Before the pandemic, I rode the New York City Subway during rush hour
to teach 8th graders in Manhattan. 

One rush hour morning, hanging by the railing to read my texts, the woman sitting below me stuck her gum on her coffee lid so she could drink on her commute. Perfect. Being tall, I could pretend I was still texting when I took the first Subway Lap photo.

Every ride, I photographed what became over 1,000 Subway Laps to document what to me was the daily miracle – with very rare exceptions – of the humanity, hope, and history I stood with on every, single ride.

Saying, “Excuse me,” during rush hour was not a consideration. We knew to sit or stand silently, invisible and indivisible for the safety of all. We rode in faithful tolerance of our differences, and in mute agreement that we needed one another’s stillness to get to work on time.  We were the Greater Good.

During our rides we slept, kissed, created spead sheets, prayed, stared into space, ate take-out, texted and gamed endlessly, counted prayer beads, used our fingers to do math homework, nodded with our earbuds, stood up for others to sit down, rested our feet on soccer balls, drew in journals, and held — hands, babies, little children, purses, dogs, strollers, skateboards, white canes, apples, coffee, newspapers, saxophones, umbrellas, flowers, Kleenex boxes and phones.

We couldn’t get any closer. 

   See each person’s lap in the GALLERY above.

Pricing & Printing

SUBWAY LAPS is available in two sizes, and custom sizes. Each photo mural is digitally printed on semi-gloss Canson Platine 100% cotton rag paper, and processed individually.

Two Sizes:  55.2 x 162 inches or 4.5 x 13.5 feet | $12,000

27.6 x 81 inches or 2.5 x 6 feet | $6,000

Printing is also available on aluminum and plexiglass for homes and professional spaces. Also, in wallpaper.

Prices include domestic shipping.

Email: amy@amyarcherphotography.com

Website: amyarcherphotography.com

AMY ARCHER is an acclaimed photographer whose work is in the Portland Art Museum, Oregon, and has been commissioned and acquired by many private and public collectors, including Pink Martini, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, and Related, NYC.

She has shown extensively, most often at the prestigious Augen Gallery, and has been featured in magazines such as “Departures” (cover article), “Architectural Record” and “House Beautiful.” 

Her book Scrapbook For Living (Abrams) with Bunny Williams includes over 70 of her Place Portrait compositions of homes throughout the country.

                           "Chock full of beautiful, instructive pictures…" 
                                                     -- The New York Times 

She has photographed in places as diverse as Mali and Blue Hill, Maine. Currently, she lives outside New York City where she is working on her next collection of ABSTRACT Photo Murals.