Home by the Tracks

I was rummaging around in the area I call the "attic" of Nebraska. It's straight west from Sioux City, IA and just below the Missouri River and the South Dakota border. The roads are poor, often just dirt, and few outsiders venture there. Especially in winter. There is a rail line tucked in there that's one of my favorites though. The tracks are curvy and a bit run down, and that limits train speed to 10 mph. There's a 1920s farm house along the line I always wanted to get a shot of after dark with a train coming by. Unfortunately there's only about one train per day, and it can be at any time. While down there last Saturday night I lucked out and finally did get the shot. I've been wanting it for five years! I used five Nikon SB-25 flash fired by CyberSync triggers. The snow was a great reflector and I was able to shoot at f5.6 with these little flash. This is a different kind of photography. You have to totally imagine the shot as it happens so fast (flash) you never actually see it. I also love sitting out in the dark and hearing the train slowly coming closer & closer, unseen. It really builds the anticipation!


Kent in SD