No Pants Subway Ride!

 How does one explain the tenth annual No Pants Subway Ride in New York City?  Thousands gathered at six strategic meeting points on and off the island, riding out into the subway system, and removed their pants.  We rode the N from Canal Street uptown for ten stops.  After removing our pants, we transferred to a following N Train, and carried on as if business was usual.  Once at the border of Queens, we transferred to the 6, and rode back to Union Square where the no pants riders celebrated their liberation from chafing jean, corduroy, and leggings. The whole event was organized by a group called Improv Everywhere, and was carried out in cities globally.  

What was this experience? Strange reactions and confused participants mashed with too much media coverage.  I fully enjoyed the concept and desired effect.  Unfortunately the N Train was rather sparsely crowded and drew little reaction.  The return trip on the 6 was much more of what I would consider the goal of this event.  Our subway car was crowded with pantsed norms, and the pants-less participants (Lisa and myself included) made things uncomfortable, goofy, sexy, and flat out funny.  The party in the square was... polar bear club meets pillow fight meets fraternity hazing!

Photo by Lisa Barnshaw

Photo by Lisa

Photo by Lisa

Photo by Lisa

Amazing photo by Lisa

Photo by Lisa

Photo by Lisa

Quote of the day (from bystander at start point): "Actually... I can't do this, I'm not wearing any underwear!"

City Hall Station

The City Hall Station opened with the first Interborough Rapid Transit Trains in 1904.  This station served as the flagship of New York City subway.  Due to increased ridership, the IRT lengthened trains and could not expand the City Hall station to meet safety requirements.  You can no longer visit the vaulted ceilings or read the plaques.  The station was closed in 1945, and has since been left to some measure of obscurity.

There is a lot of this city that is not being explored, where layer over layer has covered our original landscape.  We frequent the crust, and dive down to tear through tunnels carved generations ago.  New lines are built, repair is constant.  The MTA reports 660 miles of track mostly beneath NY, and an estimated 120 more that are out of service.  While most of underground NY is frequented by the daily commuters, some places are left behind to share a rich history with only the train conductors at the end of the 6 line. 

Photo by Ben Simon

Ben Simon

Ben Simon

Ben Simon

Back in New York City

How else does one return to NYC than a trip to Coney Island? I could think of no better reintroduction to the subways, the culture, or to connect present with past.


Photographing didn't make it that far, only to take pictures with some kids from the Bronx who made the long trip across the entire city to reach the beach. At each station, they would race to a car up the train, seeing how many cars they could pass before the doors close.


It was pointed out to me that it is a different kind of relationship between photographer and subject when the subject is aware of being photographed. These kids at first yelled at me for taking their photo, but I was able to show them a few of the shots, making them more comfortable with me. Afterward, their role was performer, and I the recorder.


The only question for me is, does the viewer know any difference, between when the subjects are aware of the photographer, and when they were not? More often, engaging the subject, to ask or find out otherwise how to allow for the relationship to begin, is the hardest part.