Another work trip to London, and as on the last occasion I did this (Feb 27th), the changeover at Leeds station proves far more photographically fruitful than the capital itself. I’m very happy with this picture — one of those occasions where not only did the shot turn out pretty much exactly as hoped, but I got it first go, too.
It’s really not an exciting period in my life. But it is, at least, the last week of teaching. Note the photographer to the left.
The point of this blog is not just to find the day’s ‘artistic’ or ‘creative’ side but also to try to epitomise my day. This shot sure does that. Sometimes I’m this close to sodding off back to Fiji.
Another beautiful morning, which we are becoming quite used to. When the light hits Hebden Bridge station right, it’s worth hanging around for — this train was going to Manchester, but for the sake of an extra 10 minutes until the next one, I stayed and got the shot.
… but this family did make their connection in Leeds. As did Clare and I on our way home from London, after an excellent weekend all round.
The UK government hate public transport, and have done so, passionately, since the 1950s when they realised that, regardless of the effects on the environment and society, they could make much more money taxing private motor vehicles. They are also the type of people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
This picture is taken from the Cumbrian Coast rail line which I happen to think is as beautiful a railway line as exists anywhere in the world. Cartmel Sands are the estuary of the rivers Crake and Leven, which empty Coniston Water and Windermere into Morecambe Bay. Every time I go over the bridge here it looks different, some alteration in the configuration of light, tide and season that refreshes the scene constantly.
I would — and do — travel on this rail line simply to see these kinds of thing, there does not have to be a particular destination in mind. But my government would never see this kind of value. They willfully refuse to, in fact.
After 1,040 days I need now and again to try to see something more than the usual scenes. Heavy cropping made something of what was otherwise a standard ‘train coming in’ snapshot. Does the modern display board spoil the shot?
OK, I am repeating a theme from three days ago, but there you go. I spend a lot of time on trains and railway platforms. This may be the right time to catch platform 1, anyway. As the renovations proceed, over the last couple of weeks it has lost its roof, allowing the continuing pleasant sunshine to fall on those waiting for their trains home. And the roof leaked anyway.
My train was slightly late, but this one left just at the right time. I don’t know if this picture is quite what I expected to be when I took it, but it was always going to be today’s photo.
After the party, the journey home. I do this trip quite a lot. Since they finally removed the scaffolding from around Blackfriars station earlier this year, it really does have a bloody good view, up there with Circular Quay station in Sydney — but with slightly cleaner windows.
Being 42 