OK, I was gonig to go out and shoot with the sun, but decided I had better do some more PP since I’ve got a family portrait shoot tonight, and I’d like to have an empty set of Memory cards. Keep in mind that this is just quick and dirty processing in Lightroom. I haven’t even cloned out the dust spots (or the lightpole in the “High Key Portrait” shot of IHB 4014) in a couple of the pictures (Lightroom doesn’t have a clone tool, and I didn’t feel like getting into Photoshop for the time being). I’ll replace the shots later if I do take the time to fix these up a little better. For the time being though, here they are:
One final note…those last two were taken with the camera braced against a light pole. Still, using that technique, I used to only get a 1 out of 15 or so keeper rate on long exposures. I took three shots like this with the K100D at 1.6 seconds, and all three were exceptably sharp (the last one almost as sharp as if I had been on a tripod). Shake Reduction works!
Looks like maybe Proviso, Franklin Park, the UP version of the racetrack, where else in Chicago? You came aweful close to getting the same IHB loco I have in my collection…
The obvious ones are Elmhurst and Highlands stations. I’d say possibly Turner Junction is the top one, and Proviso for the yard shots. Is the Metra loco shot at LaGrange?
The top two (CN) shots were taken in Des Plaines (that’s Deval Tower). The last two Metra shots were at Elmhurst (as was the UP road shot and corresponding Metra shot), everything on the BNSF was at Highlands (that telephoto lens is amazing!). The IHB shots were by the Argo yard office. By the way, you may notice UP Olympic SD70M 2002 is the second unit in the one shot, obscured by the hoppers.
That was a fun trip, taking most of the day. Chris was driving; I was navigating and playing tour-guide. It was more exploration than photo-shoot (I hope to have filled Chris’ memory-banks for future trips!). My wife joined us for pizza-with-a-view in Elmhurst while the rush-hour scoots paraded by.
That was a nice selection! I liked those evening shots, especially with the interiors of the commuter cars so visible, since shooting them “normally” results in no view of the interior of the cars. BTW clearing cards is cheaper than wasting a shot on K-64 these days,does Kodak even want us to shoot slides any more? I gave up on K-64 and photography in general, since (A.) I can’t shoot what I want to shoot, without a hassle from the local Gestapo! (B.) K-64 processing ain’t what it used to be! (C.) It is (Censored) expensive considering the results one gets!
Chris, UPY 2315 is now one of the yard engines in Global 2. I’ve seen it at County Line the last couple of days. What I haven’t seen is evidence that it’s been moved since it was brought over there.
Mr. Benham, I think if you compare the images in the windows with the reflections on the stainless steel beneath the windows, you’ll see that the windows are probably reflecting the city lights of Elmhurst as well (note also that the upper-level windows look dark, which they assuredly were not).
All I can say is if I ever make it to Chicago, I want to go railfanning with you guys.[;)] Nice shots. And it’s good to know there are still places where one can find variety and not just the same monotonous 2 railroads.
