Sometimes it's easy to forget that 'small is beautiful'. Also, how much of that beauty can be found very close to home. There may be a whole wide world out there, but that world begins as soon as we step out of our own back (or front) door.
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A photograph is a two-dimensional artefact, whether digital or printed. Yet its apparently flat surface can reveal three-dimensional textures, especially when we get the lighting right. Texture is most clearly seen when hit by lighting at an angle, bringing out areas of light and shade. Contrasting colours help, but the light is (almost) everything!
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Here are five memorable train journeys from my travels. I'm not really interested in the trains themselves. Trainspotting definitely isn't my thing. But the experiences you have on board, especially if you get the opportunity to chat with local people, and the views of the passing scenery, are almost always memorable.
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I was never captivated by history at school. Maybe it was the dull manner in which it was taught. Maybe I was unlucky with the teachers I had, unable to bring the past to life. Or maybe it was the focus on kings and queens, generals and politicians, rather than the lives of ordinary people. Certainly it is the latter that most interests me today.
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We can plan our shots as carefully as we might, but luck plays its part too. There are always factors we cannot control, from people to weather to wildlife.
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Once we learn some composition techniques, we no longer need to ‘rehearse’ them in our minds before taking a photo; they become instinctive. But whether you study and follow the ‘rules’ of composition, or prefer to take a more relaxed approach to photography, there’s no denying that certain compositions are especially pleasing to the eye and impactful.
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In the past there were two options. Carry a camera if you were actively out taking photos or leave it at home and risk missing a serendipitous shot. These days we don’t have to choose. We can leave our heavy camera gear at home and still grab those unexpected moments with our phones.
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We all know the colours of the rainbow and our imaginations can supply them even when photographed in black and white. The colours of many other photographic subjects are equally recognisable too. But when we strip out those colours and leave our imagination to fill them in, other elements of the subject, like texture and form, come to the fore.
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How often in this busy world do we take the time to just sit? Sitting to enjoy a view, to take a pause from all the activity that fills our days, to simply relax? And if we do, are we 'wasting time' or are we using it wisely to recharge our batteries?
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Setting out on a journey you may think you know where you are going and therefore what to expect. But there are always surprises in even the most well-prepared trip, and it is often the surprises that prove the most memorable experiences. It’s a healthy reminder to leave room for serendipity in any travel plan.
