Well, I got out and got a couple shots this morning of the unique train. They weren’t what I had planned, but that was partially out of my control. I had hoped for a sunny shot where the railroad turns back to the east near Blue Mtn. Road. Lo and behold, I found an absolute ground blizzard by the time I got to Hwys. 72 and 93. I turned back, and got these shots near Chemical:
I don’t really like either individually, but if I get out tomorrow morning and find the same overcast skies west of town, I think I could make a combo of the two work. If I had waited a little longer in the first shot and had fired when the train was to the right of the frame, and cropped it to a panoramic type shot again, I think it would work pretty well.
Either way, I should be out in the morning, and I hope I can supply you all with a much better attempt at this great looking train!
If tomorrow morning is as cold and windy as this morning was, I think I may have a very good shot at catching pneumonia or the like. When the wind gusts came up, it was literally painful to stand outside.
Actually, I think the first photo is reminiscent of a Ted Rose watercolor. The more I look at it, the more I like it. I’ve looked at enough tight 3/4 angle shots for 3 lifetimes…include a little scenery. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for posting those pics. I hear you on the “perfect shot,” but those are two very nice “almost shots.” And, you did the most important thing you could do with them, you let us see what’s too far for many of us to drive to.
Thanks everyone for the nice comments. It’s really nice to know that my work is appreciated. Nataraj, 1989 subbed in for the third F40 that had some sort of problem. I’m not sure what it was, but I’m glad it happened (not that I want to see an F40 inoperational…but it did allow for a cool opportunity).
Anyways, while you all liked my shots, I still wasn’t thrilled with the results, so I had to try again last night. Chris’ first photo tip of the day: If at first you don’t succeed, try something easier. It doesn’t get much easier than shooting night shots of a train that stays in one place, so that’s what I did:
Of these three, the second shot is finally worthy of “Wallhanger” status for me. I really like the balanced feel of the shot. I also think it does the best job telling the story of the significance of 1989 being on the point of one of Colorado’s great railroad traditions.
Oh yeah, Chris’ second photo tip of the day: If you plan to take night shots, be sure to dress appropriately. I headed out after church without a coat or any gloves. The temps downtown dipped into the single digits last night with a little wind. I was just a trifle cold by the end of the shoot!
Got to agree with Larry, and everybody else…You have managed to capture photos of a rare combination,whatever the compositional problems are that you mentioned…I would say many of us are a little green with envy![C):-)]
Excelent work! Chris. Thanks for sharing.[tup][tup]
Great elements – a relatively clean locomotive with classic, sharp graphics; a foreboding night sky with clouds underlit by ground lighting; and a great neon sign! Something about trains and neon signs at nighttime that makes for a great photograph.
Certainly worth freezing a finger or two to get shots like these.
I got some neat ones yesterday of a CN train smoking like a mother -you know what- in the cold weather. I had a setting wrong and I’m not sure if I can save them or not but if I can I’ll try to post them. It was -5F with a w/c of -15F. No hat or gloves cuz I wasn’t intending on shooting any pics but it happened anyway.
I remember all the fuss over the Rio Grande Heritage unit. Color was wrong, too modern, nothing like the original, etc… . Now take a look at the photos again; in the snow, out on the Colorado flatlands and at the station. Seems to me that they(UP) got it right.
