Enchanting Halloween Journey: A Delightful Escapade on the New York City Subway

New York City's subway stations, with their fluorescent lighting, dim tunnels, scurrying rats, and eerie dripping, create a spooky atmosphere that is perfect for Halloween. During this time, the underground system comes alive with a vibrant blend of costumed figures, all hurrying to their destinations.

For almost twenty years, a New York photographer known as Seymour Licht has been capturing the surreal, peculiar, and extravagant paraders and partygoers who traverse the city's transit system. In one photograph, a person dressed as surrealist artist Rene Magritte sits on a train, holding up a picture frame with an apple hovering above their face. In another image, Samara, the dark-haired ghost from the cult horror film "The Ring," patiently waits underground for the arrival of the next train.

Licht, who has published a book titled "Halloween Underground," has creatively captured the essence of the Village Halloween Parade coinciding with its 50th anniversary.

"In the beginning, my approach was documentary-style photography, merely capturing the scenes before me," Licht explained during a phone conversation. "However, my fascination led me to transform the imagery into something enchanting and dreamlike."

Samara from "The Ring" waits for her train at Union Square.

Seymour Licht

Although Licht has also captured images of people celebrating above-ground, he discovered that he was particularly captivated by the fleeting narratives that emerged as crowds traversed the vibrant city centers, such as Union Square and West 4th Street in Manhattan, as well as bustling stations like Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn.

"The subway represents a threshold between two worlds, and Halloween symbolizes a transitional period," he explained, alluding to its roots in Samhain, the ancient Gaelic celebration marking the end of the harvest season. "It is the time when departed souls cross over to visit and coexist with the living."

His photographs capture the evolution of photography, as Licht started with Fuji transparency film and now embraces digital technology, reflecting the changes in subway aesthetics and shifts in popular culture. Among his subjects are iconic horror characters like Pennywise and Michael Myers, ethereal angels, a towering frog prince, and the beloved fox couple from Wes Anderson's adaptation of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" in 2009, among others.

One unfortunate trend Licht has noticed, however? A drop in the complexity and originality of many ensembles.

Catwoman stands clear of the closing doors.

Seymour Licht

While a bloodied prom queen lurks on an empty train carriage.

Seymour Licht

"I think the more elaborate costumes, where you see people put a lot of thought and time in it, are a little bit more uncommon," he said of recent years.

After two decades, Licht now regards the experience as a thrilling journey into the darker side of the city.

"What makes Halloween so amazing is that people are typically up for anything," he remarked. "They go out with the intention of enjoying themselves. There's a sense of mischief and playfulness in the air."

"Halloween Underground" is available now. Scroll for a selection of photographs from the book.

Mr. and Mrs. Fox awaiting their stop.

Seymour Licht

Surrealist René Magritte holds his own self-portrait frame.

Seymour Licht

A ghostly double doll costume.

Seymour Licht

A couple at Lorimer Street taking inspiration from Ancient Egypt.

Seymour Licht

Triplet owls at Union Square.

Seymour Licht

A couple of gory neurosurgeons.

Seymour Licht

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A masked fan in feathers.

Seymour Licht

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A family in face paint rides the C train.

Seymour Licht

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Vertiginous face paint illusion on the subway.

Seymour Licht

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Grandma Wolf waits on the platformnot the best person to ask "what's the time?" of the next 4 train's arrival.

Seymour Licht