May 16, 2025

Slow afternoon at a birch grove after rain

The alarm went off before dawn, and by six I was already at a birch grove after rain. Halfway through I switched to black and white, which suited the soft weather much better.

Shooting with a 50mm lens meant I had to get closer than I am used to, which was uncomfortable at first. By noon the crowds arrived, so I walked further along the path, where empty benches were still undisturbed.

A light drizzle started around ten. I sheltered under a bus stop roof and photographed people hurrying past. On the way home the train was nearly empty, so I reviewed the day's notes and planned the next trip.

I sat on a bench for almost an hour, just watching footpaths change as the clouds moved. Locals barely noticed me. A man feeding gulls told me the place looks completely different in spring.

The full set of photos will go into the archive once the film comes back from the lab.