Railroads have always been part of my story— family ties , model trains, and the romance of train travel. My journey into railroad photography began humbly in the summer of 2006. Armed with my first digital camera, I set out to Newtonville, Ontario only to return with blurry photos of a rushing Via Rail train. While the results were disappointing, the experience sparked a creative challenge, igniting a passion to explore the world through the lens of the railroad.

Since that first attempt, I’ve taken thousands of photographs across a wide variety of locations, yet one question lingers: Why photograph trains? Is it simply the pursuit of technically perfect, calendar-worthy images? Or is it something more profound—a story waiting to be uncovered?

This journey has evolved over the years, shaped by the realization that railroad photography, like other art forms, holds its own history and aesthetic. Learning from the masters of the genre provided a foundation, but I often found myself unsettled, yearning for something deeper. It became less about cataloging equipment and operations and more about the broader narrative—the landscapes, the impact, and the symbolism of railroads in our modern world.

Railroads do more than connect places; they transform the spaces they traverse, leaving an indelible mark on businesses, neighbourhoods, and landscapes. Railroading creates a contrast — high-powered motion streaking through static urban alleys and rural expanses. Trains carry goods across continents, bridging geography, commerce, and culture. Yet, they also tell a quieter story about the spaces they touch and the lives they influence.

This collection, Railscapes, shifts the focus from technical perfection to a more considered, nuanced view of the railroading landscape. It is about examining the railscapes — landscapes both defined and transformed by the presence of railroads. It is about exploring the symbolism of the railroad: its ability to connect communities, its relationship with the spaces it inhabits, and its role in shaping modern existence.

The medium itself plays a role in this exploration. After years of digital photography, I found myself drawn to black-and-white film look. Stripping away the precision and colour feels like an appropriate and intentional choice—a way to connect with the history of the craft and emphasize form over detail. This choice encourages a focus on mood and meaning, creating a bridge between the technical and the artistic.

Railscapes is not just a gallery but a visual journey—a reflection on the interplay of power, motion, and stillness. It is an exploration of how railroads shape and are shaped by the world around them. This ongoing journey may not have clear answers, but it invites reflection on the spaces we inhabit, the stories we tell, and the meaning we find in the railscapes.