Now I know guys and gals: Stay off private railroad property when taking pictures. I know it is also a good thing to avoid standing on the tracks(that may sound stupid, but some people have gotten squished).
But, do you have a tips, based on your own experience, as to how to capture a train on film? I am using a 35MM SLR with real film. I do digial enhancement with my computer, but I don’t have a digital camera. I am partial to film.
In my local area of Southern California I have several spots to catch rail action: San Timateo Canyon, Cajon Pass, and the local streets that deadend around the West Colton Yard. So I have many opportunities that make train photography a fun, low cost hobby(since I already have the photo equipment).
What lenses do you prefer? Film types? Have you used black and white with any filters(yellow, green, orange or red)?
Do you have any particular luck with a certain f-stop and shutter speed as the train is moving toward you? Finally, any war stories or close calls that you can laugh about now?
If you want a picture of a train coming “head on” find a place where the track curves and get your picture there. You may be able to get an awesome shot and be completely safe. It’s a little more dramatic with a video camera, I’ll grant you, but a lucky shot could be good.
I usually look for places where I think the train would look nice going through then try to take a picture when it goes through. Luck has some to do with it. 
I use a digital camera, so I can snap all the pictures I want and just delete the ones that didn’t work out, no cost to develop the film.
Having a scanner helps, nothing like going out and waiting all day, only to find a train arriving just as you’ve gotten back on the road to drive away.
I always try and pay attention to where the sun is as well.
I’ve had a few photos that would have been awsome if it wasn’t for the fact that they were back-lit. [B)]
[8D] I went through your neck of the woods yesterday on my way back from the Imperial Valley. Must have hit a “dead zone” on the Sunset Route, as I saw an eastbound at Niland, and then nothing else moving until Beaumont. Saw a couple more eastbounds in San Timoteo Canyon.
I have a Pentax PZ70 SLR with a Promaster 28-200 lens. It’s in the shop for repair, so I’m using cheap ones until I get the SLR fixed. San Timoteo Canyon has some S-curves that make it easy to get head-on shots as mentioned above.
Go digital? Maybe one day. I do have a home image scanner to convert pictures to jpg files. Plenty of maps, but no radio scanner.
I have three railroad photography rules:
-
Always be on the side of the train the sun is on, unless taking a picture you have forfeited artistic endeavor on.
-
On a line with manual switches, if you are taking pictures of a train switching, wyeing, etc., position yourself near a switch because the train will have to stop for one of the crewmen to get of and throw the switch.
-
If possible, don’t crop the train, let it trail away or curve into the distance. This is not an absolute rule, but is more of a “guideline.”
The “Parks Principle of Railroad Photography:” Taking railroad photographs is to a great deal a matter of luck. Skill helps, but it may be necessary to take a lot of pictures for that one “perfect shot.”
See you around the forums,
Daniel Parks
Trainjunky: of course you are right, you must take alot of pictures in order to get that one you would show your friends.
I think one of the greatest things about train photography is that it is a good excuse to go out and watch trains.
I take lots of pictures of trains with my Canon AE-1… no autofocus, no autoadvance, just point, focus and shoot.
I try to keep the sun at my back. I back off about ten feet from the edge of the ballast, and I prefocus my camera on a specific point of the track. When the locomotive passes that point, that’s where I trip the shutter. I’d love to get a tripod to steady the camera.
I shoot film- usually Fuji film- get the shop to develop one set of prints and one CD. The film, in my humble and untested opinion, does better in terms of resolution. I’m old fashioned, and while I’m sure that digital autofocus is probably more accurate, I like to crank in the focus myself.
I use a telephoto lens fairly rarely, because my prints always look like I shot the picture a quarter mile away- which would be true. I like to use the lens that came with the camera- it’s short, but easier to steady and easier to frame a shot.
When I go train hunting, I usually go to places where I know there’s going to be activity. When combined with the times where the sun will be at the right angle with where I’ll be shooting, my photos are usually shot off main lines…busy ones.
I have been known to chase a train across two states (New Mexico and Arizona on the BNSF main) when I knew it was odd (odd being foreign power on the head end) and the surrounding territory would be interesting.
I really enjoy taking shots of the people who work around the trains. Nothing makes me happier than a divisional change point; there’s something time honored and traditional about changing crews, even though they might be wearing coveralls, t-shirts and carrying duffels instead of grips. Having people in the shot also gives you a sense of scale in the picture.
Hope that helps.
Erik
There is this cool spot where i can take pics standin in the back of the truck. People look at me like im crazy, but i guess i am.
Adrianspeeder
I shoot with a Canon Rebel II and usually use Fugi Film , unless I have an assignment in my photography class, then I shoot Kodak Tri-X 400. I usually take pictures in the bed of my truck as well, i set the tripod up and set it on top of tha cab. I try to use a shutter speed of at least 1/250, but I use the fastest speed possible to eliminate the possibility for any blurring in movement.
My photo professor says that he takes many pictures, prints about only half of what he takes, and he only keeps 1 in about 8 that he prints. It itakes alot of time and practice to learn to take good pictures.
Patience is the key, waiting for the perfect shot and visualizing it before you take the shot is important.
[#ditto], and:
Look at the whole picture. Moving a few feet can make a difference on whether there is a telephone pole sticking out of the top of the loco, if you know what I mean.
I’ve harped on this many times before - remember the rule of thirds. The tendency of many people is to put the center of attraction in the center of the picture. I’m not saying it’s always wrong, but…
Try this on some pictures you’ve taken already, and some that you have seen and really like: divide the picture in thirds, horizontally and vertically - #. Placing the focal point of the picture (very often the headlight on a 3/4 shot of a loco) on one of the line intersections really turns a snapshot into a memorable picture. In addition, placing the horizon on one of the horizontal lines can greatly improve a picture.
Study pictures you like and try to copy the composition. Take lots of pictures. When you first start out that ratio of clunkers to keepers might be even higher than has been mentioned. Shoot enough and it gets better. That is one advantage of digital, although you’ve got to shoot a pretty high megapixel to approach film resolution. On the other hand, if you do a lot of “practice” shooting with the digital, you’ll start to develop a sense of what works and what doesn’t.
Good Luck, and Happy Shooting!
I like to find a curve where I can capture the arc of the trailing train. Too many shots are just locomotive. Panning helps to show motion. Diesels need that sometimes. A good, smoky exhaust helps, too. Flames are even better. Billows of brake smoke can be dramatic if you can park yourself on a hill. I like the compression effect of a telephoto lens. Also, a low angle can emphasize the massive size of a train.
My favorite all-purpose film is Kodak Gold 400. Plenty sharp with brilliant color. In my view b&w is arty, but I always feel cheated when I can’t see the color. My 100 - 400 zoom tele is my favorite, but I carry a wide angle, too. Sometimes the better shot includes the surrounding area. The tele makes it easier to get the shot without trespassing.
Not a war story, but one time I was poking around the yard in Norfolk, VA and stumbled on N&W 611 in steam. The hostler was friendly and even gave me a short cab ride!
Shoot lots of pictures, even of every-day, boring stuff. Before you know it all the things we now take for granted will be gone and all those pictures will be real treasures.
Sure taking still pictures of trains is a great way to save or file locomotives in your hobby but I have to disagree with just the still photo topic.
Video offers much more than Photo’s. Sights,Sounds,Power,etc.
When I go Railfanning I must take both the SLR & the Video Camera.
You “can’t” enjoy your day of railfanning without both,And oh ya I can’t forget the Scanner Radio too.
I take photos and videos of trains. Usually I have the video camera mounted on a tripod, and I put it in lock run to catch the train as it passes. I have two Pentax SZ 50 slr’s. I have a 35 - 80 mm f/4 zoom lens on one camera, and a 70 -210 mm f/4-f5.6 zoom lens on the other camera. I also have an f/2 lens for real cloudy or rainy days.
I use color slide film, Kodachrome 200, but I will have change to Elitechrome or possibly Fuji since Kodak no longer processes Kodachrome in house, and I wonder how much longer Kodachrome film will be manufactured or processed. Kodachrome is known for its longevity of images. I have some Kodachrome slides which I took 50 + years ago, and they look as if they were processed yesterday.
I rarely use filters although I guess I should. Many photgraphers put skylight filter on their camera to use it tio protect the lens. I only use a skylight filter or an ultra violet filter with color slide film.