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25th January, 2023 in Transport & Industry

Symmetry on the London Underground

By Luke Agbaimoni

Humans are natural puzzle solvers; we make sense of the world around us by seeking out similarities in the labyrinth of patterns and information that we receive. This is why we are drawn to symmetry and why it’s so pleasing to view in photography.

Over the past 8 years I’ve been slowly trying to capture visual moments at every London Underground station for my Tube Mapper photography project. As I wander the many hallways, staircases and platforms of the London tube network; symmetry has been a recurring theme that ignites my creativity and holds my interest.

The contrast of the bright handrails and train doors against the saturated walls and stairs at Surrey Quays Overground
Simple Contrast – Surrey Quays Overground. I love the contrast of the bright handrails and train doors against the saturated walls and stairs at Surrey Quays
Little and Large – Hammersmith. An amusing comparison of the different sizes of trains that serve the London Underground
Little and Large – Hammersmith. I love this amusing comparison of the different sizes of trains that serve the London Underground

I love trying to spot and even anticipate symmetrical compositions, and I have found that the layout and architecture of stations help to encourage this outcome. Transport for London instructs architects, designers and spatial capacity planners control the ‘customer flow to and from trains’, creating a fluid and continuous motion that keeps people moving to maximise the efficiency of their journeys across the city. Observing the movements of the guided crowd allows you to sometimes predict the interactions that people and transport have with their surroundings. This results in a visual balance that often rewards us with a symmetrical image.

An Uncommon Sight – Clapham Common. The narrow platforms at Clapham Common help to create very dramatic compositions. They can get a little crowded during rush hour
An Uncommon Sight – Clapham Common. The narrow platforms at Clapham Common help to create very dramatic compositions. They can get a little crowded during rush hour
Blue – Bank. The train waits at the end of the recently constructed platform on the Northern line at Bank station
Blue – Bank. The train waits at the end of the recently constructed platform on the Northern line at Bank station

Here’s some photography from my recently released second photography book London Underground: Symmetry and Imperfections, which showcases some of my favourite symmetrical encounters while I captured moments for my The Tube Mapper Project.

Eyes – Paddington. Appearing like many eyes looking down at you, the platform lights on the Elizabeth line at Paddington make quite the statement
Eyes – Paddington. Appearing like many eyes looking down at you, the platform lights on the Elizabeth line at Paddington make quite the statement
Tiled Doorway – Goodge Street. A very special and easy-to-miss tiled doorway framing this narrow pedestrian passage near the entrance of Goodge Street station
Tiled Doorway – Goodge Street. A very special and easy-to-miss tiled doorway framing this narrow pedestrian passage near the entrance of Goodge Street station
Hypnotised – London Overground Train. Looking down the carriages of London Overground trains.
Hypnotised – London Overground Train. I really enjoy looking down the carriages of London Overground trains. You can find yourself being slowly hypnotised watching the train sway and snake around corners
Door Symmetry – Morden Morden is another station where trains temporarily create bridges between platforms
Door Symmetry – Morden Morden is another station where trains temporarily create bridges between platforms
The Flow – Liverpool Street. The powerful flow of curves and textures as you walk down the Elizabeth line escalator at Liverpool Street station
The Flow – Liverpool Street. I love the powerful flow of curves and textures as you walk down the Elizabeth line escalator at Liverpool Street station
Lewisham Angel – Lewisham DLR. The platform covers built by CGL Rail resemble angel wings when viewed from a low angle
Lewisham Angel – Lewisham DLR. I visited this station many times before I noticed that the platform covers built by CGL Rail resemble angel wings when viewed from a low angle


Books related to this article

The Tube Mapper Project

Luke Agbaimoni,

London Underground Symmetry and Imperfections

Luke Agbaimoni,

Contrast – Photography on the London Underground

Luke Agbaimoni,

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