subway-why did this happen?

[Bambi]

so I wanted to take a picture of the subway because I loved the perspective looking up the escalator. However, with the flash the photo didn't seem so good. when I took the flash off I got the first photo. I kinda of like the post processessing of b&W but am not sure if this is 'it'.
why did I get these lights?

[kat]

By the looks of it the lights are from moving the camera??? Was there a window in front of the camera? Maybe reflections? Hmm..it is interesting! The black and white one I like too!

[Greg_Nuspel]

Looks like the shutter was still open when you move the camera away from your eye.

[Barefoot]

...why did I get these lights?

A strange lens flair where two light sources are connected, and a shutter speed to slow for hand held? Don't know what you're using, but I've seen this before with compact digitals.

It is sorta cool in a morbid way.

[Mad Aussie]

That's weird indeed Bambi.

Can you tell us what settings you've used??

I was just searching the photo for clues and it looks definitely like movement. We can see the row of lights beside the treads and the light trails go up from those which tells us the camera was 'dropped' to create that.
Those very bright lights at the top will be the the first two lights at the very bottom of the esculator and the 'dropping' of the camera seems to have stopped there.

The green lights will have been in a similar position at the bottom of the esculator also. Because we can't see the green lights themselves (only the trails) I'm guessing you cropped this image? If so, can you also show us the uncropped version?

My guess here is that you used a long exposure on a tripod but actually tilted the camera down before the exposure was complete.

[Bambi]

That's weird indeed Bambi.

Can you tell us what settings you've used??

I was just searching the photo for clues and it looks definitely like movement. We can see the row of lights beside the treads and the light trails go up from those which tells us the camera was 'dropped' to create that.
Those very bright lights at the top will be the the first two lights at the very bottom of the esculator and the 'dropping' of the camera seems to have stopped there.

The green lights will have been in a similar position at the bottom of the esculator also. Because we can't see the green lights themselves (only the trails) I'm guessing you cropped this image? If so, can you also show us the uncropped version?

My guess here is that you used a long exposure on a tripod but actually tilted the camera down before the exposure was complete.

Hi MA, the first one is the original unedited version. Because my camera is not a DSL (on the wish list) I have limited control over the settings. this one was the one for 'photos in dim light without flash'. so a long shutter setting (would be my guess). I stood at the bottom and held it. so perhaps the lights are from my inability to keep my hands still

this is one taken with a flash:

[Mad Aussie]

it definitely sounds like Greg's assessment was correct then

[ridicwilco]

alternating current/open shutter/large aperture

[jlabel]

This result seems like you used a long exposure, like 1 second or more, you clicked and hold still for a moment then you twisted and turned the camera while the shutter was still open then it closed, thats why the image is there and then the lights 'lightpainted' the streaks.