Where Do I Go From Here?

I made this photo in the middle of a transit hall—hard surfaces, glass glare, and the quiet choreography of people mid-journey. The woman in the foreground walks with purpose, but her eyes betray hesitation. She’s holding a ticket, a folded coat, a bag slung forward in a way that suggests she’s not fully settled. That moment of uncertainty, brief as a blink, is what locked this frame for me.

The Leica M9 isn’t forgiving in high-contrast light like this. Dynamic range is limited, and if you blow your highlights, they’re gone for good. I underexposed slightly, prioritising detail in the skin and clothing, knowing I’d have to manage the blown windows and reflections later. It’s still hot in the background, but the trade-off was worth it. The file holds together where it needs to—her expression, her stance, her subtle shift in weight.

Technically, this is as much about restraint as it is about readiness. I shot with a 50mm, stepped back, zone focused, and let the scene unfold. The composition is simple but functional: three figures receding, each at different depths. The two blurred travellers behind her aren’t just extras—they extend the tension. They belong to the flow. She doesn’t.

The real strength of the Leica M9 is in the rendering. It doesn’t smooth or beautify. It cuts. And in this photo, that clinical honesty serves the story. The edges are real, the tones are dry, and the gesture feels caught, not framed.

It’s a transit photo, yes. But it’s really about indecision. That fraction of time between knowing where you are and figuring out what comes next.