The blog is six months old today – with a photo post for almost every day this year. One of my new year’s resolutions was to improve my photography – in part by keeping this daily blog. Shooting every day develops the habit, and a photographer must shoot every day just as the writer must write every day.

Every new year, I always list some resolutions, and in all honesty, by the middle of the year, I’m back to my old habits. Even though I’ve made a concerted effort (especially with the photography), other resolutions slipped. But, half of the year is still left so I decided to make some mid-year resolutions.

Part of my approach is in evaluating how I’ve been spending my time and revamping what I do. This method is inspired by a great book, 168 Hours, that I’ve been reading. Instead of thinking of your time in 24 hour blocks, the book advises you to think of your time in a weekly block or 168 hours. This helps your paradigm on whether you have enough time to do what you need and want to do. Identifying your top priorities and “core competencies” are crucial so that you spend your time on what’s most important. Thus, I’m trying to identify and eliminate nonessential tasks and time wasters and increase the time on the important time blocks. A great book, and even though I’ve not yet finished, I highly recommend it.

For the rest of the year, my photography resolutions are:
1. Post a daily photo with no exceptions (earlier in the year I missed some days due to sickness and time constraints – but the time constraints are nonexistent as I’ve learned from the book).
2. Develop at least one strong photo essay.
3. Submit my work to two-three galleries (goal is to be accepted to one).
4. Submit some shots to a publication.
5. Redesign my photography website.

Also, I’ve been trying to be more mindful and aware lately, always looking for spots that would be great for a photograph.  I then note them in my iPhone either in the maps application or in the notes section if it’s a place I pass often.  Since I started watching, I realized that I needed to photograph one of my favorite train crossings.  The rails curve perfectly back into the trees providing a strong composition opportunity.  Since I’ve taken a lot of “easy” shots this past month, I decided that I needed to get serious again and try to produce a keeper image.

Last night I noted that the train had come through at 9, 10, 11, and I’m fairly certain, shortly after 12.  So I set up my tripod, guessed which direction more than likely the train would come from, and took test shots.  I discovered that the fireflies, the trees, the stars were providing a great look even without the train in the frame.  We waited – and waited – and waited.  (I’m not very patient.)  I was testing out another exposure a few minutes before ten when I noticed one of the rails flickering.  Usually you can hear the train approaching the downtown crossing, but we couldn’t hear the whistle this time.  Because of this, I exposed too early, but the shot above is my favorite.  I was already worried that I wasn’t going to be able to capture the train like I wanted (too much motion because of the long exposure).

This being my favorite shot is somewhat ironic considering how much I’ve always loved trains and how that the literal train is not in the shot.  But, maybe that’s why – the thrill of hearing a train whistle, hearing it coming round the bend, waiting for the engine, wondering when my train’s coming, seeing it’s light, then the rush by.

Happy mid-year! What do you want to do by the end of the year?

(And those phosphorescent small spots in the shot?  Those aren’t stars but fireflies.)

Shot with a Leica M9, 35 Summicron, F2, 11 seconds)