Fluorescent lighting, dark tunnels, scurrying rats and questionable dripping: New York City’s subway stations could serve as a spooky backdrop on nearly any day, but around Halloween, the sprawling subterranean system comes alive with bustling costumed figures — all of whom have somewhere to be, thanks.

For nearly two decades, one New York photographer, who goes by the artist name Seymour Licht, has documented spectral, peculiar and outlandish parade- and partygoers in transit across the city. In one photo, an imitator of surrealist artist Rene Magritte sits in a train car, holding a picture frame with an apple suspended above his face; in another, the dark-haired ghoulish Samara from the cult horror film “The Ring” waits underground for the next train to arrive.

Now, Licht has put together a book called “Halloween Underground,” timed to the 50th anniversary of the Village Halloween Parade.

“I started with documentary (photography), just recording what I saw,” Licht said. “And then I was so transfixed, that I wanted to elevate it and (make it) more magical and surreal.”

Although Licht has photographed above-ground revelers, too, he found he was more drawn to the transitory themes unfolding as crowds moved through downtown hubs including Union Square and West 4th Street in Manhattan, and busy stations like Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn.

“The subway is a liminal space, and Halloween is a liminal time,” he said, referring to its origins in Samhain, the ancient Gaelic festival that signaled the end of harvest season. “It’s the time when the dead come over to visit and mingle among the living.”

Through his photos, one can chart changes to photography — Licht began with Fuji transparency film and shoots digitally now — updates to the subway and shifts in pop culture, too. There’re appearances by classic horror villains Pennywise and Michael Myers, glittering angels, a six-foot-tall frog prince, and the married foxes from the 2009 Wes Anderson adaptation of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” among others.

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

“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.

Twenty years on, Licht ultimately views the work as a “fantastical ride” through the underbelly of the city.

“The wonderful thing about Halloween is that people generally are game,” he said. “They’re out there to have a good time.”(SD-Agencies)

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【交往】

jiāowǎng

mingle

move around and talk to other people at a social event

【跃跃欲试】

yuèyuè yùshì

game

eager or willing to do something new or challenging

荧光灯、黑暗的隧道、乱窜的老鼠和可疑的滴水声：纽约地铁几乎每一天都有点儿诡异，但万圣节前后，这个庞大的地下系统更是挤满熙熙攘攘、打扮怪诞的人 —— 他们各得其所。

近二十年来，一位艺名叫西摩•利希特的纽约摄影师用镜头记录下了城市中那些奇形怪状的游行者和狂欢者。一张照片中，模仿超现实主义艺术家勒内•马格里特的乘客坐在车厢里，手里拿着画框，画框上方一只苹果挡在面前；另一张照片中，邪典恐怖片

《午夜凶铃》中的可怕黑发女贞子在等待下一班列车的到来。

利希特将这些照片整理成书出版，名为《地下万圣节》，纪念格林威治村万圣节游行50周年。

他说：“我最早从事纪实（摄影），只是拍照记录生活。后来我迷上了摄影，希望照片更加神奇、超现实。”

虽然利希特也拍摄过地面上的狂欢者，但更吸引他的是匆忙赶路的地铁人群，他们穿过曼哈顿联合广场和西四街这些中心枢纽，或者在布鲁克林的贝德福德大道这类繁忙的站点等候。

他说：“地铁是一个过渡空间，而万圣节是一个过渡时间。”起源于盖尔人古老的萨温节，万圣节庆祝收获季的结束。他说：“这是亡灵回到人间的日子。”

通过照片，人们可以看到变化的摄影技术（利希特最初使用透明富士胶片，现在用数码相机）、不断更新的地铁以及潮流的变迁。

照片中有经典恐怖角色潘尼怀斯和迈克尔•迈尔斯、闪闪发光的天使、六英尺高的青蛙王子，以及狐狸夫妇 —— 他俩出自2009年韦斯•安德森改编的电影《了不起的狐狸爸爸》。

不过利希特也注意到了一个令人遗憾的趋势。近年来装扮的复杂性和原创性都不如从前了。

他说：“越来越少人愿意花费大量心思和时间精心打扮了。”

二十年过去了，利希特的这本摄影集记录了穿越城市地下的“奇幻之旅”。

他说：“万圣节的奇妙之处在于，人们都兴致勃勃出门找乐。”

(Translated by Debra)