One of the lovely things about Melbourne, here in Australia, is that it has the world’s largest tram network. Everywhere you go, throughout much of the city, you hear the clanging of tram bells. I’m in Melbourne often enough that it feels almost like a second home. And every time I go, I think what a welcoming sound the tram bells are. It’s the sound that tells me I’ve arrived.

              Unfortunately, a recent Facebook discussion with a Melbourne photographer reminded me of just how much photographers enjoy the leading lines created by tram—or train—tracks. Photographers often view train and tram tracks as a great place to pose a subject because they can get long leading lines.

              I would like to use this space to present an argument for why train and tram tracks are not good places to pose a subject.

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

-Zig Ziglar

              I live in a place, Australia, that doesn’t have the same infrastructure that many of our readers may be used to. Unsealed roads are a fact of life. And the quest for photographs can lead me over some very rough roads indeed, if the roads exist at all.

              I’d like to offer some suggestions on how to get in and out of remote, undeveloped areas safely.