Trainspotting
“You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are? Anchor chains, plane motors & train whistles.” – George Bailey (from It’s a Wonderful Life)
In New York City with the kids the last weekend of December. It was a madhouse. The whole city.
On the way back, we five were hustling to catch the 5:15 NJ Transit train back to Hamilton, New Jersey. We had already missed the 3:54 pm train by that much and the 4:15 train was cancelled for some reason.
We tried for the 4:45 train but, because of the cancelled one, the crowd rush to get to that one was cray-zee.
So, we sat it out to wait for the next one. And while the rush was still pretty strong, we were able to get on.
As we hastened down the platform, I saw this conductor out of the corner of my eye. Making sure the little ones were with my wife, I did a step back move to grab this shot. I like the “in the moment of it” and the composition.
I was thinking about this shot on the way home, and how often I’ve photographed trains in my time. I, like George Bailey, still find them exciting.
A bullet train conductor, Tokyo, 2016
Shooting an actress in Grand Central Terminal around 2008.
30th Street Station, Philadelphia
Grand Central, NYC
Heading into Paris from Charles De Gaulle airport, about 6 a.m.
C
I still love getting on an airplane. But there is something wonderful about getting on a train, too.
Some type of adventure awaits, even if just the adventure of a new day.
© Mark V. Krajnak | JerseyStyle Photography | All Rights Reserved 2019
I love the train shots especially the B&W ones. I’m a sucker for a good train shot.
Thank you, David. Are you familiar with the work of O. Winston Link? He is one of my favorites.