Dear Metro Enthusiasts,

The work you now hold in your hands is my second photo album, European Metros, a continuation of my first book that marks a new stage in my long-standing creative project.

I began work on this second publication in 2018 while simultaneously working on my debut photo album. Over the years, the concept of the project has expanded considerably, and today I am delighted to present a book that differs from the first not only in the geographical scope of my travels, but also in its artistic vision.

In this second photo album, I decided not only to reveal the behind-the-scenes world of the metro, but also to present it as a unique cultural space. For this reason, I have devoted special attention to works of art, the architecture and the atmosphere of underground stations. Alongside the informative captions accompanying the photographs, I share my personal impressions, recount some of the most memorable moments from my photo shoots, and tell the stories that stand behind the images.

This second photo album includes my photographic works from the metro systems of Barcelona, Lisbon, Prague and Lyon. Seeking to broaden both the scope of the European Metros project and my readers’ horizons, I decided to include a special “Exclusive” section, which presents my photographic works from selected metro systems in Japan, specifically in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe and Kyoto.

Several years have passed since the publication of my first photo album, and many of the metro systems featured in the first edition have continued to develop. For this reason, a separate chapter in this second book presents the latest developments in the metro systems featured in the first edition: Paris, Moscow, Vienna and Helsinki. The same chapter also includes historical archive material together with my own perspective of these metro systems several years later.

The main idea of the European Metros project is to connect the history of the metro with the present. I wanted to capture the beauty of metro trains against the architectural backdrop of the stations, reveal the artistic character of the metro, and offer readers a glimpse into its lesser-known side by taking them inside depots, tunnels, closed stations and other fascinating locations.

I hope this photo album will enable you not only to discover the beauty of metro systems, but also to experience their unique character, history and atmosphere. Perhaps my photographic works will inspire you during your own travels to different countries to use the local metro and view in person the stations you have already discovered on the pages of this photo album.

Boris Kogut

Metro populariser, transport specialist, photographer and publisher

Interview with the author of the book 1, European Metros Boris Kogut for the magazine of Prague Transport Company: