Riding the ferry is my favorite Seattle pastime. At any given time on a Washington State Ferry you will find a group of tourists with too  many suitcases, someone in work clothes peacefully napping, a jigsaw puzzle diligently being completed, lovers having a Titanic-esque moment on a balcony (fun fact: those balconies are called pickleforks), and a BMW on the car deck taken victim by the powerful vibrations—car alarm blaring. The ferry is an integral part of embracing life as a Seattleite. It doesn’t just provide a scenic view for tourists, but also serves as a lifeline for the communities of the Puget Sound, for commuters making their living in the city, and for those just wanting to get away.

For me, the ferry is not solely a mode of transportation, but also the destination itself. I ride the ferry back and forth simply to take in the fresh air and unbeatable views of the city, and to attempt to capture the nostalgic, sometimes wistful, sometimes energizing feeling of it all with my camera. For an introvert like me, it’s the perfect people-watching playground with plenty of empty spaces to disappear into and observe the small slice of life in front of me.

My objective, with great help from my holga camera, is to capture these moments like a daydream. Soft, but vibrant, with a clear subject. I like my photos to feel like a postcard or a long-lost memory. If you’re not familiar with Holga cameras, there is a twist: They are cheap, plastic-lensed, toy cameras that use medium-format film. They have little to no technical features or fixed settings, and are prone to imperfections and quirks that lead to a dreamlike aesthetic. A perfect companion for a ferry adventure.

Although most people ride the ferry to go somewhere, I am not alone in my fondness for round-trip ferry rides to nowhere. I am part of a group called Ferries on Film, a vibrant community of photographers who take great pleasure in photographing this uniquely PNW public transportation system. I’ve been organizing meetups for the group since 2022 in partnership with the founder, Cole Whitworth. Every month or so, we gather to take a ride in search of new scenes to shoot. Some months, we reach as many as 100 people. If you frequent the Bainbridge Island ferry on the weekends, you may run into us someday. Say hi when you do.

The ferry offers a lot—both stylistically and subject-wise—for photographers. It’s part architecture, part street photography, part landscape photography. Photographing these moments on the ferry has become a big part of my hobby and ties right in with my personal style. My work simply consists of what I am drawn to and what surrounds me: natural spaces. I love showcasing all the quiet places in the city that mingle with nature, whether that is my favorite parks, the newly renovated waterfront, or even just a particularly well-landscaped neighborhood. No matter the subject, my photography is deeply rooted in a coexistence with nature.

Connect with Anna, and Ferries on Film on Instagram.