Train through the Mountains

[svantland]

I made this picture as I traveled through the mountains and I would like your C & C on it.

[svantland]

I took this picture on the same trip. I would really appreciate hearing what works for you and especially what doesn't.

[mcnay55]

Wow, those are both fantastic shots. I'm a bit of a train enthusiast so I'm al little biased haha. I love the framing and the fact that the subject (train) is featured with a great view ! Both shots are nice but for colour and balance, I'm leaning towards the 2nd one. Again, awesome work.

[tirediron]

I'm also a ferroequinologist, so I can appreciate these image on several levels. A few thoughts: First though both seem a little desaturated. In the first, I would prefer to see the bit of highway image right cropped out. Ideally a shooting position further to your left might have brought the train closer to the centre of the image. As-is, the main subject is essentially driving out of the left side of the image (However, I fully understand that you may not have been able to get a better position).

The second image is also very good, and I like the composition better. I would suggest a tighter crop on the train however; while the landscape is nice, it's to some degree overpowering the train (which is tough to do with a couple of UP Dash 8s as head-end power).

Overall, really nice images.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

[fallintocolors]

Nice framing. The colors can be better however. I am wondering if it is because the jpeg file is too highly compressed. Did you use a polarizer?

[svantland]

Tirediron, I thought about moving to my left, but that would have also meant moving down, and I wanted to maintain the higher elevation on the train. In the second shot, I have cropped and reworked the colors to see if I could get this image to be a little bit more punchy. It was an extremely overcast day, so I am afraid I am not working with a full dynamic range to begin with.

Fallintocolors, the jpg compression certainly isn't doing the images any favors. I wasn't using a polarizing filter that day because of the overcast conditions.

[fallintocolors]

Personally I like the original framing of the second photo because I like wider-angle scenery. Opinions from other people may not be always right; actually there is no right or wrong! Do it in your own way!

[mcnay55]

Your next shot of #2 is even better ! It really depends on what type of a shot your doing. As previously mentioned by ' fallintocolors', there is no right or wrong. If I were taking a shot of the train and its my primary focus, I may go with a close up and/or crop but if its landscape your after, then wide and open as in your first shot. I love it, keep taking pictures.