Usually when we hear or talk about taking a leap of faith we’re considering momentous actions – changing jobs, moving to a new place, adding a child into your life, big things. I was reminded recently just how important it is to take that same leap when smaller things are involved.

My friend, Scott, has been having a few rough weeks and my week wasn’t going much better. We met when we were working as studio photographers, so I asked him if he’d like to take our cameras out shooting the following Sunday. There was only a small chance of rain so it should be a good day. My portfolio consists of mostly landscapes and wildlife, but honestly, I just love being behind the camera. Scott has been working on some animation projects so I suggested hunting for graffiti. He loved the idea. Sunday morning arrives and the chance of rain is now 90% with temps only in the 40s.

Scott’s phone said rain would be moving in around noon, mine at ten. We waffled back and forth about going out but decided to take that leap – it was better than sitting at home and if it started pouring we could always find someplace to grab a cup of coffee. We met in McDonough, a town about half way for each of us; a town that has plenty of trains and tracks to search for interesting graffiti. It sounds so easy, any time you sit at a railroad crossing you can see oodles of art passing by frame by frame. The true dilemma is finding stopped or slow moving trains and a place to park the car while you shoot.

The first couple tracks we past were bare. While Scott was headed to another place he thought might work, I noticed several trains with graffiti parked on a track and yes an old dirt road running along it. We really didn’t think we’d find the road or that if we did it would be a service road behind a locked gate, but a small leap and several turns later we found it. A spooky washed out road – both sides overgrown with tree branches still bare from winter reaching out and an old abandoned house with the tarped roof caving in and a perfect place to park the car.

The tracks sat up on a steep gravel covered embankment but just a few steps away there was an easy place to climb it. The lip on the embankment was too thin in some areas to go too far in either direction, but there was plenty to shoot in the passable areas. It’s illegal to walk the tracks (shhh…I may have broken that law a time or two) but this was a very active area so we made the most of what we could easily reach. Just as we were finishing up, we heard that distinctive whistle and the clanging of a nearby gate closing the crossing.

I wanted to get a few shots of the train approaching, thinking it might be an interesting perspective shooting from the bottom of the embankment. What happened next was the best part of the shoot. When the engineer saw us, he blew the whistle and pointed at us. Then he started hamming t up, making faces, and with a big smile waved goodbye. Some of the pictures turned out a little blurry – low light and a fast moving train will do that. I doubt this post will make its way to that man but his free spirit and fun interaction made our day – made my week! Scott and I both wished he could have been sitting at that table with us having a cup of coffee a short time later. I bet he has an interesting tale to tell.

Our outing was a big success and we were done and both home before the heavy rain moved in. Don’t forget to take those small leaps when you have a chance! When you do, I hope you all find something to smile about.