I’ve got a concert shoot tonight that required some fast glass, so I borrowed an 85mm f1.2 from a friend of mine. I wanted to get a feel for the lens before I shot this concert, so I decided to head downtown and document Train No. 6’s arrival at Denver last night. A lot of these shots are similar to what I posted of No. 5 last week with two major exceptions – the lighting was completely different (and much more interesting) and I had a much faster lens (which was way, way cool). Here are my shots:
First up is the only wide angle I shot of the night. This is a shot of No. 6 backing into Denver under the watchful eye of its conductor. The small JPG doesn’t really do this one justice because the conductor isn’t very big in the small web sized shot. I love the contrast of the warm light of the Superliner interior against the blues of the evening sky:
Thanks, Carl. That was actually said a little tongue in cheek. I always read about how a great photographer can make great shots with any equipment. That’s true, but only to a point. I could not have done these types of shots with lesser equipment. I get just as frustrated at people that thinks it’s all about the photographer as I do with people that think its all about the equipment. An iPhone or a Box Brownie are fine for some shots, but they can’t do extreme shallow DOF stuff like this.
I too like the backing move photo, and looking at it for a while, I think the conductor is the only person in the shot….leastwise I couldn’t find anyone else.
My question is where are you standing when you took these photos, especially the first four? I’m guessing the first was from a skywalk over the tracks. The next three appear to have been taken while standing on a ladder or raised platform in order to get the overhead perspective of each of the three subjects. Amtrak personnel must know you fairly well to let you do your photography. Can you fill us in on how you get your photos?
Thanks, Ed. I’ll poke around the full size image and see if I can see anyone else, but I think you’re right.
Bill, there’s a road viaduct that runs parallel to the temporary station track for Amtrak (until they move back into the remodeled Union Station in 2014). I’m on the sidewalk on the “ramp” up to the grade separation for the shots when I’m looking down on the crew. You can see what the area looks like on Google Maps here. Thanks for your comment!
LOL. Alas, the last one we were on together doesn’t really suit photographers anymore. They put a really tight weave chain link fence up there that’s all but impossible to shoot through. [banghead]
