Leaving Denver Behind (1 IMG)

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Hey Gang,

Sorry I haven’t been around too much lately. Still adapting to the new schedule and such associated with the new job. I have been shooting a lot lately, and thought I’d share this image taken up by the Big Ten Curves last night. I would have preferred if this train had been here about 30-40 minutes sooner. I had to hike out in the pitch dark with only a mini-mag to light my way. The D600 was being pushed to its ragged edges for performance, too (ISO 10,000, 1/25th of a second with a wide open 80-200mm f2.8). Technically, this is certainly not the best photo I’ve ever taken. Still, the image evokes a certain sense of what it was like to be there, and I like that:


Flickr Link

The train is just entering Little Ten Curve. Ahead is Big Ten, Clay Siding (er…Eisele…), Tunnel No. 1 and the rest of the Moffat Sub up to and through the Continental Divide. The lights of Denver are but a memory for this train.

As always, thoughts, comments and critiques more than welcome!

Thanks!

2

Absolutely beautiful, Chris!

3

Outstanding!

Jay

4

Beautiful Photo.

LION has not the patience to go fishing or to take beautiful photos. Him rush in, snap picture, and run back 'cause his dinner plate is waiting.

ROAR

5

Thanks! It reminds me of my first eastbound ride on the old original CZ in 1968 and my view of Denver after dusk in one of the domes, either the obs or the lounge-snack car, and your photo reminds me of how beautiful the sight was at the time, repeated by the beauty of your photograph. Your work and effort realy paid off in a terrific photograph.

6

What a super image! Truly wonderful. Congratulations.

-Crandell

7

WOW!!! That is a fabulous shot!!! The framing is perfect with the lights of Denver on the top and the train surrounded in darkness at the bottom.

8

Chris - I do like this!

I was afraid you were going to tell us that you are leaving Denver and going away. So now that I know you will be staying - I can go back and enjoy it even more!

9

I love how you can see the distinction between the head, ditch, and numberboard lights. Many times shots like these, the train is just a big blob of light.

Awesome job, as usual.

10

NO Argument here! Chris.

Kudos!

[tup] [tup] [8D]

11

Technically that image blows away anything I have ever taken, so……

And like the Mookie, I read the thread title and was worried, but it’s all good now.

The shot is stunning by the way!

12

Out-of-the-ordinary compositions like this rarely make it into popular rail magazines, so thanks for sharing.

13

Very spiffy, Chris!!

I see what you meant when you wished the train had been there 30 minutes earlier…

14

I don’t know why I even look at these threads - I know the images will be spectacular. [:|]

(Actually, that’s exactly why I look at these threads…)

Excellent image, as always. Night shots are hard to do, especially in urban areas due to the traffic on the move. This shot has the city far enough away that movement is not a factor.

Very nice.

15

Carl - Thank you very much!

Jay - Thanks for the kind words!

Lion - There were lots of Elk and Mule Deer out there. I know your Mountain Lion cousins could make a meal out of them. :wink:

Dave - Thank you very much! I can only imagine what it would have been fun to ride the Zephyr in the pre-Amtrak days!

Crandell - Thank you very much!

Lone Geep - Thanks for the comment. I really like the play between the lights of Denver and the almost total blackness around Big Ten. It’s such a stark contrast.

Mookie - Sorry about the misleading title! No plans for me to be leaving Denver for more than a weekend at most right now!

Zug - Thanks for the comments! When I was planning this shot out, I said that I wanted the headlight/ditchlight triangle showing. To me, that’s enough to say “train” in a photo. The numberboards were a bit of a surprise, but I think they showed up because it was so incredibly dark out there. Nevertheless, I did like what they added to the photo.

Sam - Thank you very much!

Ed - I guess I’m always looking for every image to be technically perfect – well exposed, sharp, etc. This one is definitely on the softer side because it was shot wide open at night and the 80-200 seems to suffer some coma. Additionally, since I was at ISO 10,000, I had to do some noise reduction, too. Still, it’s an appealing image to me, and one that I’m glad that I stuck around for, even if I did have to walk out in the dark.

Mike - Thanks for the kind words. One of the things I strive to do photographically is venture beyond the “norm” from time to time. It’s fun for me to push the limits a little bit.

Jim - Yeah, 30 minutes would have put me in the “Blue hour.” In addition to being less demanding on the camera, I think it would have been a little more aesthetically pleasing. OTOH, the more I look at this shot, the more I like it. I might have to make another outing there some night to try to get th

16

Hey! How about going back to the same spot in October or November, before snow falls, and catching the eastbound CZ at the same spot? Red markers as the rear and wndows lit up?

17

Sounds like a great outing to me! Except there might be snow on the ground by then! (Which would even add a little bit, I think…and I’ve got snow shoes!)