Dear RailPictures.net Forums

ottergoose · 06-29-2008, 04:36 PM

Dear RailPictures.net Forums -

Yesterday was just not a good day. I had high hopes of getting out and shooting the implosion of a local landmark, only to end up in a new location with an obscured view of the event. The sky was fantastic, lots of interesting clouds, but it was broken enough that there was still a good amount of usable light - except when a train would approach... then a shadow would pass over the locomotive and immediately clear up.

I found many good locations - the best of which I had to abandon when it started to rain. Others had crappy light, others had no trains at all! I had one good opportunity which was ruined when the autofocus decided that the little post in the bottom of the shot (which was going to get cropped out) was the most interesting thing in the shot.

Last Saturday I went out and got a bunch of great shots. Yesterday I went out and got a CF card full of the first shots that will be the first ever to be rejected from rrpicturearchives. What gives? How do I go on?

Thanks -
- Frustrated in the Twin Cities -

Andrew Blaszczyk (2) · 06-29-2008, 04:50 PM

Dear Frustrated in the Twin Cities,

S--- happens.

Sincerely,
AB2

I guess giving advice and consoling isn't my calling.

Freericks · 06-29-2008, 04:55 PM

Yup... that pretty much sums it up... uh huh.

As we used to say in the 90s...

Been there,
done that,
bought the t-shirt.

Mike B. · 06-29-2008, 05:05 PM

I was out in the Twin Cities yesterday too, but only in the morning since the clouds were increasing near midday so I left. Sometimes it's better just to go home..

Also, you should be pre-focusing so you don't have the same focus problem you described.

JimThias · 06-29-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottergoose

Dear RailPictures.net Forums -

I had one good opportunity which was ruined when the autofocus decided that the little post in the bottom of the shot (which was going to get cropped out) was the most interesting thing in the shot. What gives? How do I go on?

Thanks -
- Frustrated in the Twin Cities -

Dear Frustrated,

Set your focusing to center point and you'll never have that problem again.

Signed,

Happy Focusers

Walter S · 06-29-2008, 06:04 PM

I saw the implosing of the stack on the news last night. Sry about your loss, but yes $h_T happens.

Cyclonetrain · 06-29-2008, 06:32 PM

Whats worse is when you head out, get a bunch of shots which look good on your camera screen, you get home and they all suck!

Ween · 06-29-2008, 07:10 PM

Program your * button to be the focus button, pre-focus your shot, and never focus on a pole (<-unless you're into that sort of thing...not that there's anything wrong with that).

Greg P · 06-29-2008, 07:19 PM

I feel your pain.

Last month I had set aside an entire day to go to St. Denis and take pictures. My friend had a 10am flight, I dropped her off at 8, got some MCD pancakes and set up track side.

The entire day was overcast, there were 15 trains through.

Two weeks ago, I planned a trip to Harpers Ferry, including a hike up to the mountain that overlooks the town. Forgot to take my medicine and was up all night sick.

Lastly, was going home to take my parents to the airport, had 4 hours to stop at St. Denis, rained the entire time.

JimThias · 06-29-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg P

I feel your pain.

Last month I had set aside an entire day to go to St. Denis and take pictures. My friend had a 10am flight, I dropped her off at 8, got some MCD pancakes and set up track side.

The entire day was overcast, there were 15 trains through.

Hey, don't sweat it....that's what rrarchives is for.

ottergoose · 06-29-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ween

Program your * button to be the focus button, pre-focus your shot, and never focus on a pole (<-unless you're into that sort of thing...not that there's anything wrong with that).

Ah ha! You never told me to do that when I was replicating your entire setup, which reminds me, which brand of lint free cloths do you use?

I seem to recall that method getting brought up somewhere else... I'll have to look into that.

I've tried prefocusing by using auto and switching to manual; full manual; and selective point autofocusing, and have yet to find a method that works reliably for me (asides from the "sharpen" feature in the included Canon software

). Maybe this will do the trick.

Ween · 06-29-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

which brand of lint free cloths do you use?

I don't know...I have one, but I've never used it. My Bushnell lens pen has always done the trick.

I love the * feature. It took some getting used to but now it's second nature, kinda like the gag reflex when UP's on the point...

JimThias · 06-29-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ween

I love the * feature. It took some getting used to but now it's second nature, kinda like the gag reflex when UP's on the point...

I don't mind UP, it's a nice change from the same old same old of CSX.

Chris, try switching back to the shutter button for focusing and see how that works out for you. (tried it...couldn't stand it)

Ween · 06-29-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimThias

I don't mind UP, it's a nice change from the same old same old of CSX.

Chris, try switching back to the shutter button for focusing and see how that works out for you. (tried it...couldn't stand it)

Maybe, but I'm guessing the * will be a little rusty since I won't get to shoot anything for a couple of months...

Greg P · 06-29-2008, 09:07 PM

Yep, great for RRpics, practicing focusing, and practicing rain shots.

KevinM · 06-30-2008, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclonetrain

Whats worse is when you head out, get a bunch of shots which look good on your camera screen, you get home and they all suck!

Yep, that about describes a typical day shooting....for me at least.

JBCagle7073 · 06-30-2008, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclonetrain

Whats worse is when you head out, get a bunch of shots which look good on your camera screen, you get home and they all suck!

Perhaps we should launch a camera screen version of RP. You know a 3 inch version of full frame pictures. That would make us all feel better. Hold on that would make it no better than RRpicarchives.

lock4244 · 06-30-2008, 06:52 PM

Ottergoose, cloud and train meets... we call those getting cloud f****d round here. That's the most common meet photographed!

I'm starting to think this is the worst summer for rain/clouds I can recall shooting in. Two Sundays in a row I get up at the crack of dawn to drive to Toronto to shot CP's Havelock train. I get out of Oshawa under full sun, it's almost totally cloudy by the time I get to Toronto. I get the train in a few locations in sun, luckily getting a rare parting of the gloom coinciding with a train. Not alot to show for the time and the gas.

However, the up side is I did scout a location that may prove to be one of the best shots on the line (and one I've never seen published) if I can get it in the right light. It's a hike, but there are a few decent looking shots in this area. So, I guess you can always get something out of it... after all, why waste perfect weather scouting?

stevenmwelch · 06-30-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lock4244

I'm starting to think this is the worst summer for rain/clouds I can recall shooting in. Two Sundays in a row I get up at the crack of dawn to drive to Toronto to shot CP's Havelock train. I get out of Oshawa under full sun, it's almost totally cloudy by the time I get to Toronto. I get the train in a few locations in sun, luckily getting a rare parting of the gloom coinciding with a train. Not alot to show for the time and the gas.

You can't forget us Californians and the smoke! It finally blew off, and I can see the sun!!!

J Douglas Moore · 07-01-2008, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freericks

Yup... that pretty much sums it up... uh huh.

As we used to say in the 90s...

Been there,
done that,
bought the t-shirt.

1890's ??

Freericks · 07-01-2008, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Douglas Moore

1890's ??

Um... I'll be weeping openly into a bottle of Merlot for the rest of the evening...

J Douglas Moore · 07-01-2008, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freericks

Um... I'll be weeping openly into a bottle of Merlot for the rest of the evening...

Don't worry if you spill it. I have found that Depends make great wiper uppers

Ken Carr · 07-01-2008, 04:55 AM

come on Ween if you brought your camera bag and most of the middle east has some kind of RR even from 35,000 feet in a 135. Or at least it looks like a train.

stevenmwelch · 07-01-2008, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Douglas Moore

Don't worry if you spill it. I have found that Depends make great wiper uppers

That's what you say, but you're the dog, you just lick it up.

Watain · 07-01-2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Douglas Moore

Don't worry if you spill it. I have found that Depends make great wiper uppers

Depends....