NYC’s subway as captured by Christopher Morris in the 80s

A frenetic city full of dirt, danger and contrary elements is revealed through a photo series that was recently published by TIME. During the 80s, New York was very different form the prime cosmopolitan city that is today. Photo reporter Christopher Morris captured the identity of this long-gone NY by watching underground and photographing its metro.

The award- winning Morris who gained great recognition by documenting the wars of Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, at the age of 22 years, while making his first steps in photo reporting as an intern in a New York photo agency called Black Star, photographed the underground looking for criminal elements. For six months, young Morris was riding alone or along with the “Guardian Angels” anti-crime group, capturing in the then no-go area, peers hanging out and working citizens on their way to work.