Exclusive: Mystery behind candid snaps of a kissing couple, a praying man and a cowboy riding the Tube

When photographer Mark McEvoy set out to capture late night life on London’s Underground he had no idea what he’d find. But his lens unlocked a unique window into a 1990s weekend world of kissing couples, playful punk rockers, revellers and careworn commuters - with not a mobile phone in sight. Now a selection of those snapshots of strangers from the past is being showcased in a new book, London Underground 1992-1995. It comes in the week that London Underground celebrates 10 years of the night Tube. Before this, the last trains generally left central London between midnight and 1am. That is far from the only thing that’s changed since Mark’s pictures were taken. The photographer, who now lives in Margate, Kent, explains: “These images might be thirty plus years old but they still resonate and over time have taken on a new significance." He continues: “They capture little moments in people’s lives. Travellers having a great time, having a terrible time, falling in love. It doesn't matter if you don’t live in London and have never been on the Tube - I think we can all recognise ourselves in the pictures because of the diversity of people and experiences they contain. “They’re quite nostalgic and quite emotional too - look at the way people are dressed and the fact that they’re reading newspapers. And nobody is wearing headphones. It reminds us of what life used to be like. And it's amazing how, even in 35 years, things can look and feel so different.” Dad-of-three Mark, 59, spent almost three years on the project, choosing to step on and off the last Tube trains running on a Friday and Saturday night and capture their passengers. Mark, whose dad was a keen photographer, recalls the late night Tube journey that inspired his images. He says: “I was coming back from Brixton in south London at about 11pm one evening and looked around the train at this different demographic of people - various ages, sexes and cultures - and there was so much energy. There were lots of young people, some holding beers and laughing and I thought, ‘wow, this is really interesting’ - it was like a little window into a different world. I knew it would make a great project.” But he was nervous, at first, about how his subjects would react. He says: “Sometimes people could be hostile and tell me to get lost. Some just didn’t like it - they felt as if I was somehow taking something from them - or I’d get dirty looks.” Once he had explained what he was doing, however, he says: “I was surprised at how many people who had initially said no changed their mind. They would often pose for a picture and then go back to whatever they were initially doing but I’d carry on shooting - and that’s how I captured the more candid images.” Mark, a musician and violinist with the Canterbury Symphony Orchestra, continues: “With this kind of photography you never know what to expect and you can’t wait too long or you miss the moment - if you hesitate you risk losing the picture.” And sometimes he sneaked in a completely candid snap, like that of a passenger apparently crouched in prayer while, inches away, a woman enjoys an animated conversation. He says: “We’ll never know the stories behind them.” His favourite shot is of a couple kissing. He says: “I got on the train and they were all lovey dovey and romantic, but also a little drunk. I said, ‘do you mind if I take your picture for this project - just ignore me and go back to what you were doing’. And then they just start kissing." Mark continues: “I had to act very quickly, but when shots like that work out and you get that moment it’s brilliant. I like the guy wearing the shades too. He looked so cool and was from the States but got caught in the cross-fire from a drive-by shooting in Miami. That was one of the reasons he moved to London, but he told me he had started to feel the same kind of tension here." He continues: “The guy with the cowboy hat was an Australian traveller on his way to the airport.” As for the ‘mooning’ punks, Mark says: “I walked onto the train and there was a whole compartment full of punks and rockabillies all on their way somewhere." He says: “I was a bit nervous, but said, ‘Excuse me, do you mind if I take a photo?’ And that's when the guy said, ‘yeah, mate, take a picture of this’. And he pulled his trousers down. It was a split second thing but that’s the magic of photography.’ A few of Mark’s pictures were published in a newspaper, but the rest remained unseen until he decided to publish his book. A former teacher, he says: “I’d love to do an exhibition with these images so anyone who recognised themselves could come along, write a note and document what’s happened over the years. “Did that kissing couple go on to marry or did they break up that night? Maybe one of the blokes with the beer cans I photographed - they were running through the carriages shouting Happy New Year - is a middle aged dad of three. It would be wonderful to know.” Would he be able to do a similar project on the London Underground here in the digital age? Mark is far from sure: “It might be both easier and harder. On the one hand we are all much more used to having our photos taken but on the other everyone is much more aware of how they look - I think there could be a lot more pouting!” Mark McEvoy — London Underground 1992–1995 Is available to buy from Cafe Royal Books priced £6.70 and more information on his work go to https://www.markmcevoy.com/