The New York City Subway Experience
By Judah S. Harris

When I heard this past fall that the NYC subway was going to be celebrating its centennial year, I decided to go out and ride the trains - a lot… Usually my subway trips have been, like for most of us in the city, a way to get somewhere - and hopefully on time. But now the train itself was that somewhere, and my destination was wherever my photographing would take me on a given day… (True, I looked at the subway map and planned a bit of my itinerary, but spontaneity and serendipity have played a big role in this project.)

On October 27th, 1904, the first subway opened in NYC, running north from City Hall to Harlem. Over the years, our city developed its neighborhoods and outer communities, to a great degree, as the train system increased its scope in different directions. Today, the subway remains a key element of our city and the urban landscape, and a topic of frequent conversation (loved and sometimes hated). In October and November, I spent about 70 hours on the trains and in the stations - usually in dry weather, but sometimes wet - trying to evoke some of the subway experience - both the humanity and the architecture. The subway is way different than it was in the 70s and 80s. My images aren't harsh portrayals, rather convey the everyday narratives, and some of the diversity present in the subways of our city. (The subway really typifies and represents New York City to a degree.)

This site shares highlights of this "work in progress." I started shooting in B&W and then added color. I've taken 25 rolls so far, and will continue once the temperature moves a drop in the right direction. At present, I'm seeking a publisher to do a book and am reaching out to some galleries and a couple of museums that might host an exhibit of the imagery. I plan on publishing a keepsake postcard booklet of some of the photographs. It will be available at select stores, museum gift shops, and from my website.

The Centennial year officially began on October 27th, 2003 and will feature special events in all five NYC boroughs, "nostalgia" train runs on older subway cars, and a culmination next October 27th with a commemoration and reenactment of the actual first ride in 1904, from City Hall to Harlem.

Original signed prints of these images are available for purchase. An introductory price is available for prints ordered by March 15th, 2004.

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