Vivid: Colour Your Commute

Vivid photographs of metro stations, including vibrant colours and shapes, are artist Christopher Forsyth’s specialty. In his collection The Metro Project, Forsyth captures images of metro stations in not only his home of Montreal, but also across the world, including in Munich and Berlin. These stunning images leave the public wanting more- and looking at simple objects in a new light! Read below to see his images and a personal interview.

How do you make the pictures pop so much?

Metro stations are often dimly lit, so a lot of their vibrant colors might not be as apparent in person. When I photograph the stations, I sometimes overexpose my images to bring back some of that color and vibrance.

Why railway/train stations in different countries? In fact, why did you decide to do this project in the first place?

I began the project as a school assignment, creating a small architecture series. Metro stations were an obvious pick for me because I was passing through them daily. After years of commuting in Montreal, I began to notice how beautiful the stations are. Following my series in Montreal, I decided to explore more metro architecture and headed to Munich, Berlin, and Stockholm to photograph their networks.

Will the project keep going and if so where is next?

The project is still on-going and I hope to keep adding to it for years to come. There are dozens of cities around the world that I’d like to visit throughout Europe, Asia, South America, etc.

Are you a fan of things like, say, pop art or cubism, as there is a definite feel of both the movements within your work?

Unfortunately I’m not as art-literate as I should be. My inspiration comes from a bit of everything, from everywhere. Thanks to the internet, I’m able to constantly take in new inspiration from graphic design, cinematography, and all the arts for that matter.

How long does it take to get an image and do you have to go out late at night or early in am (If so, do you have to get permission) as we notice there are no people in the images?

I like to shoot during mid-day, between the morning and afternoon rush hours. So long as you’re not out during rush hour, you’re fine. Getting the images free of people is just a question of patience. Also, if I’m focusing on a relatively small section of the station, people are less of a concern.