When you’re at your layout, how close do you get to your trains as they’re running?
Do you get really close to the action like you’re on the ground and you were a scale figure looking up at your trains, or do you take a more “birds eye” approach and soak in the whole scene?
It is an interesting question. When I was a toddler and could focus on the tip of my nose, I got right down with my wooden and plastic play trains so that I could appreciate them that way. Now, focusing much closer than about 8-10" is hard work, and unsustainable for more than a few seconds. Besides, I can see my HO scale engines nicely from about 2’ away, and I like seeing them in a setting. My images, though, tend to focus more on the engines. I let the camera do the nose-deep focusing for me.
-Crandell
Interesting question. I tend to do all kinds of views – if bifocals would let me without getting into TOO many neck cranking exercises. The camera does the rest—when I remember to use the dang thing!!LOL!!
When I’m running the trains I’m sitting in my chair beside the layout looking at the trains passing as if I’m watching from top of a three or four story building. From this position I can see the train at most places on the layout except where it passes behind structures or another train. I usually have at least two running at once.
I remember being a kid laying on the floor watching my Marx trains come right at me from eye level. Still do it at table level sometimes.