Last year, I set to create a collection of moody photographs from the Buffalo Metro Rail Subway. I wanted to present all of them with a dose of nostalgia and used toned black and white to do that (Buffalo Subway Collection, Buffalo Metro Rail North, The Subway Collection is Complete).

Delavan - Canisius EscalatorsThe Subway Classic However, not all subway corridors are created equal. Some subways really show off bright and welcoming modern architecture. For example the stations of the Metro in Prague are extremely well lit and decorated projecting a welcoming feeling of safety.

The underground stations of the Buffalo Metro Rail are decorated with artwork at their above ground concourses, and below ground platforms. The concourses present various art forms like sculptures and photography, while the platform walls have been decorated with local photographs since the fall of 2013.

It's not just the decorative artwork though that makes the experience more enjoyable. It's also the artwork that's part of the architecture of the stations. The use of light, reflective surfaces, and color can transform a hostile looking underground tunnel into a work of art of its own. The round tunnels encourage strong symmetrical designs that further reinforce the colors and textures used.

So next time you're in one of these tunnels, let your eyes wonder up and to the sides. You might just be surprised what a wonderful gallery a subway can be! Here, the escalator at Delavan - Caniscius station, Buffalo subway's deepest, caught my eye. It had so many elements: the reflective floor, strong symmetry (broken by the Out of Order sign), colors, shapes, and bright lighting, as well as the converging lines of the escalator taking you up deep into the scene and the photo.

Have fun!

Equipment Used:

Nikon D600 (replaced by Nikon D610), Nikon 24-85mm Nikkor Lens, Manfrotto tripod (055MF3; replaced by 055CXPRO3 with the convenient Q90 column) and head (496RC2), Think Tank Speed Demon Waist Pack,  Petzl Zipka Plus 2 Headlamp (always in the bag just in case), Jackery Bar 5600mAh (usually on hand to keep the smart phone going), SanDisk Extreme 32GB SD Cards, Nikon Capture NX2.

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