‘The rain in São Paulo makes everything so cinematic’: Simone Arruda’s best phone picture

The Brazilian photographer was drawn to the train passengers lost in their books on a soggy March evening

“São Paulo is a place that we love and hate,” says Simone Arruda of her Brazilian home city. “And anyone who knows it knows that when it rains, everything turns to chaos.”

Arruda took this shot at rush hour on a soggy March evening. She was heading home via Brás station, “a massive hub in a neighbourhood that is always extremely busy due to its intense commerce”, she says.

Packed between tired, wet commuters, she observed those who had already secured a ride home through the train window. While the colours and contrast drew her eye, it was the human scene that made her lift her phone.

“I love capturing people reading, because it represents a moment of introspection, a bit of peace amid all the hustle and bustle,” she says. “Also, the upwards glance of the woman on the right guides my eyes straight to the red light, signifying that the doors are closing. It’s as if she’s thinking, ‘Finally, this train is going to move,’ so there’s an element of solace here, too.”

Arruda stayed true to the atmosphere of the scene when applying minor saturation and sharpness adjustments. “I always avoid exaggeration,” she says. “I never want to make things look artificial or alter their true essence. While the rain brings chaos, it also makes everything so cinematic. I’m proud of where I’m from.”