So I got up fairly early in the morning this morning and decided to go out chasing trains. I managed to find the eastbound BNSF manifest up at Crescent and followed him back into town. I caught a westbound UP manifest and the westbound CZ on the way. Here’s the results:
First shot, taken at Crescent.
Next shot, taken at Blue Mountain Road. I don’t like how the locomotives are shadowed, but I thought it was fun to see 4 GE’s with 4 different paint jobs (BNSF H2, a very faded ATSF Warbonnet, a not quite as faded Conrail Quality and a CN North America) lined up like this.
Same location, but I thought I’d see if I could make the shadowed face of the lead loco work as a black and white image. I don’t think it’s quite what I had envisioned when I started, but I kind of like it.
Here we go! When all else fails, get the wedgie at Chemical. Now that summer is here, there’s actually a good amount of sunshine on the north side of the tracks in the morning. There’s nothing really fancy about this one, but it’s definately my favorite from the outing.
Had the train been a little earlier, this could have been a stellar shot. When I saw it early in the morning, the field was glowing in the nice, warm, low level, early morning light. It’s still pretty here, but not quite as magic as if the train had been there an hour or so earlier.
Here’s the UP manifest. I should’ve tried for more of a broadside shot with the sun where it was. Oh well…next time.
This is a concept shot that needs a little tweakin
Great Photography as usual Chris. Especially like the two Black & White, so unusual to see B&W in this day and age.
Finally broke down and bought a Canon SLR with a couple of extra lenses and was all set to go to Tehachapi this weekend but weather is overcast and sprinkles so will wait. Still have lots to read about the camera anyway.
When I see your photography it gives me something to shoot for anyway.
Great shots as always Chris, you always seem to have such great color saturation.
I just got home and was hopeing to post some shots myself but I cant get the camera to download. When I try the camera lcd display starts rapidly alternateing between the normal screen and the “busy” screen. Ever have this happen?
Now this is great photogaphy ! Early morn and Bluest skies Ive seen in a while ! Its been really crappy here lately for photography…Thanks for sharing and giving me inspiration for tomorrow !
Chad - Unfortunately, I can’t help. I always used a CF Card Reader for downloading shots. If you’re having problems, you might want to look into picking one up. I think they cost $20 or something like that. As an added bonus, it should be a lot quicker to download shots to your computer.
Al - I tried playing around with the B&W conversion a little bit, and I might post another version with a little more contrast. I didn’t want to push it too much, though.
Chad - I have a CF reader that I carry in the camera bag. Since computers see it as a USB device, I can download to virtually any computer - handy if I just shot pictures I want to share.
Chris - excellent work as usual.
I like the first shot - nice juxtapositon of the train and the detritus of everyday railroading.
The B&W of 4069 is nice - definitely a keeper, although I find the cars in the background a bit distracting.
I can identify with the “non-glowing field” thing. I still kick myself for not stopping one morning to catch a shot of a field filled with back-lit rime-iced weeds.
I like your concept shot - reminds me of one I saw of a steamer and which I duplicated using my N Scale Berk. As much as a stickler as I am for the rule of thirds, I think the springs should go on the centerline of that picture. My 2 cents.
Chris, you definitely raise the bar, that’s for sure. I really like the black and white of 4069, perhaps pushing the contrast just a tiny but more, but I think it’s a great shot. I love the one showing the 4 locos with the differing paint schemes, that is far and away my favorite.
Too crummy of a day for shooting today, but now, that I am properly inspired, I will venture out later this week to see what I can capture.
Definitely some excellent work, Chris. Thanks for sharing.
Nice shots! I really like the mountain shots. I live in northern Wyoming and it seems the mountains more excellent shots when there is a train a front of them [:)] Mountains themselves make good shots alone too. Is there any helper service around there?
