Sofia is a chaotic and cluttered city with mismatching architecture and oddly planned streets and public spaces. That makes street photography quite challenging because when I am out shooting, I always look for symmetry, leading lines, and minimalist spaces. That is why I often explore what's lurking beneath the surface of the city - the confined world of the subway system and its inhabitants.
Serdika station
Queued
A young subway surfer
Anticipation
I've been thinking of starting a whole series about the subway, but that's yet to happen :)
Tell me about the place where you live. Is it photogenic?
Thanks for stopping by!
Dan
I took the photos in different periods with 2 different cameras - Fuji X-T1 & Lumix G80.
Awesome shots. Love the dark, heavy contrast. Subways and trains and their stations are great places to shoot. The lines. The symmetry. The high sense of drama. And the lighting.
Here’s a shot from a subway station in downtown L.A.
Uh-oh, I almost forgot to answer this comment :) I would also add that in some cities (Stockholm for example) the subway stations are brilliant pieces of art. What about the ones in LA?
Thanks for the comment and the shot, Lisa :)
Nice to be forgettable. 🤪
Most things here in L.A. are way too new to have all that much depth. Our central train station is a really nice example of Art Deco arcetecture snd design. But it lacks the spectacular beauty and majesty of the stations built early in older cities. It’s still pretty cool. Which reminds me, I am overdue for a trip down there.
Very nice shots! I like that overhead shot, in particular. Was there a bridge or something you took that from?
Wow, that makes me miss having useful public transportation. The USA is set up for everyone to drive individually. I didn't need a car in Spain :-)
Thanks a lot, my friend! There's a platform similar to the one that you see on the other end, right below the escalators :)
Is it difficult to get to, let's say, Minneapolis if you don't have a car?
There are shuttle buses, but they are more expensive than driving. They also only go a couple times a day. A family of four would pay almost $150 just to get there, and still have to pay more to get around the city.
The places I lived in Spain were on rail lines, and had efficient and affordable bus transit.
In this case not having a car would be very inconvenient.
Somehow I find the chaos and eclectic architecture of Sofia oddly endearing. :D
I do appreciate what you are saying about symmetry and think you have found a world of possibilities underground. I especially like your last shot's play on one point perspective.
Thank you, Samantha! Glad that you liked it :) By the way, what's your connection to Sofia and Bulgaria? :)
I have spent 6 months of my life in Bulgaria (primarily in Sofia) since 2015, over the span of 3 trips. I was last there in the fall for 10 weeks travelling the western part of BG with my college friend, @brentssanders. We covered a lot of ground!
Oh, I see :) I had a beer with Brent once - he's a really cool guy :) To be honest, I haven't traveled much in Western Bulgaria. Did you enjoy it?
Yes, Brent (@brentssanders) is really cool, indeed! Did I enjoy it? Of course!!! We went out on 5 separate road trips over the 2 months. First we went up to Belogradchik, Lovech, Veliko Turnovo, Etur, Gabrovo, Troyan, Koprivshtitsa. Next we visited Devetashka Cave, Krushuna, Shipka and Buzludzha. Then Rila (Lakes & Monastery), Petrich, Rupite, Melnik, Garmen & Kovachevitsa. Then a weekend in Vodni Pad (Rhodopes). And finally, we went to Plovdiv, Zlatograd, Kurdzhali, Tatul, Perperikon, saw the Stone Mushrooms and Asenovgrad. I am sure this is way more information that you wanted but I wanted to see if I could remember all the places we went. I am sure I left out a few stops.
So much beauty! So much history! I was overwhelmed. I can't wait to come back and see what the eastern part of the country has to offer.
Wow, you have covered so much ground! :) All of the places that you mentioned are very beautiful. I am from Plovdiv, by the way - a true "maina" :D
When are you coming back?
Plovdiv is such an incredible city. I love the energy there but the cats didn't seem all that friendly. ;)
I'm not sure when I will make it back. Maybe late spring into summer or in the autumn again.
I love the queued photo with all the different lines - there is even a squggly line on the ceiling. Lines of people, purple lines on the train, yellow on the platform, angular signs, the train itself is a composition of lines.
Really great shots, Dan. All of them. I just blabbed about the one because I can :)
I should have named that one the beauty of geometry :) Thanks a ton, Deb!
I really liked this photo serie! Well done! 👏🏻 Yeah I guess, Finland is considered to be quite photogenic.
Thanks a lot, man! Finland IS beautiful from what I've seen here :)
Nice series of shots! I like Anticipation the most! :) But I don't recognize the metro station...
Thank you, Dave! Hmm, let me think for a moment... I'm not 100% sure but isn't it NDK? 😁
Yeah, I'm disappointed to learn I don't really know my metro stations that well :P
Well.. You made such a great shots! Congrats! :)
Thank you @babettxx 🙇
Dan! I must resteem it to show more people that we actually do have a subway! :)) No joking!
Thanks for the Resteem @agniese :)
What can I say...bravo!
Thank you, Di 😊
Awesome snaps, cool stories!
Thanks, man!
Great content! The routines of everyday life are fascinating. I sometimes wonder what the world looks like to a photographer - seeing it through patterns, faces and art.
Thank you, Abigail! Hm, that's some good food for thought :)
I live in Moscow, there is an opportunity to make good pictures))
Here is the metro station near which I live:
Never been to Moscow, unfortunately, but that metro station looks super futuristic! :) Like a tunnel from inside of a spaceship. But most of the metro stations in Moscow are works of art, aren't they?
Perhaps these stations can be considered art, because the architects tried to put their ideas and soul, but I don't like all the metro stations in Moscow, so you'll have to come and see for yourself))
From what I've seen on the net, the metro stations in Moscow look like masterpieces in comparison to the ones that we have in Sofia :) Haha
Maybe, but maybe it's just marketing))
Gibts dort auch diese "Subway Surfers"? Also die wirklich draußen am Ende des Ubahn Wagons hängen und mitfahren? Gibts doch in paar Ländern vermehrt...
Hey man, I am not sure I understood that. Even Google translate didn't help much, lol 😁
Thanks for stopping by, though!
hahahaa shit sry... don't know why I wrote in german hahha! Have a great weekend :) I meant to ask if there are real subway surfers too? You know the crazy people who hold on outside of the sub and just hang there while its driving?
Also real great photos! Keep it up ;)
Haha, no worries, man :) Thank you! I still haven't seen those real subway surfers that you mentioned :P
I wish you a great weekend, too!
Love the subway; the way it's a main artery cutting through the city is mesmerizing
Hej Vil, nice to meet you! I also love the subway in Copenhagen :)
@subciity you might like this, considering your ability to cover subways n what not mang