Christophe Agou - Life Below - Showcase #2

Christophe Agou writes in his book Life Below:
"The underground world of the New York City Subway became a stage for chance rendezvous with people from all walks of life. My emotions seemed to echo those of the passengers I chose to portray... I loved feeling the pulse beneath the city, letting my eye intuitively discover the reality under the surface. I had no destinations or expectations in mind. Each time I went below, it was with my heart."

All Rights Reserved - Life Below - Photographs by Christophe Agou - Quantuck Lane Press, New York, 2004

From its beginnings in the early part of the 20th century, the New York City subway has captured the imaginations of photographers from Walker Evans to Bruce Davidson, and many more. But never has it been so powerfully and lyrically portrayed as in these carefully orchestrated sequences from Christophe Agou, a photographer whose searing images haunt and intrigue us at the same time.

All Rights Reserved - Life Below - Photographs by Christophe Agou - Quantuck Lane Press, New York, 2004

Agou's Life Below, on the other hand, entirely in black-and-white and produced between 1997 and 2000, presents a moving, lyrical, and surprisingly
personal portrait of the subway. These revealing images of fleeting acquaintances and proximity are often shot at such a close range, one marvels at the
accomplishment, and sees in them something enduring and timeless. Hands on the pole, newspapers blowing on the ground as the train approaches,
people in intense thought and conversation appear with a feeling of intimacy that pervades the entire project. 

About Christophe Agou
French Contemporary photographer Christophe Agou moved to New York in 1992. Bridging the worlds of documentary and fine art
photography, Agou works in extended series, both in color and black and white. His intimate images haunt and intrigue us at the same time,
creating an intensely rich, layered visual language that triggers thoughts and emotions. He first came to prominence with his compelling photographs
made in the New York Subway, and published Life Below in 2004.
 He was chosen as a finalist for both the prestigious W. Eugene Smith Award in 2006 and le Prix de la Photographie de l’Académie des Beaux Arts of
Paris in 2008. He received a ‘Mention Spéciale‘ for Le Prix Kodak de la Critique Photographique in 2009.His work has been widely published and exhibited
internationally including at the Moma; NY, Le Jeu de Paume Museum, Paris; The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, The Museum of American History in
D.C and at festivals including Les Rencontres D’Arles, Noorderlicht and Fotofest.

Links:
- You can buy his book at PhotoEye
- Check out Christophe Agou website
- Quotes by Christophe Agou on PhotoQuotes
- Street photos by Christophe Agou at in-public.com

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