UP Train

[Barb W]

http://i42.tinypic.com/10h9ifo.jpg


had to crop from the top more than I would have liked due to power lines:(

[mlipscomb]

I think it's a great picture...really nice

[Robert_Lay]

Excellent!
Congratulations!

[jayspec]

Not bad at all. It seems a tad underexposed, though? Also, the location isn't quite doing it for me. I think there should be more context. You said you cropped for powerlines, and normally I'd agree with that decision, but I think that powerlines are "germane" to the railways. The things on the left that aren't signals bother me. Is that a dumpster? Whatever it is, it doesn't exactly convey romance on the rails.

I must emphasize, though, that I'm being nitpicky. Overall, this is a lovely shot.

[JuiceBox]

I agree, just a tiny bit underexposed. Also, it looks like you had something on your lens; above the back of the first car in the tree.

[InsaneSkippy]

I agree, just a tiny bit underexposed. Also, it looks like you had something on your lens; above the back of the first car in the tree.
That's likely the heat coming off the engine that's causing that blur, notice how it's above the second engine as well?

OP: I love this shot!

[Barb W]

thanks everyone for the nice comments,

JuiceBox, nothing on my lens, I think what you are seeing is the heat vapors from the engine.

[jayspec]

I agree, just a tiny bit underexposed. Also, it looks like you had something on your lens; above the back of the first car in the tree.

I think the "something on the lens" is heat from the engine.

[Croasdail]

I hate to be the one to say this, as I love trains, and this is a nice capture in many senses... but something just feels wrong. You have some very saturated colors going on, yet no real whites or highlights in the image. It has almost a funky flatness to image. I hope you don't take this too much the wrong way, but the lighting just feels dead. Sorry, everything else is fine... lighting just isn't there for me.

It is interesting that the UP has taken up the old SP's approach to keeping their engines clean, essentially not doing it at all. These are some pretty dirty locomotives. UP in the past would have never let their stuff get this bad.

[Barb W]

Mark, the funky flatness is because it's 1 RAW HDR, then tone mapped, I'm glad you mention the dirtyness, that's what I was after :) You probably would like the orig better?

[JuiceBox]

Good call on the heat, I didn't think the train was in motion.

[Pete's Prints]

A very nice capture, it looks fine, and the fact that the engines are dirty brings out the essance of railroading. It's a dirty job! Again great capture.bw!

[OL9245]

Excelent use of tone mapping imho. I'd desaturate the blue in the logo.

[pepsirich]

I am amazed you found a train with 4 cars all the same color.

[Robert_Lay]

I'm glad it is HDR processed - I considered asking but did not want to start an HDR controversy.

I think the "look" and "feel" of the colors is typical HDR, although somewhat muted, and I love it. For me, it fits the scene and creates the mood for a slightly gritty subject.

[PMatthes]

I think it's amazing as well, and I can't believe that there were 4 consecutive cars of the same color either!

Great feel - and it's an HDR without being overdone.

[Croasdail]

Mark, the funky flatness is because it's 1 RAW HDR, then tone mapped, I'm glad you mention the dirtyness, that's what I was after :) You probably would like the orig better?

Interesting. Ok, I was having a hard time understanding the lighting. But it seems counter intuitive to use HDR to create a low dynamic range image. I will have to let my little head wrap around that one for a while. Thanks for clarifying.

I can't believe that there were 4 consecutive cars of the same color either!

Pretty common for coal drags in that part of the country. Cool none the less.