Each weekend, fine-art photographer Travis Huggett takes his son Orson railfanning. His son’s love of the New York City subway system knows no bounds, so together they ride the rails, chasing Orson’s bliss. As Travis recognized that other children at his son’s special needs school shared this fascination, he began documenting the phenomenon through his photography, taking portraits of the children along their most beloved subway routes.

Railfan tells an inspiring story about embracing joy, no matter where you find it. It’s a story about appreciating what makes us unique, and how our passions give us the resilience to ride out life’s turbulence. For children on the autism spectrum, life can be uniquely challenging, and the freedom of railfanning allows a space to feel liberated from their struggles — and the independence to be their most authentic selves. Filled with beautiful photography and charming subjects who light up the screen, Railfan offers an eye-opening look at an underground culture that takes its devotees to a higher plane.