The next stops are: Weirdville, Bizarretown, and Strangeburg! There’s something unique about subways, metros, and the tube that brings out the weirdest and funniest side of humanity. A side of us that you won’t find on any other form of transportation. Buses, cars, horseback riding, high-speed trains, and trams have nothing on subways. We can promise you that, 100%.
You know for a fact that our team here at Bored Panda loves photography. The more unusual, the better. So we’ve collected a list of the most amusing, downright bizarre, and hilarious photos that people took while on the subway. Scroll down to see the best of the best! Oh, and while you’re upvoting your fave ones (the duck in the backpack stands out to us, personally), consider sharing your weirdest experience while on public transport, in the comments.
And if you’re in the mood for some more subway humor and weirdness, then you’ll definitely want to take a peek at Bored Panda’s articles right here, here, and over here. We sincerely hope you have a pleasant journey. Enjoy and… be sure to mind the gap.
I reached out to photographer Dominic Sberna to get his opinion on the etiquette we should follow when taking photos of people in public spaces, as well as his advice for amateurs hoping to take some great shots. You'll find his thoughts below. Scroll down for Bored Panda's exclusive interview.
#1 I Found Her. She Is Alive
Image credits: 0Bits
Photographer Dominic explained to Bored Panda that there isn't one specific set of rules or etiquette that can apply to all situations when it comes to taking pics in public spaces.
"From a legal standpoint, if someone is in a public place, they can be part of your photography. That is something I learned in college," he shared. "However, you should ask someone for their persmission if you plan to make their identity the focal point of your image. As in, a proper portrait versus someone walking in front of a building for example." This is something that photographers, veteran and amateur alike, should keep at the forefront of their mind, whether they're taking pictures on the subway or anywhere else.
#2 Lesson Learnt
Image credits: da_drought_3
#3 A Guy Brought His Peacock Onto The NYC Subway And No One Even Looked Up From Their Phones
Image credits: BookerDeWittsCarbine
Dominic stressed the importance of timing. It "is everything when trying to capture a specific moment or action," he told me. As anyone with a creative streak knows, it can sometimes be hell trying to decide which photo to showcase when you've got several great ones. According to the photographer, deciding between the photos "is as simple as deciding what you want to convey."
We need to consider what message we'll be sending. "The first photo could be more impactful and the second one could be a different message entirely. It comes down to preference and intention at the end of the day," he said.
#4 Springfield
Image credits: zhenxing
#5 "How To Talk To Your Cat About Gun Safety". Interesting
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#6 You Keep Doing You
Image credits: GallowBoob
As for his advice for amateur photographers, the essence is putting yourself out there and seeing what you can find. "Just go out and take in your surroundings and pay attention to the little details. The smallest of details in the everyday mundane might stand out to you on any particular day if you're in the right state of mind," Dominic shared.
However, we also need to learn to kick back, relax, and enjoy life, instead of worrying about missing out on some great photos. "Again, this is personal preference. It's good to just enjoy life and put down the camera sometimes, but it's also good to be prepared. You win some and you lose some, I suppose."
#7 Duck And Cover
Image credits: WullieBlake
#8 Just A Fox
Image credits: IosifMarianna
#9 A Guy Feeds A Kitten In The Subway
Image credits: TheHofinstop
Some time ago, Rick McGuire, the founder of the ‘Subway Creatures’ project on Instagram, shared with Bored Panda his own insights about what it is about subways that turns the strangeness all the way to 11.
According to him, commuters are forced into a confined space and have no other choice but to deal with each other. That means that everyone’s in close proximity with a small microcosm of society, including its most interesting and strangest parts.
"The NYC subway is still one of the most efficient ways of getting around and if you need an audience, this is the perfect place to find one. This can sometimes work out for the best and the worst," Rick shared with Bored Panda.
#10 I’m Feeling Lucky
Image credits: ibsanv
#11 This Man Was Sketching People On The Subway And Telling Them That They Are Beautiful
Image credits: daaaabear
#12 Just Santa Riding The Subway
He explained that the “wild, bizarre, and crazy things” that the New York City subway had to offer inspired him to create the ‘Subway Creatures’ project as a way to document it all.
"NYC has this unspoken rule of 'keep your head down and mind your own business' but I'm a huge people-watcher. There's so much going on around you at all times and it would be a shame to miss some of these typical 'New York moments.' When I'm on the train I always find myself looking for obscurities and checking my surroundings. You never know what you'll see!" Rick said.
#13 Taking Christmas To A Whole New Level
Image credits: bendiknee
#14 Brazilians In The Moscow Metro
Image credits: sallem654
#15 Spotted On The Subway
Image credits: crazeecatladee
Meanwhile, career coach Rita Friedman shed some light on commuting and how it shouldn’t always be used for maximum efficiency. Sometimes, you simply need a break from the rush. And your ride on the subway can be just that.
"A commute is literally a transitional unit of space and time, and a lot of commuters use it as their break between the responsibilities of home and the responsibilities of work or school, so it's the perfect moment to look at pictures of failed cakes or animals making funny faces. It's just nice to have time where nobody is holding you accountable," Rita told Bored Panda.
#16 Hmmm
Image credits: Jazzdaddy66
#17 Dude’s Showing His Lizard Bro A Whole New World On An 8-Hour Bus Trip
Image credits: RSchelly
#18 Sauron The Commuter
Image credits: lizmulhall
According to the career coach, zoning out while on your commute can be therapeutic. It also helps manage our stress.
"That might be scrolling through social media or half-listening to a podcast. I'll also say some of my best ideas have come to me when I've been staring out a window or at a wall. "If work is really taxing, you might find that bringing something on your ride lets you focus away from the distractions of the office—it actually might be a lot easier to knock out a report without a chatty coworker hovering nearby."
#19 Sir Robert Knight: Guardian Of The Subway And Protector Of The Innocent
Image credits: KantenKant
#20 Next Station? Jerusalem Of Course
Image credits: Asmodeane
#21 These Two
Image credits: subwaycreatures
Though, if you’re feeling up to it, you can use your commute to catch up on some personal tasks. Like replying to emails you might have missed or managing your calendar to get your agenda in order for the near future. In short, your commute could be your morning ritual to sort through what you need to, so you can dive right into work the moment you get to the office.
#22 A Must-Have For This Fall Season
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#23 When Your Wanted Level Is At 5 Stars, And You're Hiding From The Cops
#24 Seems About Right
Image credits: julesvlees
"You might also find yourself more productive at work if you spend your commute doing something like reading or playing a strategy game that gets your brain warmed up. If you are actively walking /driving/biking, taking a different route can help shake things up and break up the monotony," Rita said.
#25 Old Lady In A Subway
Image credits: wartesz
#26 Swedish Fans Excited About Today's Match
Image credits: lostinsweden
#27 Does This Count?
Image credits: imgur.com
"Unless you have a very long commute, it's probably pushing it to try to get into any kind of study or meaningful work that requires a state of flow, but it could be a good time to watch a 5-minute refresher tutorial on a new skill you're working on or to skim through an article your colleagues will also have read."
#28 I Have So Many Questions
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#29 Dude Just Whipped Out This Desk On The Subway And Started His Meeting
Image credits: brdesignguy
#30 Chicken Of The Sea
Image credits: spit_finger
#31 Casual Day On The London Underground
Image credits: s1naba
#32 Looks Like Russians Invented A Time Machine
Image credits: Megalan
#33 Corona Supermask
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#34 NYC Heat Wave Is Bringing More Than High Temperatures
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#35 Harris Hawk On The Metrolink - Apparently She Was Afraid Of The Fireworks
Image credits: Imperator_Helvetica
#36 Took This About A Year Ago. Wasn’t Really Sure What Was Going On, Still Don’t
Image credits: inaterym
#37 I Know Amazing Right? Thought My Italian Grandma Was The Only One Who Covered Seats In Plastic
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#38 Why Does This Doll Look Like It Needs An Adult?
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#39 Quidditch
Image credits: SanchoLibre
#40 The Man Sitting In Front Of Me On The Train Is Using A Twix As A Pillow
Image credits: star_man_u
#41 What’s Your Number 1 Pet Peeve On The Subway?
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#42 Gen Z Like 'What's That Thing On His Head?'
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#43 Lion King
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#44 Horses Are Returning To The Luas, Nature Is Healing, We Are The Virus
Image credits: mccrickle82
#45 Happy Thanksgiving Everybody
Image credits: princezee
#46 Saying Hey From The NYC Subway
Image credits: StuffyUnicorn
#47 Found Satan On A Train
Image credits: Grimm6115
#48 Thanks, I Hate These Pants
Image credits: AristonD
#49 A Great Way To Keep Warm Tonight
Image credits: bobotouch
#50 Interesting
Image credits: Zin-Fed
#51 Swedish Subway Creature
Image credits: Pachigalaxis
#52 This Guy
Image credits: mak-nil
#53 The Undertaker
Image credits: mak-nil
#54 Spotted While Waiting For The Train The Other Night. Made Me Laugh
Image credits: nonicer
#55 I Needed One Of These Pre-Covid
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#56 Every Day Is Halloween In New York Subways
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#57 Probably Not Halloween Related
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#58 Headed To EarthDayCon
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#59 Guaranteed Social Distancing
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#60 Give Me Dat Masking Tape Special
Image credits: koany
#61 He Walked In With Just A Loose Set Of Chair Legs. Then He Got Down, Took The Seat Top Out Of His Bag, And Assembled A Full Wooden Stool In The Middle Of The Train On Road
Image credits: sherzodrzfdgdgf
#62 Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One. A Guy Gets On CTA (Chicago) With A Colony Of Bees
Image credits: my5lives
#63 This Man From The Future
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#64 The Purrfect Beat
Image credits: ymylashen
#65 Cat Scarf
Image credits: Georgefayiz
#66 Found In Paris, Even The Mask Has Flair
Image credits: invz27
#67 What Game Is This
Image credits: C4H10
#68 Self Protection
Image credits: Rebuluksz
#69 This Guy's Dedication
Image credits: Lusake
#70 Protection Above Everything
Image credits: Calygula
#71 Try Explaining To Your Boss That You're Late Because You Missed Your Stop While Feeding A Pink Chicken Cheerios On The Subway
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#72 Hmmm
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#73 Twisted Sister
Image credits: mak-nil
#74 With Her Pet
Image credits: mak-nil
#75 Enter All Bad Duck Jokes Below
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#76 Get This Good Boy Some Timbs
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#77 NYers Getting Back On Their Feet
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#78 What's That?
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#79 Coneheads (2021)
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#80 Buckle Up And Get The Popcorn Ready
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#81 Pumpkin Man
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#82 Her Own Biggest Fan
Image credits: hippo_king11
#83 After A Tough Day In Zootopia
Image credits: sn0rk95
#84 Corona Ain’t Gonna Get Her 200 IQ
Image credits: VoXaN24
#85 Why Does He Look Like A Spongebob Character?
Image credits: LordMetrognome
#86 Blasting Music During Peak Hours While Everyone Is Going Home After A Tiring Day
Image credits: goldeneag
#87 Never Have I Wanted To Touch Someone's Hat So Much
Image credits: beckyshangrila
#88 I’ll Grab The Next Train
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#89 Holy Subway
Image credits: lafoot_indian
#90 This Guy Commutes
Image credits: merg_flerg
#91 Saw Miles Morales On The Train! This Dude Wasn’t Even Asking For Money, He Was Just Hanging Out
Image credits: Robotshavenohearts
#92 A Real NYC Bedbug Story
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#93 Just A Regular Lunch
Image credits: humansoftrulai
#94 Subway Spider-Man
Image credits: leilliz
#95 Just. Just No
Image credits: PeaceOrchid
#96 Should I Be Scared?
#97 The Hottest Pose I've Ever Seen In The Train
#98 Looks Safe Bro
Image credits: doomsday10009
#99 Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil
Image credits: cyberpunkkarmathief
#100 Shout Out To All The Reptilian Gang Members In Da House
Image credits: oneamericaca
#101 A Duck Wearing Sneakers In Mexico City
Image credits: curielxm
#102 Do You Think She Woke Up In Brooklyn?
Image credits: dervison123
#103 He Really Gonna Sit There Reading That Book Like That Thing Ain't On It's Phone Next To Him
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#104 The Guardian Of The Quiet Carriage Blocks Your Path. Do You Surrender Your Mobile Device, Flee, Or Challenge To Single Combat?
Image credits: Bosworth_13
#105 Hungry?
Image credits: Ho_Phat
#106 Still Figuring Out This Mask Thing
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#107 The Squirrel Master Never Needed A Leash
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#108 Washington Square Park Like "I'm Out"
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#109 A For Creativity On His Mask
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#110 "The Mushrooms Are Turning On Me"
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#111 Lady, You Ok?
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#112 Aw, She Knit Herself A Mask
#113 Wearing Is Caring
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#114 The Hand Of One Of It's Victims
Image credits: Faith_SC
#115 Meanwhile In Korea
Image credits: alekmude
#116 Fashion-Forward
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#117 So Many Things I Need To Know How She Physically Does
Image credits: subwaycreatures
#118 This
Image credits: subwaycreatures
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