Steam Locomotive

[Sailor Don]

This is one of my favorite photos of engine #300 (Texas State Railroad) on a run to Rusk.

I tried different cropping but always came back to this original.
My personal opinion is that the centering of the subject works best here.

http://users3.ev1.net/~sailord/TX_ST_RR_300.jpg

Comments welcome. (Especially from steam locomotive enthusiasts.) :)

[im2postal]

Good photo, and having the space leading is effective to give the impression where it is going is as important as where it is coming from.

If the opportunity to take the shot again arises here are a couple options:
1-Get at an angle so more of the train is visible. Sometimes the sheer length of a train is very impressive.

2-Use a wider angle lense if you have one. Getting close with a wide angle lense will make the front leap out at you while affording you the opportunity to get all of the smoke trail, and more of the ajoining cars.

Neither of these suggestions is to say the shot doesn't work. It is realy quite a good shot and the angle gives good depth.

[LaurentiuB]

Yes, I think is well centered. On this type of pic. (subjects in motion) I like to see the motion.
Anyway, this is a matter of taste, even it is not looking very well in motion.

[leehal]

Not an enthusiast, but I am guessing these trains are big ?

If so that doesn't really come across in the photo.

[Sailor Don]

1-Get at an angle so more of the train is visible. Sometimes the sheer length of a train is very impressive.


im2postal,

Thanks for the input.

I took several shots as the locomotive approached. This is another one that captures some more of the train, but I don't think it is as good as the first one I posted.

http://users3.ev1.net/~sailord/TX_ST_RR_300_a.jpg

Or maybe it is.
_________________________________________
leehal,

Yes, these are big trains. The ground shakes as the train goes by. Tripod doesn't help much. :)

Perhaps another angle and the inclusion of something to show "scale" would help. This is another photo I took during that shoot.

http://users3.ev1.net/~sailord/TX_ST_RR_300_b.jpg

It portrays the massive size of the locomotive better because of the ability to reference its size against the station, but it doesn't have the "interest" of the first photo.

More pictures from that shoot can be seen at: http://users3.ev1.net/~sailord/TSR

[leehal]

The 3rd shot although not techinically as good does give an impression of size due to the building next to it.

I remember as a child seeing the Flying Scotsman and The Blue Mallard at the railway museum in York, huge machines.

[Sailor Don]

leehal,

This is not one of my better photographs. Too many people, too big a crowd. But this is the largest steam locomotive still running. Union Pacific and volunteers keep it running for historical reasons.

I included it for the size comparison. (It has no connection to the Texas State Railroad.)
http://users3.ev1.net/~sailord/Challenger_3.jpg

[Andy_T]

SailorDon,

nice shots ... however, I like the second shot better because it shows more of the surroundings, and more of the train.

The first shot also does not look completely 'straight' to me.

the last one is incredible ... not for the composition and sharpness of the photo, but for the size of the engine :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[Sailor Don]

Andy,

I never gave it much thought as to whether the first photo was straight. there's no horizon to check it against, but by checking the alignment of the passenger car windows with the left border and the tree trunks with the right border, it appears as if the photo is tipped about 2 degrees clockwise.

Thanks for the input.

[PhotosGuy]

The first shot also does not look completely 'straight' to me.

It looks a bit tilted to me, too, but I think the diagonal works to add interest. They all look as if a little sharpening would help them. :wink:

[Andy_T]

Andy,

I never gave it much thought as to whether the first photo was straight. there's no horizon to check it against, but by checking the alignment of the passenger car windows with the left border and the tree trunks with the right border, it appears as if the photo is tipped about 2 degrees clockwise.

Thanks for the input.

Check the front window on the loco!

That's what most gave me the impression that the train was actually a bit tipped to the right.

I agree that the 'diagonal' angle makes the photo interesting, but it's just a few degrees too much.

Best regards,
Andy

[im2postal]

For varying reasons both first & second shots are good. I tend to like the second one a little better.

If you have a super wide angle lense and can get closer (I understand the difficulty there), perhaps you can bridge the gap between size of the loco, and the composition showing the whole train,

No complaints about either shot though.

Robbie Simmons

[Sailor Don]

Thanks for the input. I will try to keep the pointers in mind as I head off for a weeks vacation in the Rocky Mountains. I hope to get some good photos there.