Steam locomotive

Hey Cats and Kittens;

I have a chance to shoot a steam locomotive this week. I would like to try and get some "pacing" shoots. The tracks run parallel to the road for 5-10 miles. We will be in a car travelling at the same speed as the train, 30-60 mph.

Can anyone point me at some starting conditions to get motion blur of the wheels/cylinders and background? Is this going to similar to panning?

Assuming a 40D, decent light; ISO 100, TV mode, either 18-55 (kit lens) or 70-200 IS, center weighted metering, ai servo focus.

I am guessing 1/200th to 1/320 shutter speed to start?

Thanks in advance

You'll have to shoot in M to get the settings right. You will probably want a slower shutter speed to get a good panning effect. If the FOV works use the 70-200. With the IS you should be able to get the shutter speed down to around 1/60. Try as to use a small aperture, this will give you a detailed background. Have an idea what you want to try. 5-10 miles should be long enough to get a lot of exposures.

eddarr wrote in post #6090678
You'll have to shoot in M to get the settings right. You will probably want a slower shutter speed to get a good panning effect. If the FOV works use the 70-200. With the IS you should be able to get the shutter speed down to around 1/60. Try as to use a small aperture, this will give you a detailed background. Have an idea what you want to try. 5-10 miles should be long enough to get a lot of exposures.

??? - Why?

Use Tv mode and set 1/60th (for instance), adjust ISO to get 'small aperture'...

Use Av mode to set 'small aperture', adjust ISO to get 1/60th sec

You still need to balance the exposure with Manual mode.

So, yes, you'd want similar settings as you would use for panning. For a train, the above 1/60s would be a good goal, but you might want to practice, starting at a faster shutter speed and working your way down. the key is to maintain focus at a given point on the train over a sequence.

Manual is good if you're shooting over a span with consistent lighting, because it keeps your desired shutter speed and aperture constant, which is good in these shots -- you set the aperture for the desired depth of field and the shutter speed for the desired motion blur.

If, though, you will be passing through lighting that changes quality significantly, you will have to make tradeoffs: Manual might lead to underexposed or overexposed shots, whereas Tv or Av will get one setting right but maybe throw the other off. If you stay in Manual you will need to change the ISO on the fly. Getting some practice on the actual track will help a lot in figuring out what will work!

Hope this all helps a bit!

I would just like to add that you convert some to B&W but do so in a propler manner and not just convert to grayscale.

If you understand EC, that would work, but I only trust manual to stay the same no matter where I point the camera. This shows how the subject can affect the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free:
Post #47

So first set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO.
Need an exposure crutch?

jdando wrote in post #6090179
Hey Cats and Kittens;

I have a chance to shoot a steam locomotive this week. I would like to try and get some "pacing" shoots. The tracks run parallel to the road for 5-10 miles. We will be in a car travelling at the same speed as the train, 30-60 mph.

Can anyone point me at some starting conditions to get motion blur of the wheels/cylinders and background? Is this going to similar to panning?

Assuming a 40D, decent light; ISO 100, TV mode, either 18-55 (kit lens) or 70-200 IS, center weighted metering, ai servo focus.

I am guessing 1/200th to 1/320 shutter speed to start?

Thanks in advance

Is this the Milwaukee Road #261 running from Minneapolis to Milwaukee?

I'd like to try some shots also if I can find the route.

I think the opportunities for getting the shot will be short and it's well worth trying to get as clear as possible and getting wheel blur during post processing.

Your in a moving vehicle with a moving train so lots of opportunities for blurry pictures if shutter speed is too slow.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #6092455
If you understand EC, that would work, but I only trust manual to stay the same no matter where I point the camera. This shows how the subject can affect the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free:
Post #47

So first set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO.
Need an exposure crutch?

Fair comment, but if 'chasing' a loco for 5-10 miles I'd have thought the light might change a few times...

kevin_c wrote in post #6091582
??? - Why?

Use Tv mode and set 1/60th (for instance), adjust ISO to get 'small aperture'...

Use Av mode to set 'small aperture', adjust ISO to get 1/60th sec

You still need to balance the exposure with Manual mode.

That's also a fair comment. I was thinking in terms of shooting several different styles of photos over the course of the trip. Some sharp with large aperture and some with small, some panning with large aperture and small and even some with a little blur in the train etc.

One other thing. If possible try to get the shutter speed slow enough to show the motion in the wheels and linkage that drives them.
For me it is easiest to control all of this while shooting in M. It's true you can force the aperture size will in TV by adjusting the ISO. But I would rather not have to think about how to force something will shooting out of a moving car or while sitting in the back of a moving truck. Like most people I shoot M 95% of the time so changing settings to affect picture style comes mostly naturally.

But that's just what I would do if I where in that situation. Like always it will be up to the OP to use the technique that works best for them. What will be important is that the OP have a very solid idea of what they want to accomplish on the photo and plan accordingly. It doesn't sound like this will be a good candidate for a reshoot.

Thanks for all the comments! I am heading out on a beautiful MN morning! Stay tuned

Yo POTN'ers

Here are the results!

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=6113735#p​ost6113735

jdando wrote in post #6113744
Yo POTN'ers

Here are the results!

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=6113735#p​ost6113735

Great shots of a fine 4-8-4! Makes you appreciate some of the shots of yesteryear taken with the old film cameras and non-stabilized lenses (not to mention cars with considerably less forgiving ride characteristics)

i see the OP is from MN. if you are around tues (9/30), the UP Challenger parked at the STP Depot is leaving towards shakopee at 930 am.