Bruce Davidson – Subway
I went to see the Arnold Newman exhibition at the C/O in Berlin last weekend. It was pretty mind-blowing to see what he achieved but what I didn’t expect to see was the Bruce Davidson ‘Subway’ exhibition that was on in the gym room. Bloody great urban photography. Bruce immersed himself in the ‘raging, rattling hustle and bustle’ of the subway system in New York during the 1980s, documenting the passengers in this filthy, graffiti ridden melting-pot, photographing lovers, musicians, homeless people, tourists and business people.
“When you are in the Subway, what is beautiful appears bestial and what is bestial appears beautiful.” Bruce Davidson
The exhibition marks the 25th year since the first publication of Bruce Davidson’s ‘Subway’ and is one show until the 20th of May 2012. If you’re in Berlin definitely recommend seeing this. ‘The Art and Press’ over in Martin Gropius Bau is worth checking out to if you’re in the neighborhood.
www.magnumphotos.com/BruceDavidson
surface & surface 
Reblogged this on Light Reading and commented:
Bruce Davidson’s subway photos –
Thanks for sharing! I hadn’t seen Bruce Davidson’s subway shots before. They’re amazing, just like all of his work. He was very talented at capturing people.
If I didnt know from the beginning of the post, I would have thought those pics were taken in NYC. Great shots!
I’ve been meaning to go to this exhibition for a while now. It has just climbed a fair way up my to do list.
I saw this show as well during my visit to Berlin. Great show!
Definitely evocative — very interesting images that tell a story!
Love Bruce Davidson
I love these pics. I can almost smell the funky aroma that riding the train has to offer.
Fantastic shots, gritty and beautiful.
Reblogged this on Carollainy talks.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I love the top pic and the penultimate one!
Beutiful pics
Stirring and wonderful images – I just want to say congrats for being freshly pressed today. This was my first time in that club and want to shout out to all of you who share this great day with me.
I love these shots. They bring life to the city and those that live there, bumping against their pasts and fighting for their own little space and swag. Love it.
You photograph honestly.
This post gave me nostgalia. I’m a 80’s baby from New York and can’t wait to hop back on the train. One of my favorite hobbies is people watching on the train. It gives me blog ideas. LOL…
These are very interesting shots! more than just a snapshot… they seem to have a story of their own! impressive work!
This urban photography, “Subway”, is definitely unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Love it! Thanks for sharing.
Reblogged this on HECHO en las AMERICAS and commented:
I’ve been fascinated of late with early 80s New York. Maybe it’s because my car doesn’t have a cd player and the only cassette tape I have is a 30 year old Ramones mix. Either way, love these photos by Bruce Davidson.
I like that! Very artistic!
I fancy this post, oh so much!
very nice shots , nice pic ,, good job bro 🙂
Incredible! It almost feels as though I am there when looking at these photos, thank you for sharing!!!!
♥ Love and light ♥
~ Jennifer
Beautiful, love the vivid colours you capture, the warm greys and tonal browns really create the wintry and suburban feel of the city, and the exciting reds insinuate the passion and life living within such a cold landscape.
Nice shots. Reminds me parts of Cleveland as well as Chicago that I’ve seen this past decade.
superb shots….darker clicks….but still brilliant bright work…………..
Beautiful photography, lovely stories.
epic
Great post.
I love these shots. Thanks for sharing.
Bruce is a genius, thanks for sharing.
brill, I feel like I was there (:
Great pics, never seen people look so smart on the subway lol 🙂
Reblogged this on Hamptons Art Hub and commented:
I love these images of subway riding in New York City. The work is on view in Berlin through mid-May.
I grew up in NY in the 80s and these pics took me back. Wow.
hello, very strong and sharp images of the subway. wow! the photographer’s on a mission, huh!?! … 🙂
very cool pics.
Reblogged this on Could I do more for Thee wert Thou a Bumble Bee? and commented:
These are beautiful.
Very cool. Gotta wonder how one takes a picture of a guy pulling a gun on another guy and manage to get everything focused and in frame.
Reblogged this on TROVE GENERAL STORE and commented:
A little RE-BLOG, Enjoy
Thanks for the Re-blog!
Nice pics!
Lovely photos including a black woman with large shades looking up. It makes me feel proud.
yeah that’s my favorite too, amazing image just perfection!
Amazing photos — really gives you a flavor of the time and place.
Amazing, so much talent…I remember seeing some of his work in London, I couldn’t remember the name of the photographer, or even now the place where I saw them but the photos stuck to my mind, beautiful
Amazing shots. Sadly some of them make me homesick…especially the one with the kids looking out the window at Coney Island. That’s my hood. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
One of the koolest photo posts i’ve seen so far in my time here on wordpress. ratings to u ma man, keep up the slick work. definitely following your work!
Love the photos!
Really cool.
Hey guys cheers for all your comments and likes. I’m a little overwhelmed with all this traffic after being freshly pressed! Really appreciate the support and so glad you all like the content, after all its Bruce Davidson that should be taking all this credit, truly inspiring work. Hopefully some of you will get a chance to see the exhibition and support the C/O in Berlin while your at it, such a great gallery.
Yeah! Photographs do speak for themselves! Thanks for sharing.
Truly remarkable work!
great work.
This blog is very impressive and enlarged my knowledge, required information & the things i never imagined. i pay my thanks to be given such kind of valuable details.
I moved to NYC in the 80s, when the subways were old, dirty and many had no air conditioning. I used to commute to work every day from Brooklyn to New York. These photos so accurately capture the conditions that I was subjected to day after day. NYC Subway….ain’t nothing like it.
These are very interesting. It’s interesting to see how times have changed such as clothes. If he did it today, I wonder how different it would be.
WOW! Nice pics. These platform shots remind me of Chicago. BTW, congrats on getting Freshly Pressed!
Seeing these photos gives me hope that one day our railway will be as better…
a genious.genious at capturing post-industrial decaying landscapisms!! love the blog btw!
I love this post!! You really bring out the “peculiar” in these pictures
Reblogged this on vinylphishrecords and commented:
Those freeze framed moments often tell compelling stories of their own. Good stuff.
Reblogged this on Ceda258's Blog and commented:
Great Pictures
Cheers for the reblog
You would have had to be a fly on a wall to get these photographs. I sometimes see photo ops of people but I’m too nervous to snap the photograph.
These photos look like take of a movie.
I think the correct is “These photos look like taken from a movie”,
Amazing photos! Really love the colours in the 4th picture!
Reblogged this on my☔dreamocracy.
Few pictures are shocking..
Nice pic
Amazing photos!
I remember reading that bruce originally applied for funding to make a film about the new york subway but was turned down. He then set about with his canon slr and took these pictures instead….amazing how plans change and things work out.
Fantastic!
Incredible, seriously moving.
Reblogged this on pulp pages.
absolutely fantastic photos!!!!!
Nice shots! I’ve been on that subway!
Wow, I especially love the exterior shot of the blue carriage. My next post will be about the street art I’m sitting next to right now.
Nice pics
very nice pics…..
super like…
Very New York! 🙂 Thanks for sharing the pics
Incredible images! Keep it up, you are very talented.
Reblogged this on msamba.
Thanks for the reblog man
good photos oldschool – modern
Bruce Davidson, no doubt is one of the most remarkable phtoghraphers in the current time. Thanks to Iranian monthly Photo Magazine for introducing him to us.
“When you are in the Subway, what is beautiful appears bestial and what is bestial appears beautiful.” Bruce Davidson Love that quote. I’ve spent nearly 60 years riding the NYC Subway…and still haven’t figured out that subterranean state of confusion/ delusion. Superb imagery!
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Reblogged this on power of h Weblog and commented:
pretty gritty…