Sunbeams and Steel – Chasing the Perfect Train Shot
The Wait
Some photographs come easily. Others test your patience — again and again.
This shot was the latter.
There’s no official schedule posted for this commuter train. Sometimes it glides past within minutes. Other times, you can wait for hours — only for the perfect light to vanish before it ever appears. I made the trip out to this quiet bend in the tracks four separate times, each time chasing the shot I had imagined: a train illuminated by morning sunbeams, framed by trees and mist.
Once, I pulled up just as the train was already rounding the corner — I scrambled for my camera, only to watch it vanish in a blur of motion before I could fire a single frame. Another time, I waited for two hours in silence, with golden light streaming perfectly through the forest… but no train ever came.
Persistence Rewarded
On my fourth attempt, I arrived early — well before sunrise. A chill hung in the air, and the trees were still wet with dew. As the sky began to brighten, soft shafts of light broke through the trees, casting streaks of gold across the forest floor.
I checked the tracks. Nothing yet. I adjusted my composition, dialed in my settings, and waited.
And then, a distant hum.
The train emerged from the curve, just as the light reached its peak. Beams of sunlight sliced through the trees, illuminating the steel cars as they rolled through the forest. I fired off a series of shots, holding my breath. The moment lasted seconds — but I had it.
This wasn’t just a photo. It was a reward for persistence, for all the near misses and quiet waits. And it reminded me: the best images are often the ones you have to earn.
Photography often asks for more than technical skill — it demands patience, persistence, and sometimes a little luck. This shot was a reminder of that.
Location & Gear
**📍 Location:** Morant’s Curve
**🎒 Gear Used:**
- Canon R5
- 24-105mm f/4L
- Really Right Stuff tripod