Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
Legendary New York-based fashion, documentary, and street photographer Jamel Shabazz has been scanning the scenes of New York City for about 40 years now, reflecting its lifestyles, moods, fashions, and social struggles. Jamel Shabazz's work goes far beyond street photography, it is pure sociological documentation that has immortalized decades of New York City’s culture.
In the early ’80s, Shabazz borrowed his mother's inexpensive point and shoot camera, and with just the basic knowledge of photography art, he learned from his professional photographer father, started his photographic journey beginning with close friends and schoolmates. He ended up making the Big Apple his set, telling honest and uncovered stories through stunning pictures.
What better way to capture the city’s vibrancy and diversity than going where nationalities, cultures, and personalities meet, the city’s lifeline – the NYC subway. "The overwhelming majority of subjects I photographed have been complete strangers who I would meet during my many expeditions on the train. I focused my lens on everything from students, police officers, the homeless, entertainers, and everyday people going about their business of the day,” Jamel Shabazz told Bored Panda about his historical photos.
In celebration of his work, the Galerie Bene Taschen in Cologne (Germany) will be hosting his famous photos 'City Metro, an exploration of New York City’s transit system through the eyes of Shabazz' until February 2, 2019. The exhibition contains 30 photographs that portray his incredible talent to integrate himself into urban life and capture its unfiltered spirit.
"What I like most about the photoshoots, is meeting new friends and freezing historic and meaningful moments in time. So many of the people I photographed 30-40 years ago may have initially been unfamiliar to me, but as time would pass many of them became close friends, some even became love interests,“ said Shabazz.
More info: jamelshabazz.com | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
The Trio, NYC 1980
#3
Rush Hour, NYC 1988
#4
Fly Girl, NYC 2002
#5
A Frozen Moment, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NYC
#6
Soros For Life, Crown Heigths, Brooklyn, NYC 1981
#7
Twin 1 & Twin 2, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#8
A Time Before Starbucks, Brooklyn, NYC, Early 1980’s
#9
Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#10
Back To The World, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC 1982
#11
Untitled, Spanish Harlem, NYC 1980
#12
The Love Connection, NYC 1982
#13
The Violists, NYC 1997
#14
The Last Look, NYC 1980
#15
Daddy‘S Little Girls, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#16
The Dream Girls, Brooklyn Bound J Train, NYC 2000
#17
Church Ladies, Harlem,NYC 1997
tuzdayschild 5 years ago
This looks more like the 1950's than the 1980's. Loving them church hats.
#18
The Righteous Brothers, NYC 1981
#19
The Outside View, Brooklyn, NYC 1999
#20
Empathy, NYC 1980
#21
Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn,NYC 1980
Luis Milian 5 years ago
that guy on the bottom left probably has a cassette player! who remembers?
#22
Mother And Daughters, NYC 1997
#23
Secret Lovers, NYC 1997
Michelle Pitsiokos 5 years ago
I love pictures of couples like this when they don't know their picture is being taken. It's so real and you can almost feel the electricity between them.
#24
Young Girl, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#25
On The Uptown D Train, Flatbush, Brooklyn, NYC 1982
#26
Holding On, F Train, NYC, Mid 1980’s
#27
The Fox & The Wolf, Manhattan Bound F Train, NYC, Early 2000’s
#28
Sugar & Spice, NYC
#29
Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#30
Rush Hour On The Brooklyn Bound J Train, Mid 1990’s
Baron Simone Von Bianco 5 years ago
This picture captures the meltin' pot that was/is NY. Afroamerican girl probably into the latest pop/R&B music (of that era) sitting next what to me seems a jewish man. Many degrees of separation sitting so close.
#31
If It Concerns You, Brooklyn NYC 1980
#32
City Life, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#33
The Observer, Brooklyn, NYC 1982
#34
The Wisdom Bodies, Brooklyn, NYC, Early 1980’s
#35
Representing, Hempstead, NYC 2000
#36
Opposites Attract, NYC, 1990’s
#37
Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#38
A Frozen In Time, Brooklyn, NYC, Early 1980’s
Brie Sansotta 5 years ago
There were all kinds of things on the subway in the 80's. I was on the train when a heavy guy in a pink tutu and tights danced his way down the train for $
#39
Daddy‘S Little Girls, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#40
Tougher Than Leather, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
#41
The Corner, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NYC 1982
Christine M Quigley 5 years ago
I'm from East Flatbush, grew up across from Holy Cross Cemetery..it's changed so much since I was last there..and not for the better.
#43
Old School Love, Brooklyn, NYC, Early 80’s
#45
Daddy‘S Little Girls, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NYC 1980
Mark's Rules 5 years ago
The photos in the necklaces. His "little girls". Tap the photo and it will open full screen. Easier to see.
#46
Caught In Between, NYC 2000
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Ricky Moore 5 years ago
Has anyone else noticed most of the trainers/sneakers shown are still for sale today!!!! Adidas nailed it back then! Lol
April Simnel 5 years ago
The trains are safer and cleaner today. Many buses have free Wi-Fi, as do almost all train stations. Some stations have new murals, electronic touch screens and ad signs... But the service itself is worse: the electrical systems and signal boxes are from the 1930s and faltering, there is still damage from Hurricane Sandy to fix the tubes that are under the river between boroughs. Only in the last year was the Q line extended to 86th Street along 2nd Avenue, and it took *100 years* to get that done. Who knows how long it will take for the next phase to 125th Street? Every week now, there is at least one major train delay during the day, and the state and city governments argue about how to get more money to fix these problems. Many stations are filthy, but somehow the MTA won't apply any of its massive budget for maintenance. I just want clean stations and trains that run properly. Fix the basics first, THEN get fancy new electronic touch screens, d'uh!
Annina Aleksandra 5 years ago (edited)
Why there is not more of his photos. These are gorgeous!
Max Niedoba 5 years ago
If you like these photos, you should watch Nelson Sullivan's video archive of 80s NYC: https://www.youtube.com/user/5ninthavenueproject/videos
DforDorothy 5 years ago (edited)
Great photos, but sorry To see all the dirt and graffittis in the vagons. I hope it has changed.
bob 5 years ago
It has in the late 80s/early 90s. Because what these photos don't show is the level of insecurity in the NY metro during the 80s. Mainly because of a lack of money and personnel. At that time, middle classes avoided the metro like the plague. It all changed when NY municipality started pouring money into this in order to clean up the trains and bring back security. Because a city with bad public transportation is not a very good city (e.g., Paris even today). I took the metro in NY 10 years ago and it was the complete opposite of when we see here, with reasonably clean trains and almost no insecurity. http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2585-when-life-in-new-york-was-real-life-dystopian-action-movie.html
Load More Replies...
Surya Amriza 5 years ago
Looking at Vintage photos and somehow "Cold Case" TV Series comes in mind....
Effseven Six 5 years ago
Stunning photos of real life, I love it. Though I couldnt help but think of the subway scene from Adventures in Babysitting 😂😂
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
Looking at the early '80s pictures, I just can't get over how filthy the subway cars were and how gritty the city looked. This was back when crime was rampant, a lot of the boroughs looked like war zones with burned out, half demolished buildings, and Times Square was still full of porn theatres, fleabag "rooms by the hour" flophouse hotels, hookers, and drug dealers. However, you could still afford an apartment, rent-controlled too, on a modest salary. Then the buildings started to go co-op, which drove out tenants who couldn't afford to buy their units, not to mention gentrification of old, run down neighborhoods on the West Side. NYC is a helluva lot cleaner and safer now, and I'd love to live there. But, even though I could get a job that pays well for most places in the US, my entire salary would go into basic living expenses in NYC. It's so unfair that only the wealthy can afford to live there now, and enjoy the best of the city.
Littoface 5 years ago
This is why I live in Brooklyn (which is still pretty terrible prices but better than the City)
Load More Replies... Meowton Mewsk 5 years ago
Yes, REGGIE JACKSON. There are. You’ll live. Or not. Whatever. We’ll be fine either way.
Load More Replies...
Meowton Mewsk 5 years ago
How do you know the black people aren’t Caucasian? Caucasian isn’t a synonym for white. It’s a skull shape classification that includes Arabs, North Africans and some other Asians. Also there are more races besides black and white which you would have considered if you yourself weren’t racist. If you think pictures of black people is racist, then you’re exactly what people are talking about when they say “white privilege.”
Load More Replies... Ricky Moore 5 years ago
Has anyone else noticed most of the trainers/sneakers shown are still for sale today!!!! Adidas nailed it back then! Lol
April Simnel 5 years ago
The trains are safer and cleaner today. Many buses have free Wi-Fi, as do almost all train stations. Some stations have new murals, electronic touch screens and ad signs... But the service itself is worse: the electrical systems and signal boxes are from the 1930s and faltering, there is still damage from Hurricane Sandy to fix the tubes that are under the river between boroughs. Only in the last year was the Q line extended to 86th Street along 2nd Avenue, and it took *100 years* to get that done. Who knows how long it will take for the next phase to 125th Street? Every week now, there is at least one major train delay during the day, and the state and city governments argue about how to get more money to fix these problems. Many stations are filthy, but somehow the MTA won't apply any of its massive budget for maintenance. I just want clean stations and trains that run properly. Fix the basics first, THEN get fancy new electronic touch screens, d'uh!
Annina Aleksandra 5 years ago (edited)
Why there is not more of his photos. These are gorgeous!
Max Niedoba 5 years ago
If you like these photos, you should watch Nelson Sullivan's video archive of 80s NYC: https://www.youtube.com/user/5ninthavenueproject/videos
DforDorothy 5 years ago (edited)
Great photos, but sorry To see all the dirt and graffittis in the vagons. I hope it has changed.
bob 5 years ago
It has in the late 80s/early 90s. Because what these photos don't show is the level of insecurity in the NY metro during the 80s. Mainly because of a lack of money and personnel. At that time, middle classes avoided the metro like the plague. It all changed when NY municipality started pouring money into this in order to clean up the trains and bring back security. Because a city with bad public transportation is not a very good city (e.g., Paris even today). I took the metro in NY 10 years ago and it was the complete opposite of when we see here, with reasonably clean trains and almost no insecurity. http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2585-when-life-in-new-york-was-real-life-dystopian-action-movie.html
Load More Replies... Surya Amriza 5 years ago
Looking at Vintage photos and somehow "Cold Case" TV Series comes in mind....
Effseven Six 5 years ago
Stunning photos of real life, I love it. Though I couldnt help but think of the subway scene from Adventures in Babysitting 😂😂
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
Looking at the early '80s pictures, I just can't get over how filthy the subway cars were and how gritty the city looked. This was back when crime was rampant, a lot of the boroughs looked like war zones with burned out, half demolished buildings, and Times Square was still full of porn theatres, fleabag "rooms by the hour" flophouse hotels, hookers, and drug dealers. However, you could still afford an apartment, rent-controlled too, on a modest salary. Then the buildings started to go co-op, which drove out tenants who couldn't afford to buy their units, not to mention gentrification of old, run down neighborhoods on the West Side. NYC is a helluva lot cleaner and safer now, and I'd love to live there. But, even though I could get a job that pays well for most places in the US, my entire salary would go into basic living expenses in NYC. It's so unfair that only the wealthy can afford to live there now, and enjoy the best of the city.
Littoface 5 years ago
This is why I live in Brooklyn (which is still pretty terrible prices but better than the City)
Load More Replies... Meowton Mewsk 5 years ago
Yes, REGGIE JACKSON. There are. You’ll live. Or not. Whatever. We’ll be fine either way.
Load More Replies... Meowton Mewsk 5 years ago
How do you know the black people aren’t Caucasian? Caucasian isn’t a synonym for white. It’s a skull shape classification that includes Arabs, North Africans and some other Asians. Also there are more races besides black and white which you would have considered if you yourself weren’t racist. If you think pictures of black people is racist, then you’re exactly what people are talking about when they say “white privilege.”
Load More Replies... You May Like 50 Times People Captured Perfect Street Scenes And Had To Share It In This Online Group 50 Photos People Took Of Something Mildly Interesting, Yet Truly Fascinating Tiny Crochet Designs: Artist Recreates Popular Items In The Tiny Scale Of 1 To 12
Gabija Saveiskyte
Mariia Tkachenko
Community Panda
Related on Bored Panda
