Aren't night photos supposed to be dark?? :)

[ACR_Ted]

Rejected account too dark:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...58&key=6310146

and

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...59&key=5455372

I thought that night photos would be dark account that is the nature of the beast...although they likely would be rejected for grain anyways .

Ted

[adickson]

Yes, they're suppose to be dark...but not that dark. Looks like you used a flash and the reflective stuff got you. I like the concept you were going for but your ISO is was too high causing the irreparable noise level. Your best bet is to find a parked engine. Drop your ISO to 100-200 and use a spotlight/flashlight to light the engine get the reflective effect you were going for. That should get you closer to satisfying the demands of the infamous RP screeners. Good luck!

[magicman_841]

I like the idea of using the built-in flash, especially with a US flag unit... but the high ISO kills it, here.

[Holloran Grade]

Originally Posted by magicman_841

I like the idea of using the built-in flash, especially with a US flag unit... but the high ISO kills it, here.

Yes, the sky is way to grainy.

Lower the ISO and decrease the shutter speed.

[Joe the Photog]

At the risk of being snarky and offensive, I'm not sure what it is about those two shots that made you think, "Hey, these would look great on RP." They are too dark. I coiuld have told you that almost without looking at the shots based solely on the number of times I have heard people say about night time shots, "Aren't they supposed to be dark?" But the grain is way beyond acceptable and the color is off, too.

[loomus78]

Originally Posted by adickson

Yes, they're suppose to be dark...but not that dark. Looks like you used a flash and the reflective stuff got you. I like the concept you were going for but your ISO is was too high causing the irreparable noise level. Your best bet is to find a parked engine. Drop your ISO to 100-200 and use a spotlight/flashlight to light the engine get the reflective effect you were going for. That should get you closer to satisfying the demands of the infamous RP screeners. Good luck!

As stated, either stop the action or have the action stop for you. unless you are using flashes at which it is possible to light up a moving subject without blur/streak and use of an extremely high iso.

PhotoID: 411896 Photograph © Jon Wright

using available light and a million candle spotlight for detail and foreground light at 70 seconds and 200 iso will yield a result such as this.

[Ryan Lewis]

Also, your horizon is a tad off. But like the people above said, alot of noise is present in the photo.

[ACR_Ted]

Thanks for all of the comments!

I have done night shots for decades ....

PhotoID: 401364 Photograph © Ted Ellis

http://algomacentral.railfan.net/ima...ails/st-tx.jpg

PhotoID: 412161 Photograph © Ted Ellis

but the rejected photos were the first night shots I tried since falling to the power of the Dark Side (as in digital). Next time out in the desert on a moon less night I'll try using a lower ISO and see what happens. I was after the effect of the reflective stripes glowing in the dark and not wanting the whole unit showing. Also it was the first time I tried a night shot on a moving train!

The first shot was available light on Kodachrome II film, second shot with a 1/2 million candlepower floodlight, and the third shot was exposed with 5 #5B flashbulbs....fyi .

Thanks again guys...

Ted

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by ACR_Ted

I was after the effect of the reflective stripes glowing in the dark and not wanting the whole unit showing.

Something kind of like this?



This unit was parked and I used a flashlight to illuminate the graphics.

[ACR_Ted]

Right you are Jim...but with the wings on the nose showing as well. The next train came by when it was totally dark and I did get a shot like yours, but again with too much grain. Next time out there in the dark desert I'll try again....

Ted

[nikos1]

In my opinion, the whole getting the reflective stripes lit up is pretty unappealing, it looks like those terrible shots on RRPA where people go out in the middle of the night and shoot trains with the built in flash. Maybe a time exposure with flash to highlight the reflective decals? I suppose the idea behind the original photos would work if you could pull it off at a reasonable ISO.

[khalucha]

Originally Posted by ACR_Ted

Right you are Jim...but with the wings on the nose showing as well. The next train came by when it was totally dark and I did get a shot like yours, but again with too much grain. Next time out there in the dark desert I'll try again....

Ted

Go to Tempe Town Lake and get it just before it comes across the bridge.

Here is a shot from the Peavine

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphot...247143&nseq=44

[milwman]

Originally Posted by ACR_Ted

Thanks for all of the comments!

I have done night shots for decades ....

Thanks again guys...

Ted

One has to shoot just right to get good night shots, The best cameras still work best if overexposed some so in PS you pull the shot down to dark. Going the other way KILLS it with grain.