April 7, 2025

Learning to see night trains

The forecast promised rain, so naturally I headed to a quiet monastery. I sat on a bench for almost an hour, just watching birds over water change as the clouds moved.

Halfway through I switched to black and white, which suited the quiet weather much better. The light was quiet, and night trains kept pulling my attention away from anything I had planned to photograph.

I kept a paper notebook this time, writing down the time and the light for every roll. I underexposed most of the frames on purpose, to keep the mood quiet rather than bright.

On the way home the train was nearly empty, so I reviewed the day's notes and planned the next trip. Working with an old film camera forces you to slow down. You think twice before pressing the shutter, and that changes the pictures.

If you go, bring warm socks and a thermos — the café closes early.