46 Vintage Photos That Capture New York’s Subway Since The ’80s

Legendary New York-based fashion, documentary and street photographer Jamel Shabazz has been scanning the scenes of New York City for about 40 years now, reflecting its lifestyles, moods, fashions, and social struggles. Jamel Shabazz's work goes far beyond photography, it is pure sociological documentation which has immortalized decades of New York City’s culture.

In the early ’80s, Shabazz borrowed his mother's inexpensive point and shoot camera, and with just the basic knowledge of the craft he learned from his professional photographer father, started his photographic journey beginning with close friends and schoolmates. He ended up making the Big Apple his set, telling honest and uncovered stories through authentic images.

What better way to capture the city’s vibrancy and diversity than going where nationalities, cultures, and personalities meet, the city’s lifeline – the metro. "The overwhelming majority of subjects I photographed have been complete strangers who I would meet during my many expeditions on the train. I focused my lens on everything from students, police officers, the homeless, entertainers, and everyday people going about their business of the day,” Jamel Shabazz told Bored Panda.

In celebration of his work, the Galerie Bene Taschen in Cologne (Germany) will be hosting his work 'City Metro, an exploration of New York City’s transit system through the eyes of Shabazz' until February 2, 2019. The exhibition contains 30 photographs that portray his incredible talent to integrate himself into urban life and capture its unfiltered spirit.

"What I like most about the photo shoots, is meeting new friends and freezing historic and meaningful moments in time. So many of the people I photographed 30-40 years ago may have initially been unfamiliar to me, but as time would pass many of them became close friends, some even became love interests,“ said Shabazz.

More info: jamelshabazz.com | Instagram

#1 All Ears, NYC 1980

All Ears, NYC 1980

Jamel Shabazz Report

Final score:

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#1 All Ears, NYC 1980

#2 The Trio, NYC 1980

#3 Rush Hour, NYC 1988

#4 Fly Girl, NYC 2002

#5 A Frozen Moment, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NYC

#6 Soros For Life, Crown Heigths, Brooklyn, NYC 1981

#7 Twin 1 & Twin 2, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#8 A Time Before Starbucks, Brooklyn, NYC, Early 1980’s

#9 Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#10 Back To The World, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC 1982

#11 Untitled, Spanish Harlem, NYC 1980

#12 The Love Connection, NYC 1982

#13 The Violists, NYC 1997

#14 The Last Look, NYC 1980

#15 Daddy‘S Little Girls, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#16 The Dream Girls, Brooklyn Bound J Train, NYC 2000

#17 Church Ladies, Harlem,NYC 1997

#18 The Righteous Brothers, NYC 1981

#19 The Outside View, Brooklyn, NYC 1999

#20 Empathy, NYC 1980

#21 Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn,NYC 1980

#22 Mother And Daughters, NYC 1997

#23 Secret Lovers, NYC 1997

#24 Young Girl, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#25 On The Uptown D Train, Flatbush, Brooklyn, NYC 1982

#26 Holding On, F Train, NYC, Mid 1980’s

#27 The Fox & The Wolf, Manhattan Bound F Train, NYC, Early 2000’s

#28 Sugar & Spice, NYC

#29 Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#30 Rush Hour On The Brooklyn Bound J Train, Mid 1990’s

#31 If It Concerns You, Brooklyn NYC 1980

#32 City Life, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#33 The Observer, Brooklyn, NYC 1982

#34 The Wisdom Bodies, Brooklyn, NYC, Early 1980’s

#35 Representing, Hempstead, NYC 2000

#36 Opposites Attract, NYC, 1990’s

#37 Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#38 A Frozen In Time, Brooklyn, NYC, Early 1980’s

#39 Daddy‘S Little Girls, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#40 Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#41 The Corner, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NYC 1982

#42 The Brooklyn Connection, The Franklin Ave Train Station, Nyc 1980

#43 Old School Love, Brooklyn, NYC, Early 80’s

#44 The Outside View, Brooklyn, NYC 1999

#45 Daddy‘S Little Girls, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC 1980

#46 Caught In Between, NYC 2000

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