Hey fellas! Now everyone can know the secret!

[Dennis A. Livesey]

In case you are note sure how to photograph a steam engine, now you know!

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/a-...railways-14080

Just stay out of the way of the other spotters!

[MassArt Images]

Originally Posted by Dennis A. Livesey

In case you are note sure how to photograph a steam engine, now you know!

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/a-...railways-14080

Just stay out of the way of the other spotters!

Thanks Dennis! I think the two samples photos in the article would have been rejected by the RP screeners.

[Dennis A. Livesey]

This is written very much for those general photography fans who join groups to photograph different subjects. Certainly it was not written by someone who actually shoots any type of train.

[Joe the Photog]

Is there even going to be any steam to shoot this year? I haven't heard.

snarkasm

[bigbassloyd]

Originally Posted by Joe the Photog

Is there even going to be any steam to shoot this year? I haven't heard.

snarkasm

There are plans in the works but highly dependent upon traffic volumes.

Also, CSX will not be running any steam excursions this year.

Loyd L.

[JimThias]

Where To Stand
Shoot locomotives as they approach the station from a suitable vantage point. Catch them on a bend for more impressive shapes. Try to avoid getting spotters in the shot as that will (date) the photo. You may want to walk to the end of the platform to avoid this, but respect other photographers who may have set up earlier and you are now blocking their view.

[Noct Foamer]

Originally Posted by Joe the Photog

Is there even going to be any steam to shoot this year? I haven't heard.

There will be plenty in Scotland. I was there for three weeks a couple of years ago, and it's truly awesome! The UK steamers are comparatively small, but they are perfectly maintained and drop dead gorgeous. They have a sharper, higher pitched sound to them. A huge bonus is that those operations are very railfan friendly. I was able to get in the cab of each with no problem--just asked. It was a family vacation but I managed to do a couple of foamer chases anyway! At one point I was roaring through a farm yard in an Audi A6 doing 50 mph. It really scattered the chickens! I would almost call Scotland a foamer's paradise because the people are so polite & laid back, and the steam programs are so reliably excellent. I say almost, because their freight engines are as boring as a bowl of cold porridge. I intend to go back, this time without my whiny kids. ("Dad, not another train!") The local railfans I sat with while waiting were uniformly polite, with none of the "attitude" I sometimes see with American steam chasers. If you're into steam, Scotland (and probably all of UK) needs to be at the top of your list! And yes, they do take their choo-choo photography very seriously there. Check out any book by Eric Treacy to see.


Kent in SD

[wds]

Most important advice in the article:

Shots Of Steam
The best shots are when steam is bellowing out. This is more dramatic in winter when the ambient temperature is lower. If you can find a position where you are

shooting into the you will get

a lovely back lit effect where the steam and smoke is illuminated, more so with a long lens and in winter when the sun is lower so you're more likely to have a backlit scene.