Bruce Davidson – Subway Serie
Bruce Davidson’s Subway Series is a powerful collection of photographs, created with clear intention and purpose, and it succeeds in what it set out to do.
Shot in 1979, during a time when New York’s subways were considered unsafe, poorly managed, and filled with graffiti, Davidson aimed to document this chaotic, almost lawless environment. The subway system, much like the city itself, was a different world then, and Davidson’s images capture this gritty reality.
What stands out to me most is the use of colour. While traditional street photography often relies on black-and-white imagery, Davidson’s choice to use colour gives his images a unique vibrancy, imbuing them with soul and depth that black-and-white alone could not achieve.
The images work together as a cohesive set because they focus on the people of the subway. The collection includes both candid and more formal portraits, alongside traditional street photography. The diversity of subjects creates a rich narrative that pulls the viewer deeper into the scene.
Davidson’s images feature dense shadows that add to the drama and intensity of the scenes, drawing the viewer into the harsh reality of the subway system. To quote from the Magnum website: “From weary straphangers to languorous ladies in summer dresses to stalking predators, Davidson presents a clear and compassionate vision of life in motion.”
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY6o2C0O9V4 (accessed 7th August 2015) http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&ALID=2K7O3RJSJ42A&POPUPIID=2S5RYDYW6DCW&POPUPPN=17&PN=1&IID=2S5RYDZVWKEM&RW=1280&RH=625#/SearchResult&ALID=2K7O3RJSJ42A&POPUPIID=2S5RYDYU22II&POPUPPN=24&PN=1&RW=1280&RH=625&VBID=2K1HZS61YZM3G (accessed 7th August 2015)
