How to Take Better Train Travel Photos

For an Internet Rail Travelogue, and for Personal Use.

By Carl Morrison at MoKnowsPhotos.com - Carl@TrainWeb.com - TrainWeb.org/Carl

(The photo examples are best viewed while online, since some references are to photos on other web pages of mine.)

Click any photo to see a double-sized copy, click BACK in your browser to return to this page.



4.   Photograph the location in 3 or more shots,

so your readers/viewers know something about the terrain and weather where you shot. 


If your wide angle lens can't capture it all, use two side-by-side shots and merge them (which I have done quickly and poorly here to show the Tehachipi Loop in California).


Make your viewing area as wide as possible for this section.

TehachipiLoop.jpg
4.1




TrainOverSelv4753.jpg
4.2
Entering the look through a cut and tunnel, progress around the loop, crossing the tunnel (notice the elevation gained in the loop) and leaving the loop.
TwoViews4770.jpg
4.3
Shoot through the train to show the beginning of the same train leaving the loop.  The loop begins just beyond the tree in the center, in a cut by the telephone poles.
GaryInAction4765.jpg
4.4
Photograph your companions and give them a copy of the shot.  The shot also says something about location and weather during the shot.  Good late afternoon light illuminates the sides of the locomotives.
 
Below is another situation that takes 3 pictures to tell the story.  Chris Guenzler and I were on a California Zephyr trip to Denver together and as we left Sacramento, Chris was looking out the window and remarked, "There was a puff of smoke between the first and second cars."  We immediately stopped, then backed about 3 miles into the Sacramento platform so workers could check out the situation.  Chris, I, and others detrained, since we were at the platform, and walked down to look at what they were working on.

DSC00937.jpg
4.5
Electrical cables (above) run from the locomotive between cars carrying power for lighting, heating or air conditioning, and for the diner.
DSC00938.jpg
4.5
After some work, a RR worker carried off one of these cables which had burned in half. Don't ask why RR workers wear Hawaiian shirts!

DSC00943.jpg
4.6
I asked if I could photograph the burned cable and another worker, in a Hawaiian shirt, held it for me to photograph.

In fairness to the workers, I believe they said they had been at a fellow worker's party when they got the call that we needed help.  They volunteered this after we make some friendly remarks about their 'uniforms.'  We continued to Denver without mishap.



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