Nina R. posts her subway photographs on her Instagram account @nina_at_nyc_subway. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Nina took many of these pictures while commuting from her home in Forest Hills to her job as an architect.
An aficionado of the art, photography, and fashion of bygone eras, Nina found found her calling as a subway photographer after taking one of the MTA’s Nostalgia Rides.
When Nina returned to work after the COVID-19 pandemic, she managed to capture moments of connection and intimacy. Here’s one from the Lexington Avenue–63rd Street station:
And another from the Q:
The conventional wisdom is that masks create distance, even among people who know each other, but Nina says.
Masks do not really pose a barrier between people, let alone to stop them from expressing emotions. And even on the train, on the streets, people with masks can get to express a lot.
Here are some more images discussed in our conversation.
A conductor and Nina’s reflection:
“This picture makes me happy.”
Two friends:
Another reflection:
Homeless, sleeping:
Also mentioned:
- Expositions Universelles
- Nina’s main Instagram account: @nina_at_nyc
I interviewed Nina R. at The New School on June 5, 2023.