Snake on a Train

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted October 18, 2013241 views14 comments

I spent the better part of a weekend sitting in the snow waiting for trains here. They were so unpredictable and sometimes hours apart. The majority of the trains didn't turn out to be very photogenic, but I got a handful of good ones. This shot was the only time I saw the blue sky and after the engine roared by and I got my "main shot" I took a long exposure of the red boxcars. I wish the foreground trees didn't have any blur, but the train was moving at a pretty good speed and generating a lot of wind.

5D Mark III
24-105 @ 35mm
2.5 sec @ f/22
ISO 50

Thanks for any comments and critique that you may have.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on October 18, 2013 at 10:46 AM

Very cool! I like how the train turned out, seems like you had the right shutter speed!

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on October 18, 2013 at 11:05 AM

Very interesting shot Brian, I like this a lot.
You are a better man than I sitting in the snow all day but, the results were well worth the 'Frozen Fanny'.
Well Done . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by John Jeevaratnam on October 18, 2013 at 11:58 AM

Interesting concept seeing the effect of the boxcars with a natural environment. Perhaps if you took two shots with and without the train you can blend in the foreground image without any blur...(at least in the areas where you do not have the train they would be sharper).

Registered on July 29, 2013, 112 Posts, 229 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 18, 2013 at 1:58 PM

I really like this one a lot, Brian. Good thinking on the overall approach to this somewhat different take on this type of scene.

FG tree blur is no issue at all IMO.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on October 18, 2013 at 6:59 PM

I like it, excellent execution

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on October 19, 2013 at 8:54 AM

Very cool idea Brian and a very nice backround as well. Maybe a little less sky to keep focus on the train but really nice as is.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on October 19, 2013 at 12:42 PM

Great concept and excellent execution. Really a cool image.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 19, 2013 at 2:49 PM

Brian,

This is fantastic! Looks like something that may have been a cgi creation for a movie trailer or something. I love how the train snakes through the scene. This is unique and very successful. Great job, and you were well rewarded for your patience!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on October 20, 2013 at 7:07 PM

Fantastic capture Brian.Your timing was perfect.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by John Willemsen on October 21, 2013 at 12:36 AM

Extraordinary! Perhaps a bit more texture on the snow LRC, but not very important. Congratulations

Registered on September 27, 2013, 74 Posts, 29 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 23, 2013 at 9:44 AM

The big red S of the trains if very cool! I also like how it's reflection adds a red cast to the foreground snow. The foreground blur in the trees fits right in with the blurred train.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce Omori on October 26, 2013 at 10:34 AM

Wow, very cool, Brian!! We don't have snow (well, not typically) and we don't have trains, so this is pretty interesting to me. : ) Love the use of leading lines in the comp. Well done, buddy!!

Registered on December 6, 2010, 6 Posts, 175 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on October 28, 2013 at 10:10 AM

Very cool image Brian! Love the red S curve. The image by itself is very pleasing.
Nicely done!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 5, 2013 at 7:08 AM

Well done, Brian. Your patience paid off. The sky looks nice to me, as is, too.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments