Large Scale Central

Pictures of the C.V.S.Ry. - Camera Experiments

General Discussion
#1

While taking pictures for my post of finishing the lot border, I decided to get down on the ground and play around with the new camera. I’ve been trying to master small aperture / long depth-of-field shots, and today I made plenty of mistakes. The biggest mistake that resulted in the most disappointing shots was trying to use slow shutter speeds with the camera hand-held. I am just too shaky for that. I’m, still getting used to the Auto Focus on the camera as well. When I review the pictures it never seems to have focused where I thought it did. The good news is that I did get a number of keepers - here’s a few of them… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/ShortTrain-1-1024.JPG]

[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/ShortTrain-2-1024.JPG]

[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/ShortTrain-4-1024.JPG]

[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/ShortTrain-3-1024.JPG]

[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The last shot is a very long telephoto shot. It’s interesting how crooked the track is. That’s supposed to be a straight :smiley:

#2

Pictures of real narrow gauge railroad tracks look very similar

(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/tiespike/Whyalla003.jpg)

Dave

#3

It took me awhle to get used to the auto-focus on both the 35mm and the digital. I found on the digital that slow shutter speeds tend to make a moving loco blurry, so I’ll usually pose the train where I want it to take a picture. Most of the time I use the faster speed and zoom in on it to loose the background clutter. Doesn’t always work…:wink:

(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/RGS0001.jpg)

Taken yesterday (April 20)

#4

Gee Jon…I handlay track on purpose for that wiggly look! Really 'Cept for Class One mainlines on major rail lines…its mostly less than perfect…

#5

I like your long telephoto shot Jon , looks great .

#6

Beautiful photos!

#7

Nice photos Jon.

I use a very high tech device to hold the camera steady when taking shots at ground level. I have several old 4x4 and 2x4 blocks that I set on the tracks or surrounding terrain to set the camera on. Better than a tripod since you can place it anywhere and have the camera at a very low angle. Even when the camera is hand held the blocks can steady my hands by resting palms or wrists upon them.

One thing I avoid as much as possible is using the zoom feature preferring instead to just get the whole camera in close for shots. The more you zoom the greater any camera movement is exagerated. Also for moving shots I slow the train down to a crawl, just enough to keep the lights on and and take the photo at about a 3/4 angle. Broadside shots are easily blurred except at very fast shutter speeds.

It looks as though your camera is capable of doing almost anything once you get the hang of using it. The photos you posted came out swell. I seem to remember that cut in one of your photos from when you were digging it some time ago. Nice to see updates.

#8

whoops picture didnt come out again!!

#9

Jon

You have a good eye for composition, the technique will come along as you become familiar with your camera.

Just a couple of things to think about.

  1. Make a photograph, don’t just take a picture.

  2. Always be aware of what is in the background. Do you really want the lamp and blocks in view, or the tarp and barbeque? Probably not. Either move your position, of take those things out of the background.

  3. Learn about the rule of thirds. Most often, you want the main subject at the intersection of imaginary lines that split the photo into thirds, both vertically and horizontally. Not always, but often. Rules are made to be broken, just be sure that is what you intend.

  4. Decide what the subject is. Is it the locomotive in a broadside with the drivers blurred and the rods down? Is it the people at the station. What is the subject.

Still and all, you have a very good eye.

#10

Thanks guys -

Richard - good ideas, thanks. That long telephoto shot was taken with the camera on the track and the lens supported by a piece of wood. The aperture was as small as I could make it and the auto-exposure mode took about a 3 second time exposure. I like the telephoto lens, but agree that exaggerates any camera shake. I just need to remember that when shooting :slight_smile: Of course I, not thinking, had the ASA set at only 200 which didn’t help either.

And yes, “Deep Cut” has been around and the subject of photos and much discussion for quite a few years. The naysayers said it would collapse during the first winter, and others said the tree was sure to die. I think that was 5 years ago. tree is still healthy and except for shedding some dirt from the sides, Deep Cut has held its shape better than I expected.

#11

Jon
Nice layout that cut with natural bridge is great. Is that a tunnel in pic 3 and if so how’s it tunnel made/ Doesn’t look to have any kind of former.
Dave

#12

Nope - not a tunnel. Your looking up grade, about 20 feet to the engine, then into the cut from track level. The track is up grade at 3%+ until just where the engine is parked and then it levels out. If you look close, just even with the boiler you can see the root you called a natural bridge. Good name, I think I’ll keep it :smiley:

#13
Dennis Paulson said:
I like your long telephoto shot Jon , looks great .
Yep, my favourite, too. Keep 'em coming, John!
#14

Everytime somebody adds a comment to this file, I have to look at it again just to see what is said. As it loads, I once again get to look at the CVSRy engine coming out of “Deep Cut” under the “Natural Bridge”. Those are really inspiring shots.

#15

Don’t stop now! Keep experimenting!

#16
Bart Salmons said:
Gee Jon....I handlay track on purpose for that wiggly look! Really 'Cept for Class One mainlines on major rail lines......its mostly less than perfect.......
You ever seen a telephoto shot of some Class One main lines? Make a snake look like a straight edge, they do. :)