Hi everyone. I’m a newbie to photography of any kind, but have found that taking layout pics with my el cheapo Sony Cybershot is alot of fun. One of these days, I’d like to super detail a scene and submit a pic for Trackside Photos (with a better camera, of course). It dawned on me today [:I] that I could shoot photos of stationary trains with moving units in the background to “animate” the pics. I’m just curious what your impressions are of this type effect. Are they worth the effort or do you like “standard” pics better? Also, I know lighting and shadows play a part in a pics perception but are there any other easy “tricks” I need to be employing? I’m open to any suggestions from the photography buffs here. Thanks all!
Well,you’re on the right path but,you need more color and try using the “Micro” setting if your camera has it.The following picture was taken in my shed about dusk.The only light I had was the flash.
Interesting effect. It could be used to create certain moods, or tell a specific story.
However, when I am photographing real trains I always try to use a shutter speed or fast enough “film” to enough to avoid this effect, so I would not consider it a prototypical look.
As far as other things, the lighting is sort of red. Gives it an early morning or late evening look. I’m guessing this was taken under normal “light bulb” type lights. Your digital camera should have a “AWB” somewhere that could correct for this. Usually the procedure is something like: Get a plain white sheet of paper, make it fill the screen as if taking a picture of it, and press the AWB. The camera knows it is supposed to be white and will then adjust to make it true white. Don’t forget to reset before you take other pictures or that color will then be wrong…
Brakie, can’t find a “micro” adjustment in the manual. Must not have that…
Zepher, wow, I tried a white balance adjustment for use under incandescent lighting. End of the red effect. Check this out, it’s the same basic shot but with a color adjustment. Thanks Man!!!
That first one is awesome!!! It’s subtle - as if you’re focused on the stationary locomotive, but some train just happened to be “going by” in the background, and it accidentally got into your shot when you were railfanning.
as with most other small point and shoot digitals, a micro or macro mode is usually denoted by a “flower” emblem, usually either on the command dial of the camera, (where you find all the different shooting modes, like portrait, landscape, nighttime etc,) or as a separate command button. and if i remember correctly most sony cybershot cameras have a macro setting. if you see a little flower icon on your LCD screen, then youre in macro mode!
i really like those pics. i like how you use depth of field to simulate a larger size (at least, thats what it impresses on me,) and i like the slower shutter speed, it really does animate the pics.
as for the color, its reddish, as was said before and if you are shooting under a normal lightbulb, you should be able to set the white balance correcly with AWB (auto white balance) and if that still gives you odd coloring, check your other white balance settings and see if they work better, sometimes other settings give a more natural coloration.
and the beauty of digital pics is that you can change the color levels in a photo editing program like Photoshop, and its quick and easy.
Interesting effect. It could be used to create certain moods, or tell a specific story.
However, when I am photographing real trains I always try to use a shutter speed or fast enough “film” to enough to avoid this effect, so I would not consider it a prototypical look.
I agree - the blurred train in motion is a different effect - and your purpose of using it is for animation. Train Zephyr - when he says :prototypical look" I think he means that when shooting at a high shutter speed - the two locos (will both appear static in the picture - Think of the photos in TRAINS magazine where trains moving on the mainline for appear static in the photo) - where as in auto (or lower shutter speads) the moving loco will blur.
Another effect you can try also in auto or slower speeds - is to “animate” a vehicleon a road adjacent to a moving train. Try following the train in motion and taking the shot when you can include the subject vehicle in the same shot. You want to take the moving train (moving the camera in motion with the train) as a static image - at the same time blurring the image of the static vehicle - causing it to “move” in the resulting picture.
Check you camera again - it might be called a close-up, macro etc. - BUT if you are trying to capture the entire scene - it may not be necessary - that is the beauty of digital - experiment with the different settings - additional lighting etc. write down what you did for each shot so that you can duplicate the ones that give you the effects you are looking for.
Thanks Karl. I looked and do have a “soft snap mode”. According to Sony, in this mode you get “bright, warm color tone”. It was intended for pics of people but I’m going to give it a try (probably won’t get to today though with the holiday). Thanks for the tips!!!
That’s a great idea too. I’ve tried it before and haven’t gotten that “magic” shot yet. It’s more difficult, because the camera is moving, to get the train in good focus(I am using a tripod). I’ll have to try it again, it would convey the Grande’s philosophy of not letting the grass grow under them quite well. [8D]
one suggestion I have grande man is a tripod. From experience with my digital cam, when taking photos with the zoom to get that close shot, the slightest little shake will blur the whole picture. I use a tripod and the timer setting so the camera is perfectly still while the shot is being taken. just my 2 cents worth…overall, I really enjoy your pictures and those of others here. Hopefully in a couple months, I will be out of armchair mode and start my layout. I got the room, just got to get the funds saved up to start…medic
i am a complete newbie at the photo thing…but i think your idea of photgraphing a stationary subject in front of a moving background is a great concept…you can get a good detail shot and yet imply action…
