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New York City’s subway is more than just a way to get around—it’s a stage where millions of lives briefly cross paths every day. Photographer Chris Maliwat captures these fleeting connections in his stunning series Subwaygram, a collection of street portraits that reveal the heart and soul of the city underground.

Shot over four years—two before and two after the COVID-19 pandemic—Maliwat’s photos show how life, emotion, and community continued to pulse through New York’s subway system, even during times of change.

More info: Instagram | tiktok.com

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#1

"NYC Care"

Two men wearing jackets and jeans resting closely together on a New York City subway, showcasing life underground street portraits.

subwaygram Report

Final score:
44points
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Based in Brooklyn, Chris Maliwat has been exploring the poetry of daily life for years. A former black-and-white film photographer, he’s now recognized internationally for his empathetic street portraits. His work has been featured in The Guardian, LensCulture, and Huck Magazine, and his book Subwaygram was published by Daylight Books in 2022. Today, he continues to document the ever-changing pulse of New York as a member of Soho Photo Gallery and a Google Pixel Photo Ambassador.
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    #2

    "My Fair Lady"

    Woman with bright red hair and star-spangled sunglasses wearing a red coat in a captivating NYC subway street portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    42points
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    #3

    "Lady Bugs"

    Father and three young girls wearing masks and colorful dresses captured in a street portrait on NYC subway.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    39points
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    #4

    "Train Or Halloween"

    Two fashionably dressed individuals wearing bold outfits and boots sit side by side on a NYC subway street portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    34points
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    #5

    "See No Evil"

    Two masked passengers sitting on NYC subway seats, one showing phone screen to the other, capturing life underground street portraits.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    31points
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    #6

    "Faces"

    Diverse passengers seated in NYC subway car, capturing candid moments of life underground in street portraits.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    27points
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    #7

    "Ilegalyque"

    Punk passenger with green mohawk hairstyle sitting in NYC subway, holding phone, capturing street portraits underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    27points
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    #8

    Brooklyn Bound

    Young man sitting in NYC subway car, wearing green jacket and scarf, captured in a candid street portrait underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    22points
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    #9

    "Slurpee"

    Two stylish women wearing colorful outfits and seated inside a NYC subway, capturing street portraits underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    21points
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    #10

    "Don't Be Afraid"

    Woman wearing fishnet stockings and mask sitting on NYC subway, part of captivating street portraits from life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    21points
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    #11

    "Movie"

    Diverse passengers including a woman with blue hair and headphones captured in NYC subway street portraits.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    20points
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    #12

    "Uptown Express"

    Woman with face mask and glitter makeup using phone, wearing fishnet tights, standing in NYC subway station portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    20points
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    #13

    "🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂"

    Colorfully dressed person with decorated hat and large bag standing on NYC subway platform in street portrait style.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    20points
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    #14

    "Spirited Away"

    Young couple resting together on a New York City subway bench, showcasing intimate NYC subway street portraits.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    20points
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    #15

    "Turtle Sandflowers"

    Woman in floral dress sitting on orange NYC subway seat, captured in a captivating street portrait underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    19points
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    #16

    "Connected"

    Two stylish women in leopard print coats sitting in NYC subway, captured in street portraits showcasing life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    18points
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    #17

    "Blond Ambition"

    Two passengers captured in a street portrait on NYC’s subway, showcasing diverse urban life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    17points
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    #18

    "Secret Soldier"

    Woman and two children sitting in NYC subway, one child reading a book, captured in street portraits underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    17points
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    #19

    "Less Rules More Sugar"

    Father and daughter seated in NYC subway, each focused on their phones, with a heart-shaped balloon nearby in street portrait style.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    16points
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    #20

    "It Takes Two To Tango"

    Two people wearing leopard print masks on NYC subway, capturing street portraits life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    14points
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    #21

    "Utopian"

    Two subway riders wearing colorful leopard print shoes and patterned face masks captured in a NYC street portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    14points
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    #22

    "Turn That Frown Upside Down"

    Middle-aged man in a blue checkered shirt sitting thoughtfully on an orange subway seat in NYC underground street portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    13points
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    #23

    "Hello Boy"

    Two stylish young passengers captured in captivating street portraits riding NYC’s subway, showcasing urban life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    13points
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    #24

    "It's Not Easy"

    Elderly man in glasses and green shirt captured in a street portrait inside NYC subway train, showcasing life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    12points
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    #25

    "Who"

    Person wearing glasses and a mask, sitting on a subway bench with headphones, captured in a NYC street portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    12points
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    #26

    "It's Ok To Look"

    Woman and child wearing masks seated in NYC subway, captured in a candid street portrait highlighting life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    12points
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    #27

    "Boots On The Ground"

    Young woman in bright pink boots and patterned skirt sitting in NYC subway, a striking street portrait capturing life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    12points
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    #28

    "Beauty Exclusively"

    Woman in bright outfit waiting on subway platform as man wearing mask sits inside NYC subway car street portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    12points
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    #29

    "Supreme"

    Woman wearing white dress using phone inside NYC subway, captured in street portrait showing life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    11points
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    #30

    "Warlock"

    Young woman with blue hair on a phone call, holding bags, waiting near subway platform railing in NYC subway station.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    11points
    POST
    #31

    "Let Us"

    Two young women wearing masks and stylish clothing sit in NYC subway, captured in captivating street portraits underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    10points
    POST
    #32

    "13"

    Young man sitting in NYC subway with large suitcase and backpack, a candid street portrait capturing life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    10points
    POST
    #33

    "Six Sense"

    Woman wearing a bright pink ruffled dress holding phone, captured in a captivating street portrait inside NYC’s subway.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    10points
    POST
    #34

    "Strategic Planning"

    Two young women sitting and talking inside a NYC subway car, capturing street portraits and life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    10points
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    #35

    "Party"

    Woman in a floral top standing inside NYC subway, captured as part of street portraits showcasing life underground in the subway.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    10points
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    #36

    "Never Forget"

    Elderly woman wearing colorful jacket and scarf, sitting on NYC subway bench in a candid street portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    10points
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    #37

    "Do The Math"

    Man with tattoos and unique face mask holding hands with woman wearing a mask in a candid NYC subway street portrait.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    9points
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    #38

    "Now Open"

    Two men sitting on a subway bench, captured in a street portrait from NYC’s subway life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    9points
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    #39

    "Empowered"

    Diverse passengers captured in candid subway portrait with NYC subway map in background, showcasing life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
    #40

    "Fantastical"

    Three women seated inside a NYC subway car, captured in a street portrait showing diverse daily life underground.

    subwaygram Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
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