i took this picture a block from the house in which i grew up.

i have crossed over and along those tracks, usually accompanied by brother and cousins, innumerable times throughout my childhood. never would i have thought of it as a photo opportunity. the tracks? by the playground? near the town dumpsters and recycling sheds? no, no. the tracks, you see, were only an obstacle to cross. on the other side are the reservoirs: i.e., the usual summer fishing spot and winter sledding hills. hardly an area that would be defined as picturesque.

and yet there i stood, snapping shots of boxcars and rail ties. funny how fifteen years or so [and a camera] can change one's perspective on things. heck, i'd never thought about the possibility of taking anything other than "okay, ready? smile!" pictures until a few short years ago [thanks, joy]. i don't know an f-stop from an aperture; cameras with dials, adjustments, and indecipherable-yet-presumably-helpful miniature icons frighten me a bit. but i realize that sometimes all it takes is a different outlook, a different angle, a different eye, to find a decent photo.

my view of the world has changed a lot since i was a kid. i expect that trend to continue. i just hope i can keep everything in perspective, and always look out for the good side of things.