While driving through San Francisco on a rainy evening, I found myself stopped at a red light in the heart of the city. That’s when I noticed something quietly magical unfolding through the windshield. The golden glow of the streetlights filtered through the rain-smeared glass, casting warm, dreamy reflections on the wet pavement. The droplets on the window turned each point of light into a soft bokeh, blurring the sharp edges of the city and replacing them with something almost painterly.
Right in front of me, one of the city's iconic F-line streetcars waited patiently on the tracks—its orange and cream tones glowing against the evening darkness like a lantern in the storm. People moved with umbrellas, storefronts shimmered, and the entire street seemed to pulse gently with light and motion. It was one of those fleeting moments where the ordinary becomes quietly cinematic.
I had only seconds to capture it—just enough time before the traffic light turned green. I grabbed my camera, quickly framed the scene through the rainy windshield, and took the shot.
To my surprise and delight, this photo resonated with many others too. It was chosen as an Editor’s Choice on 500px.com and has received nearly 2,000 likes so far. For a moment that came and went in less than a minute, it’s incredible how much warmth and atmosphere it managed to hold.