Inspired by Robert Franks The Americans I always wanted to travel across the USA and document the countrys state and its people in our -tough- times. The summer of 2010 has been my projected date ever since New Years eve 2008 and Im planning my trip as I write this blurb.

The experience of doing a road trip by car appealed to me at first, but I think of it as a very solitary experience and decided to put a different spin on my trip across the country. I will mostly utilize public transportation, namely the Amtrak and busses to meet people and interact with them; after all the human element is what makes my photographs speak to the viewer.

Markus Hartel is a street photographer based in New York City.