Brilliant light at a dark intersection

Abstract in the middle of the night
London, ON
December 2011
This photo originally shared on Instagram

It’s 53 minutes after midnight and the late autumn rains have finally eased off.

I’m wandering the empty streets for reasons that made sense to me when I first pulled my shoes on, but now seem patently idiotic. It’s cold and wet and I really should be safely tucked in for the night.

I come across an intersection at the edge of our neighborhood and can’t stop staring at the reflections of the traffic lights coming off of the drenched pavement. It may be a dark, miserable night above, but this stretch of crumbling asphalt at my feet is alive with brilliant color for anyone who may still be awake.

I walk carefully along the sidewalk as the light follows me, its shapes and intensities changing with each step. Eventually I’m happy with what I see, and just as carefully lift the camera up and adjust the controls entirely by feel.

I have no tripod, so I lean against a conveniently located utility pole and get into my best Zen-like mode. A couple of early risers - or is it late nighters? - drive past. They look at me like I’m insane, and I pause until their lights fade from view.

I snag a few frames before I feel the first drop on the back of my hand. Time to head back in and call it a night.

As I look back at the pixels I brought home this evening, I think about the why of this particular experience.

About the brilliant light that presented itself in an unexpected place.

About the myriad reasons we use to convince ourselves to stay inside.

And the one reason that pushes us to get out there in the first place.

It’s a new week for most of us. I hope we all hold onto that one reason. And act on it.

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