Miniature Locomotives

[Carjo]

Hey all,

As the Brisbane POTNers would know, I am a member of a miniature railway club. These were taken on a trip down to a associated club in Sydney a couple of weekends ago. It's taken so long as I primarily use film. Keeping that in mind, any comments on composure etc would be nice. =) Camera was a Canon EOS 3000N using Kodak UltraMAX (lol) 400iso film. Neg scans by trusty ol' Kmart... (lol) :P

1.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t179/Carjo_3000/potn15.jpg
This locomotive has been "blown down" for the day, hence the grate in front of it and the open roof hatch. Should have moved it and closed it respectively but oh well. Shutter = 1/125th, Aperture = f4.5.

2.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t179/Carjo_3000/potn16.jpg
Another locomotive taking a rest in the "goods" yard. Shutter = 1/500th, Aperture = f8. Slightly edited in Photoshop, nothing that couldn't have been done during developing.

[RadAL]

very nice... but maybe switch or look into switching to digital? But the quality is very nice and I like the pictures.

[Greg_C]

nice work carjo. looks like you had a good time down there. how many went down form your club?

[wakko]

they look great carjo. :)

[Carjo]

very nice... but maybe switch or look into switching to digital? But the quality is very nice and I like the pictures.

Not right now. From an artistic perspective, film suits me for the time being. It'll still be available for a while yet.

nice work carjo. looks like you had a good time down there. how many went down form your club?

they look great carjo. :)

Thanks, yeah I did have a really good time. :) There were about 15 of us down there from my club.

Rob.

[Mike R]

I think the fist image would be better if the DOF was not as deep as it is.

[Carjo]

I think the fist image would be better if the DOF was not as deep as it is.

You know, you might be right. Should I have tried a higher f number?

[Nidz]

I reckon you could take photos of them in angles that you would swear they were real. Down low looking up at them and that. Nice pics.

[Mike R]

You know, you might be right. Should I have tried a higher f number?

You would need a lower f/stop number, Which would result in a larger aperture, ex: if original was shot at f/8, you could try f/4. This would also require an adjustment in your shutter speed but if you use Av mode, the camera will adjust the shutter speed for you.

[Carjo]

I reckon you could take photos of them in angles that you would swear they were real. Down low looking up at them and that. Nice pics.

Locomotives like the second one are something like 40cm (15in) high. It's possible, though you'd either have to get down really low or try it on a larger one like the first one.

[Carjo]

You would need a lower f/stop number, Which would result in a larger aperture, ex: if original was shot at f/8, you could try f/4. This would also require an adjustment in your shutter speed but if you use Av mode, the camera will adjust the shutter speed for you.

hmmm... ok then. I don't know how much lower it can get... the first one was f4.5 yet my lenses are have a minimum of f3.5 and f4 respectively.

[Mike R]

hmmm... ok then. I don't know how much lower it can get... the first one was f4.5 yet my lenses are have a minimum of f3.5 and f4 respectively.

If you are at the widest aperture then you may need to step back and go to a greater focal length because a wide angle focal length has greater DOF than a Tele focal length at any given aperture. The same holds true when comparing a P&S camera to a SLR, the P&S will always display a greater DOF at any given focal length than an SLR at the same focal length.

[Carjo]

If you are at the widest aperture then you may need to step back and go to a greater focal length because a wide angle focal length has greater DOF than a Tele focal length at any given aperture. The same holds true when comparing a P&S camera to a SLR, the P&S will always display a greater DOF at any given focal length than an SLR at the same focal length.

I believe the second one was taken with the same lens though I was further back (in the shade :p). Is that what you mean for the first one - move back a bit further next time or use a smaller lens (as I'm sure I was using the 75-300 for both)?

[Mike R]

You did not say what the focal length was of the first shot, but lets say you shot it at 75mm, If you increased the focal length to say 150mm.This would decrease the DOF, However if you move farther back to retain the size of the train this would minimize the affect of the decrease. I just think it would be a nicer image if the white van and other things in the background were not as defined as they are, (not that its a lot).
I'm far from a rocket scientist and therefore I can't explain the physics behind it, but the focal length also has an affect on the DOF. As an example, f/4.5 @ 50mm will have a greater DOF than f/4.5 at 200mm. If I can find the link I will post it for a DOF on line calculator.

[Carjo]

You did not say what the focal length was of the first shot, but lets say you shot it at 75mm, If you increased the focal length to say 150mm.This would decrease the DOF, However if you move farther back to retain the size of the train this would minimize the affect of the decrease. I just think it would be a nicer image if the white van and other things in the background were not as defined as they are, (not that its a lot).
I'm far from a rocket scientist and therefore I can't explain the physics behind it, but the focal length also has an affect on the DOF. As an example, f/4.5 @ 50mm will have a greater DOF than f/4.5 at 200mm. If I can find the link I will post it for a DOF on line calculator.

I think I see the problem - I misunderstood what you meant by a "deep" DOF. I was concerned that the tender of the loco was slightly out of focus, but you meant the background is too in focus? If so then everything makes sense now. :)

[Mike R]

You got it.:lol:
You could also use Gaussian Blur in your editing softwarr to simulate a shallow DOF.

[Carjo]

You got it.:lol:
You could also use Gaussian Blur in your editing softwarr to simulate a shallow DOF.

Gaussian Blur... righto. Thanks for the help! :)