Walking the High Line

by John Stilgoe, Adam Gopnik, Joel Sternfeld (Photographer)

Sometimes resembling a river of grass, sometimes more like the wheat fields of the Canadian prairies, the High Line is a unique ruin that simultaneously permits contemplation of nature and the city. Since March 2000, photographer Joel Sternfeld has been documenting the abandoned elevated railway line which runs for 1.5 miles along the West Side of New York City, from 34th Street down along the edge of the Hudson River, through West Chelsea's tree-lined blocks and art galleries, and into the heart of the Meat Packing District. Walking the path of this real-time landscape, Sternfeld has created a suite of images in which the landscape is read as both a social and cultural indicator.

Genres: Photography, Art and Photography

56 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Bruce Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of photographs was a major factor in an abandoned elevated railroad in west Manhattan being developed into one the of greatest urban parks in the world. Now a landscape architecture gem, Sternfield's photos showed the seasonal beauty of nature taking over an ignored space. Excellent essays accompany the pictures including a comparison with Thoreau's discoveries and observations along railroad right-of-ways in the mid-1800's. Now I'm anxious to visit this space next time I'm in NYC, hopefully led in tour by Eric!

[T P Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little visual essay. It's a great record of the High Line before its rediscovery. Having a record of the photographs that convinced New Yorkers of the value of this green asset is super. They are beautiful images but the Adam Gopnik essay brings the book to life.

[Matthew Flannery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool book, shows the highline for what it was (pre-renovation). As a guy who works for the company that did all the engineering for the renovation project, I shouldn't be as critical, but I guess I just long for the romantic New York, the things that weren't perfect but had character, which is the reason why we all came here in the first place. Pretty soon we'll all be coming here for an amusement park called "New York, New York: The Real Experience!" where we can walk the new safe and heroin-free High Line, and walk down 42nd street avoiding tourists instead of prostitutes. Even all the old New Yorkers have died or moved to Florida.

But I digress. Very nice compositions, very romantic images, seasonal juxtapositions... The writing is fairly insightful into the history and movement to keep it from getting demolished. Really great if you have a fascination with old buildings and abandoned things of an obsolete time (factories in Manhattan??). I like the book because it shows that nature always prevails, even in the concrete jungle.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the "High line; the Inside Story of New York City's Park in the Sky" being able to own Joel Sternfeld's book "Walking the High Line" is a real treat. Maybe, more so, because I purchased my copy on the High Line at their newly opened shop!

When considering this book, readers should realize - this slim little photo book is a piece of history. Without it, the highlight might still be a dream.

The collection of images - along with the essay by Adam Gopnik is a real treat, as his article in The New Yorker in 2001 is often said to have set off a mass appeal of support in the city for the project.

The Highline is an extraordinary New York story, and these photographs were instrumental in cajoling the public to get behind a project that seemed so far-fetched at the time.

Overall, "Walking the High Line" a great piece of documentation for any well-appointed New York City book collection.

[Davy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is saved by the excellent essay by Adam Gopnik, without which this slim volume would feel a bit too academic and emotionally distant. John Stilgoe's article seemed scattered and impenetrable, but perhaps I'll revisit it. The photographs are great, but perhaps a bit too consistent? They are all basically the same image -- that iconic one of train tracks narrowing into the distance. They have their different angles and seasons, of course, but some variety might have given this exhibit a bit more weight? More weight even in the pedestrian physical sense would've been desirable, as it would've meant more photos, more Sternfeld. But this is what we have, and I suppose we should be happy with it.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this very wonderful book at the Strand Book Store, shortly after seeing the High Line for the first time on my second trip to New York. The pictures in the book are so beautiful, but I am sure most of it has been tamed by now. Still, would love to see it some time.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful images. too many stinking words.