train photo, my first

[dunefreak]

Hello all. I'm new here and just got the photography bug as of a couple months ago when I purchsed my first DSLR (50D).

I shot this today and was rather happy with it. I'd like to hear what you guys think of it. :D

Thanks,

Pete

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

I like it but just for fun HDR it and see what you get.

-Ed-

[dunefreak]

Hey All,

I like it but just for fun HDR it and see what you get.

-Ed-

Thanks Ed. But like I said, I'm pretty new to this so I'm not quite sure how to do that.

[bsmotril]

I like it a lot. Too bad the potty door was left open though. I don't think HDR will buy you much here as there is not a whole lot of hidden shadow detail to bring out by doing so. HDR usually works best on really high contrast shots, and this is not one of those. Because the hills and sky are so close to each other in tonal range, HDR is not going to help there. It would bring in some detail along the track and trucks of the rail cars off to the right. But do you really want to do that and take attention away from the locomotive?

[PhotosGuy]

That's a pretty good shot. I might have moved a bit to the left to get more of the cars in & less of the road. Or just crop from the left up to the signal lights.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Welcome-ChargerRT_020.gif

[dunefreak]

I like it a lot. Too bad the potty door was left open though. I don't think HDR will buy you much here as there is not a whole lot of hidden shadow detail to bring out by doing so. HDR usually works best on really high contrast shots, and this is not one of those. Because the hills and sky are so close to each other in tonal range, HDR is not going to help there. It would bring in some detail along the track and trucks of the rail cars off to the right. But do you really want to do that and take attention away from the locomotive?

Thank you. Yeah I know I noticed that afterwards and wished it had been shut too. :mad: Oh well...next time I'll yell at them before I take the pic, "shut that chitter door!!!" hahaaa

That's a pretty good shot. I might have moved a bit to the left to get more of the cars in & less of the road. Or just crop from the left up to the signal lights.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Welcome-ChargerRT_020.gif

I agree, but that is where the pic ends on the right. I guess I was too worried about getting the whole line of train cars down the tracks. So maybe like you said, just crop out more of that road to make it better. Thanks!

[FZ1]

I like it...too bad the mountains didn't show through the haze just a little more.

[socalrailfan]

A nice shot, but a tad soft.

[Harold_L]

Looks to me like you are well on the way to getting some great train photos - nice shot.

[dunefreak]

thanks everyone, please keep the comments coming. I am still learning so any and all C&C helps. :)

[Warby]

This is a nice shot but the verticals look out to me. A slight anticlockwise rotation, a contrast boost and a little sharpening would improve this greatly.

Here is a quick edit I did making just a few basic adjustments.

http://www.8frerichs.freeserve.co.uk/train.jpg

I hope you don't mind.

Paul

[dunefreak]

I hope you don't mind.

Paul

not at all. Thanks Paul. So would the only way to make this pic any sharper than my original would be through software editing? The photo I posted was untouched other than some cropping.

Just trying to think how I could have gotten it any sharper the way I took the pic.

It was taken on TV mode, 1/200, f/10, ISO 100, white balance: cloudy setting.

[PhotosGuy]

The photo I posted was untouched other than some cropping. When you resize for the web, you always need to resharpen. BUT, you don't have to sharpen everything, as in...
A few words on SHARPENING: (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=6232485&postcount=57)

[dunefreak]

When you resize for the web, you always need to resharpen. BUT, you don't have to sharpen everything, as in...
A few words on SHARPENING: (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=6232485&postcount=57)

Thank you. I just started messing around with Photoshop last night with sharpening images. That helps alot! :D

[on2rails]

Looking at your exif data, and guessing that the train was sitting still your shot should be at least a little sharper right out of the camera.

I could go on and on trying to figure out why it is not sharper but my first thought is you focused on the nose with the center AF point and then re-composed the shot? If this is the case, then you probably should use the GREAT feature included on that camera which is lens micro-focus adjustment.
There are plenty of articles about how to do it and I can assure you that it does make a difference. I have exactly the same equipment as you. My 70-200 was off quite a bit before I adjusted it.

Here is a shot with a similar angle but this train is doing about 40MPH, wider open and Different light etc, but you get the idea.

Also, you might want to learn to use the camera set up to focus with the AF or * (star button) and not both on the shutter button. If I can help let me know

Joey

http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/data/658/107ambrosesm.JPG