the reference section
and spent the next while making sure we had all the information we needed. Even
with all that info, let me tell you that finding the source of a river is no easy matter.
This whole trip couldn’t have been done without Ben’s expert navigation and diligence.

So, miracle of miracles, after more driving (this time down twisty country lanes)
we come to the point that all our maps and research tells us is the actual source
of the river. It just so happens that the Passaic springs from the ground, from an
underground spring. There is one actual spot where this river begins. Here, bottom
left (where the rock is) in the top picture. At the intersection of Corey Lane and
Hardscrabble Rd in the bottom shot.

The next 4 days were spent following the Passaic as closely as we could. Trying to find
points where we could get close. Points that were visually interesting. Points that were
sort of scenic but kinda modern too.

I was also photographing people. Here’s a link to a video Ben shot of me working and
conversing with some of the folks we met. It’s only 1:50 long and, if you ask me, there
are some pretty funny bits. VIDEO

Like on all trips, there was a whole bunch of time spent finding food and shelter.

At the end of the last day we managed to find the point where the Passaic drains into
Newark Bay. Again, no easy matter. After a few failed efforts we finally ended up
driving down a god forsaken bit of rutted road in an industrial backwater that ended
at a chainlink fence. But there, off to the left, was a path. We shouldered the gear
and set off, not knowing if there would be any access at the end of the path. But,
just like the very beginning, we ended up in the perfect spot. The feeling I got from
following the Passaic from beginning to end was something else. I’m not sure I can
describe it. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt like that before. The end:

And, just in case you need to see more (other) pictures, here’s a link to the latest issue
of Guerilla magazine. I shot a bunch of portraits for the mag at The Ottawa Art Gallery
art auction. Here, under Random Shooting.