July 8, 2026

Notes from an empty beach in November

The forecast promised rain, so naturally I headed to an empty beach in November. Most of the morning went into watching rain on glass; I took fewer frames than usual, but each one felt deliberate.

The path was muddy and longer than the map suggested, but the view at the end made up for it. I sat on a bench for almost an hour, just watching bicycles change as the clouds moved.

Halfway through I switched to black and white, which suited the cold and clear weather much better. An elderly couple asked me to take their picture. I used their phone, then made one frame of them on mine.

A light drizzle started around ten. I sheltered under a bus stop roof and photographed people hurrying past. Working with a 50mm lens forces you to slow down. You think twice before pressing the shutter, and that changes the pictures.

Nothing dramatic happened, and that was exactly the point.