Born in 1965 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Doug Caplan has spent much of his life immersed in photography, skillfully navigating both the analog and digital realms. His journey began as a teenager with a black-and-white Polaroid instant camera, a gift from his parents. The hands-on experience of film development, coupled with the memorable smell of the chemicals, left a strong impression on him. Despite this early connection, photography remained a pastime rather than a serious pursuit until the early 1990s, when his marriage rekindled his passion.
In 1992, Caplan made a conscious decision to deepen his engagement with photography. He started with a Nikon camera but soon transitioned to a Mamiya M645 medium format model, which aligned better with his preference for simplicity and precision. Over time, he sharpened his skills by attending workshops and dedicating years to darkroom work, developing his own film and prints. Although family life and other responsibilities occasionally pulled him away from photography, his dedication never wavered.
By 2013, Caplan fully embraced the digital age, discovering new creative possibilities in digital photography. The shift allowed him to combine the technical mastery of his darkroom days with the versatility and precision of modern tools. His work reflects an enduring effort to balance the timeless and the contemporary, both in his techniques and the subjects he chooses to capture.
The Story Behind “Rapid Transit”
Doug Caplan’s recent photograph, Rapid Transit, captures a moment that blends the dynamic energy of modern life with the timelessness of structural design. Taken in December 2024 in Osaka, Japan, the image showcases a train speeding across a green steel bridge near the Kyocera Dome. For Caplan, this scene wasn’t just another cityscape—it was a familiar moment reimagined through his lens, after countless trips on the very train featured in the shot.
The location itself is steeped in the everyday rhythms of Osaka, a city defined by its relentless energy and interconnected transit systems. Situated about a 30-minute walk from the lively Dotonbori area, the bridge serves as a conduit for countless commuters. Timing the shot was no easy feat. Caplan explained the difficulty of synchronizing the train’s motion with the bridge’s geometric patterns, requiring him to take dozens of frames. Out of all those attempts, only two met his expectations. The final image stood out for its symmetry, vibrant orange highlights, and the interplay between motion and structure.
Layers of Contrast
At first glance, Rapid Transit is a study in contrasts. The bridge, with its riveted green steel and orderly patterns, serves as a visual anchor—strong, unchanging, and grounded. Its industrial design speaks to permanence and reliability. By contrast, the train is a blur of movement, a fleeting presence that embodies speed and modernity. These elements are juxtaposed against the stillness of the boats below, which appear untouched by the rush of the train above.
For Caplan, the image conveys the layered dynamics of urban life. “The trains are part of a larger rhythm,” he says. “They connect people and places, but there’s always something still happening in the background—a slower pace that balances the chaos.” The still water below contrasts the blur of the train, a metaphor for the duality of existence in bustling metropolises like Osaka.
The Colors of Urban Motion
The photograph’s color palette plays a crucial role in its impact. The green of the bridge dominates the frame, creating a sense of stability and calm. Meanwhile, the orange highlights scattered throughout the train and surrounding environment add warmth and energy. These hues, though subtle, provide balance, guiding the viewer’s eye across the composition.
Caplan’s experience with darkroom work and his transition to digital editing gave him the tools to perfect these subtle details. Much like his analog days, where he controlled every aspect of film development, his digital workflow allows him to achieve the same level of precision. This continuity between past and present is central to his artistic approach.
Capturing More Than a Scene
What makes Rapid Transit more than just an urban snapshot is its storytelling. It’s a visual narrative about movement, time, and the coexistence of permanence and impermanence. The bridge has likely stood for decades, bearing witness to the passing trains and the quiet boats below. The train, on the other hand, is here and gone in an instant, a fleeting burst of energy against the enduring backdrop of the bridge.
Caplan’s decision to frame the shot as he did reflects his perspective as a traveler and observer. By focusing on the interplay of movement and stillness, he invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of urban life. “It’s about finding harmony in the chaos,” he says.
Doug Caplan’s work often bridges the gap between the technical and the emotional, blending meticulous craftsmanship with a keen sense of storytelling. Rapid Transit is no exception. Through careful composition and a deep understanding of his medium, he captures more than a moment—he captures the essence of a city in motion, layered with the quiet moments that often go unnoticed. In doing so, he continues to show how photography can transcend time and place, telling stories that resonate far beyond their origins.
