August 12, 2026

Notes from an abandoned railway line

I went to an abandoned railway line with a 50mm lens and no particular plan. Halfway through I switched to black and white, which suited the windy weather much better.

I tried a few long exposures, but the wind had other ideas. The handheld shots turned out better anyway. Shooting with a 50mm lens meant I had to get closer than I am used to, which was uncomfortable at first.

Most of the morning went into watching bicycles; I took fewer frames than usual, but each one felt deliberate. A light drizzle started around ten. I sheltered under a bus stop roof and photographed people hurrying past.

I kept a paper notebook this time, writing down the time and the light for every roll. By noon the crowds arrived, so I walked further along the path, where bicycles were still undisturbed.

Nothing dramatic happened, and that was exactly the point.