A rare occurence - a clear view across the main hall of Zürich main station - all trains had cleared the tracks while I was waiting for my train home today.
bmike-vt wrote:
A rare occurence - a clear view across the main hall of Zürich main station - all trains had cleared the tracks while I was waiting for my train home today.
European rail travel is light years ahead of America Mike. Passenger wise anyway.
What a huge station. When I visit my mother's birthplace in Italy, I only travel by rail.
Well seen and processed. What camera were you using? Do you bring a "real" camera with you most of the time to capture scenes like this? I used to do so more often, but now normally rely on my iPhone.
Thanks Jim. I’ve been finding it hard to get out and make images, iPhone or ‘real camera’.
I was pretty down and distraught today after too long a night following news from the states - my wife suggested I get out and do something that brings me joy today so I made it a point when running an errand and bring back an image.
I made 4 clicks today when I saw this scene. All the same, just altered the focus point and kept this one as I liked the position of the people moving on all the platforms into the distance. I missed being perfectly centered so I had to crop a bit from the right.
This was taken with the a7IV and the Viltrox 16mm. When we first moved here (and years leading up to it) my Canon full frame with big heavy glass went everywhere with me. I switched to the Sony a few years ago and have both small and large lenses - but my time for being mindful with the camera ebbs and flows. I carry the iPhone everywhere, but I use it more for random stuff than ‘making images’.
I have been rather flat lately - but a recent note from one of my beloved design profs that I keep in touch with via proper old school pen and paper inspired me to keep at it. I sent him an image I made of the Matterhorn and he wrote me back a lovely and positive critique - he loved the image and the elements in it - the critique was more of my inability to believe in myself (even in my 50s I have imposter syndrome). So it’s a mission now to get out more this year, like I used to. There was a time when I captured and edited an image nearly every day…
Jim Dockery wrote:
Well seen and processed. What camera were you using? Do you bring a "real" camera with you most of the time to capture scenes like this? I used to do so more often, but now normally rely on my iPhone.
Thanks Dan. Just a normal day on the platform… I love the side of the station.
We keep the car parked most of the time, using it maybe once a week on average. The entire family has transit passes for the entire country - we can get on a train and go pretty much everywhere we need. Of course this is mainly used locally - but comes in handy for travel, hiking, paragliding and skiing.
Danpbphoto wrote:
European rail travel is light years ahead of America Mike. Passenger wise anyway.
What a huge station. When I visit my mother's birthplace in Italy, I only travel by rail.
bmike-vt wrote:
Thanks Dan. Just a normal day on the platform… I love the side of the station.
We keep the car parked most of the time, using it maybe once a week on average. The entire family has transit passes for the entire country - we can get on a train and go pretty much everywhere we need. Of course this is mainly used locally - but comes in handy for travel, hiking, paragliding and skiing.
Most of the World knows how to transit people by rail and they do it most excellently! Here? The infrastructure for hi speed rail is back in the 1900's!
Sorry you are feeling "down". I suggest NOT turning on any video coming from "the States". Very upsetting!
Grab your camera and hit the "slopes" for some fresh air and pics.
Stay safe and don't dwell on the plight of America.
Dan
Mike, thanks for the reply - I know how you feel. The news the last few days has been like a series of gut punches that have left me reeling. My wife and I were just discussing how we don't want to travel internationally for the next 3 years because it would be too embarrassing to admit our nationality, and we aren't good liars (we joke that we should tell people we're Canadian).
Keep taking pictures and finding beauty in the world, this too shall pass
Funny, when my wife and I were on our honeymoon (W era) we told everyone we met we were from Canada. We went to what would become one of our favorite hole in the wall osteria in Florence and we were seated with a couple at a shared table. They asked how we found the place, then asked where we were from. They laughed, ‘we are Canadian, you are definitely not!’ - we admitted we were from Vermont and they agreed it was close enough.
How did we find the place? My wife (Italian, but speaks only a few words) insisted we mill around any place that looks good, and if we hear predominately English, or they have menus in English we moved on. We took our kids there in 2019. The sons have taken over but mom and dad were still around. We sat in the same booth with the kids, and we noted that outside the hand written chalk sign said ‘NO PIZZA, NO APEROL SPRITZ!’.
It is still one of our favorite places. Tied with the place in Rome where we unknowingly crashed some older gentleman’s birthday… but the nana in the kitchen insisted on feeding us, including the little cup of ice cream as they sang to the man.
Jim Dockery wrote:
Mike, thanks for the reply - I know how you feel. The news the last few days has been like a series of gut punches that have left me reeling. My wife and I were just discussing how we don't want to travel internationally for the next 3 years because it would be too embarrassing to admit our nationality, and we aren't good liars (we joke that we should tell people we're Canadian).
Keep taking pictures and finding beauty in the world, this too shall pass
Interesting to see the station clear like that. It wasn't like that or at least in any part I recall, when we arrived and then departed through Zurich. Quite a different experience compared to LAX. Although they do have it down to only one transfer to get to the vicinity of LAX from downtown by light rail and the people mover shuttle is coming, soon, they promise. Now officially slipped to "late 2026" after several slips from the 2023 target.
kalifornier wrote:
Lovely pic. When we travel, we mention we are from California, and the reception is always positive vs. ‘from USA’.
We've been here in Switzerland nearly 7 years now. I always first answer 'Vermont' - and sometimes have to explain where that is. Then I get asked about Bernie Sanders (we lived in his neighborhood and would see him at the grocery or getting a creemee), then about Ben and Jerry's. I usually reply with 'smaller mountains, lots of cows, cheese and beer'.
Craig Gillette wrote:
Interesting to see the station clear like that. It wasn't like that or at least in any part I recall, when we arrived and then departed through Zurich. Quite a different experience compared to LAX. Although they do have it down to only one transfer to get to the vicinity of LAX from downtown by light rail and the people mover shuttle is coming, soon, they promise. Now officially slipped to "late 2026" after several slips from the 2023 target.
Yes it is usually very busy. I was in LA as a kid - Hollywood, beach, Dodgers game, visited family. Way to crazy for me at this point in my life.
