A friend and I went out shooting on Colorado’s eastern plains yesterday. The Limon Sub was pretty much dead, but I still managed to get a shot or two of railroady stuff.
Here’s a shot of a cut of cars taken in Bennett, CO:
And here are a couple views taken in Strasburg, CO. I can’t figure out if I like the shot with the shallow DOF or the Deep DOF better, so you get to see them both:
That’s it for now, though I will say that there’s a big (literally) change coming for me in the near future. I’ll keep you all posted as that develops.
Meanwhile, C&C always welcome!
Nice shots, as always, Chris! Curious about whose car the red coach was (MP?). Those box cars looked like hi-cubes at first, but I suspect that they’re 60-footers, including some old Golden West cars.
Keep us informed! Hope the big change doesn’t mean we’ll be losing you.
Carl,
I didn’t do a whole lot of investigating, so I can’t tell you too much about the red coach other than it’s on a siding by the Ulrich Locomotive shop in Strasburg, CO. I’m contemplating a photographic project of Colorado’s eastern plains this year, so I’ll definitely be out that way again. I’ll see if I can figure out a little more next trip.
The big change is a new photographic avenue I’ll be investigating. I’ve sort of trod it before, but never really committed because of some logistical limitations. I’ve figured a way around the problems and hope to engage myself a little more fully this go round.
What’s the point/ object / story/ feeling/ goal of showing the cars under that framework ? (not rail-related, I take it) Literal-minded as I am, it’s a nice frame and composition with the mountains in the background and some interesting patterns, but it’s more evocative B&W photo-art than expositive illustration - and that may be fine, if that was the intent - but “I don’t ‘get’ it” otherwise.
On the other 2 - they’re both nice, each in their own way - again, it depends on what the purpose / intent/ priority is. I kinda like the switchstand target one, because it’s a little unusual and jumps out as it’s the only thing in sharp focus; the other one has several things equally well-focused, so it’s hard to tell which is supposed to be the most important. Me - I’d have taken some of the patterns in that switch/ turnout to the right - and the through plate girder bridge in the far background looks interesting, what with those deep gusset plates (although that evidently being a ‘live’ track, maybe not so close there . . . ). Did the tracks in the foreround used to connect to that line ?
Anyway, thanks for sharing the unusual views.
P.S. - Did you see the NewsWire item about a week ago on the Cumbres & Toltec running an all-day geology special - complete with professional guides - in the middle of June ? Might be an opportunity to see and photograph some things - both rocks and views - “up close and personal” from vantage points not often accessible . . . - PDN.
Paul,
I don’t know as there’s a defined point/ object / story/ feeling/ goal. It’s mostly about shapes and tones. I love the angles of the shot and it’s one of those incredibly rare digital files that I was able to coax a nice, full range of B&W tones from. (For the most part, I’ve quit doing B&W conversions from digital files and am working at re-establishing myself as a film photographer for B&W work).
None of these shots was really meant for literal interpretation, hence the title qualifier “arty.” It’s definitely not my best work (of course, not much is these days…but that’s another story). Still, every so often I see a shot that I appreciate just for the components of it, even if it doesn’t add up to a whole. I think this is one of those cases. Like I said, the angles and tones pleased me, even if the end product isn’t all that moving (which I agree, it’s not).
In the end, if all else fails, it was enough to get me to poke my head in here, which is something that I’m ashamed to say I haven’t done much of lately…
Chris said: "…None of these shots was really meant for literal interpretation, hence the title qualifier “arty.” It’s definitely not my best work (of course, not much is these days…but that’s another story). Still, every so often I see a shot that I appreciate just for the components of it, even if it doesn’t add up to a whole. I think this is one of those cases. Like I said, the angles and tones pleased me, even if the end product isn’t all that moving (which I agree, it’s not).
In the end, if all else fails, it was enough to get me to poke my head in here, which is something that I’m ashamed to say I haven’t done much of lately…"
First of all, personally, I liked them! Particularly, the second shot of the car, and the tracks, with the grass laying over the rails. I understand the 'arty"part as well. Some- times it’s just one of those things; about composition,timing, and opportunity and the scene in front of you.
You’ll have to forgive Paul, It’s probably one of those ‘engineer thingys’ .[swg]
You know, kinda like the dentist that looks at the photo of a girl’s mouth, and can only imagine how some expensive bridgework would look there! [:-,][(-D][(-D][(-D]