Photographs from a train?

[aduda]

Hey, I am going on a trip soon and will be traveling on a train for some of it. I have a Rebel XT, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that came with it, and a EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III. I am wondering if anyone has any advice for capturing the best possible images under these circumstances?

[zacker]

shooting from a train while its moving? use as fas a shutter speed as possible and put the AF into AIservo... it can be done if you pan also..

[stathunter]

Shutter speed WAY up...... not sure if you can but I have had success taking from the side with the train in a portion of the frame and the background around or taking from the back of the train looking behind.

[KirkHMB]

We took a train trip in Canada. The windows were OK, but shooting from the opening between the cars worked better. More flexibility, less stuff between you and the image to foul it up. Don't recall how high I turned the shutter speed, but I shot slides and an Advanced PnS.

[Glenn NK]

We took a train trip in Canada. The windows were OK, but shooting from the opening between the cars worked better. More flexibility, less stuff between you and the image to foul it up. Don't recall how high I turned the shutter speed, but I shot slides and an Advanced PnS.

Shooting from some of the trains here won't require any adjustment in shutter speed; in fact you can jump out, set up your tripod, grab the shot, and run back and catch the train.;)

But watch out shooting through the windows - you'll get some extra dust spots.:lol:

[canonloader]

Aside from as fast a shutter speed as possible, your going to have to hand hold. Using even a bean bag or leaning the lens or your hand holding it against something solid, will transfer the high frequency vibrations from the wheels of the train into the camera. Hand holding, free style, should dampen most of it. Don't stand flatfooted, bend your knees and let your legs act as shock absorbers. I know this sounds funny, and your not aware of the little vibes in a train, but they are there. ;)

I found this out the hard way, after I got home from a trip and everything had a double exposure type thing in it. Bummer.

[::John::]

Shooting from some of the trains here won't require any adjustment in shutter speed; in fact you can jump out, set up your tripod, grab the shot, and run back and catch the train.;)

But watch out shooting through the windows - you'll get some extra dust spots.:lol:

What is this 'run' thing you speak of? :lol:

OP - I have a rubber lens hood that I can place against glass which reduces reflected light - so it helps when shooting through windows.

Otherwise, as the others have said - high shutter speed, panning, shoot between the carriages (if allowed while the train is moving). Maybe there is an observation car? Maybe you can open a window or there is an open carriage?

[Karl C]

Keep in mind, most likely, Amtrak won't allow you to open the car entry door windows while the train is moving.

[chauncey]

Would not the vibration screw things up?

[TeeTee]

Hope you have IS, and bump the shutter speed to 1/1000+. I got some very decent shots from buses through dirty windows - a train would only be more difficult though I suppose.

In the end it's mostly a matter of shutterspeed which isn't that difficult. As long as it's in the day a bump in ISO will save you.

[braduardo]

Here's one of my better one's from a train, just for an idea...

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6497/outthewindowmediumaj6.jpg