train to nowhere…
One summer during college I drove across the country and photographed my journey. I would constantly be spying something from the car, and then turn around the next exit to go back and photograph it. I was especially attracted to the forgotten things and I was driving through the south so there was a plethora. I saw those tracks from the car but I didn’t decide soon enough to pull over the car, so I came up to the next intersection and turned back around. Then turned back around to catch up with the tracks again.
I slipped into a totally focused moment, so when I heard “excuse me miss”. I almost jumped out of my skin. I slowly turned around because I was not on super public roads and looked over my shoulder. And to my delight it was an officer of the law. It seems as if during my space out a sheriff’s car had pulled up behind me and then the officer walked over to my car. As my stomach was doing summersaults and pretty much wigging out. I tried to form words. I brought up the camera and then pointed to the gorgeous train tracks over this small little river.
Shakily I said, “I was just taking pictures”.
The officer just smiled at me and said he just wanted to make sure everything was all right. Then he walked back to his car and waited for me to pull back onto the road. I think my body buzzed for the next hour, but I got some really amazing shots of the train tracks.
My reason for making the trip was an internship in Nashville, working with a photographer. (I was blessed to meet them Dean and his wife, two of the best people I know). It was a great learning experience and my ability to make that trip gave me the confidence to try my hand at New York City. (I am so glad I was naive enough not to know how different those events would be!)
March 27th, 2006 at 9:00 am
love images like this — it’s why i’m drawn to industrial parks and nooks and crannies, the backside of the tracks so to speak on the way to boston, the in-betweens and rooflines of old industrial cityscapes — when the sun hits just right it is so mary poppins chimney sweep charming! even tho it’s a more rural image you’ve posted, it reminds me of the others…
March 27th, 2006 at 9:35 am
wendy-such a great story and a really beautiful photograph. i know what you mean about always wanting to stop to take pictures. that was me this weekend driving from durham nc to charlottesville, va. xo shari ps: your painting from friday was amazing!
March 27th, 2006 at 11:33 am
thanks for sharing your great story! i love the image.
March 27th, 2006 at 11:36 am
What a lovely story and picture! Did you see old houses falling in and overtaken by kudzu? That is beauty to me.
Hope you’re doing well!!!
March 27th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
ah wendy…. i can just feel the stomach sumersaulting…. great story… and absolutely gorgeous photo!
March 27th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
gorgeous photo
March 27th, 2006 at 10:12 pm
This picture makes me long for summertime. Cops can be pretty frightening!
March 27th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
i have made many road trips across our country and know that i will never “see it all.” so many things to be discovered, so many adventures still to be had. reading this post took me back to those trips and what wonderful experiences they were (and continue to be!). thanks for sharing. =)
hubby and i will be doing our third cross-country trip together this summer. =)
March 28th, 2006 at 3:18 pm
Great story, and great photo. So gorgeous, even more, knowing how you got it.
March 28th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
Whoa…that is such a pretty photograph! You were so brave to drive all that way and have those adventures!!!
March 29th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
what a wonderful experience!!!
March 30th, 2006 at 3:15 am
love this story. and I often dream of traveling and taking photos as I go along. and yes, the south is a great place to shoot forgotten things.
thank so much for sharing this.