Old Train - Chama NM

[Max]

Critiques/Suggestions from the shot layout through post processing would be appreciated.


Taken in October with a 40D 70-200 L IS. Hand Held, was not expecting to take this shot./resized-image.ashx/__size/600x700/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.23.07/Chama.jpg

[Flaming]

Just giving it a quick look the horizon is tilted in an awkward way. It is just enough to be noticed but not enough to give an effect that might have been desired. Just a quick observation.

[Oren]

I like it... great picture, very very nice!

[greggf]

great shot!!! I actually like that the horizon is off kilter just a bit...gives the pic just a little more perspective. Just my opinion.

[Anthony]

I've always liked trains, and this picture is great!


A couple of possible suggestions: It looks like it might be little crooked (this can be fixed on the computer). Also, it might be better if the train was a little lower in the frame? Maybe try cropping out the distracting rock at bottom.

[Stephen Probert]

I second Anthony's comments. I would rotate the canvas a few degrees CCW and then crop a bit to remove the rocks and plants in the foreground, maybe the bottom of the frame should be above the shadow that falls across the fence. I can see the issue that then you lose the space in front of the train that gives a sense of motion. I love the tree colors and the smoke.

[Max]

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Thanks for the advice. I had played with crop, but never really thought about the rotation. This was not a preplanned event and I was shooting from the side of a hill. Thanks again!

[Sean Setters]

I like it better now. ;-)

[Anthony]

Nice, its even better now!

[Stephen Probert]

There you go, much better. I like it. I live in Flagstaff and we have a dozen trains come through town every day, but no cool old locomotives. :(

[Sean Setters]

After taking another look at it, I thought it might look better as a landscape. Check out this quick edit I did:


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Rotated clockwise 3 degrees, cropped, and did a little bit of burning (I hope you don't mind me doing this). ;-)

[Anthony]

...I thought it might look better as a landscape.






I don't know, that looks good too, but I think I prefer the portrait orientation.

[Oren]

I don't know, that looks good too, but I think I prefer the portrait orientation.
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I'll second that. The second version (e.g the portrait) is the best.

[greggf]

I think that I like the portrait better, too. And adjusting the canvas actually did make it look much better. The portrait orientation gives life to the engine smoke, which plays into the whole scene of the train.

[Tim]

Speaking of old trains, while I was in New Hampshire this summer I visited the Cog Railway, the world's first of its kind, and this particular train is from 1874.


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[Oren]

What kind of train is this? very odd.

[Tim]

It climbs a mountain. Rather than sending power to the outside wheels, it sends its power to a cog in the middle, and there is a middle section of the track that connects to the cog. Notice that the engine looks like it is pointing downward, but while it climbs, its quite horizontal.

[Anthony]

Thats interesting, I don't think I've ever heard of those before. Were they only used in that area, or was it more wide spread?

[Tim]

I'm not sure, I know that there are severalrailroadslike this around the world, obviously all are used for steep ascents and/or descents.


To get a better idea of what this train conquers, here's Mt. Washington. You can see the train tracks where the trees have been cut.


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[S Deam]

- Max -


I agree with most people, I love the second crop.The old train looks great against the fall colors and the smoke really adds to the image.