Perhaps I’d been living under a rock, but I’d never heard of this place before. It’s certainly one of the more interesting places to photograph trains in Belgium.
Elevation is available on the east side.
Low evening sun suited the environment. Yet, I think a foggy morning might offer an even more evocative atmosphere. Someday, I’ll have to try it again!
Villers Abbey, FujiFilm X-T1 photoWhich is a more compelling image? The train in the distance, or up close?
I’ve passed through Charleroi, Belgium at various occasions over the years. For me it is a place similar to Newark, New Jersey.
Like Newark: Charleroi offers connections between transportation modes and is the location of an important secondary airport and has a light rail-subway that blends an historic network with modern construction.
Also, both city’s environments are characterized by post-industrial backdrops.
On Thursday, October 1st, a change of trains at Charleroi afforded me a 40-minute window to make photos. Rich polarized sun at the end of the day made for some nice lighting to capture the city’s trams and SNCB trains.
SNCB station at Charleroi Sud. Lumix LX7 photo.TEX Tram at Charleroi Sud. Lumix LX7 photo.TEC tram catches a wink of sun on 1 October 2015. FujiFilm X-T1 photo.SNCB station at Charleroi Sud. Lumix LX7 photo.SNCB station at Charleroi Sud. Lumix LX7 photo.My train to Ottignie at the SNCB station at Charleroi Sud. Lumix LX7 photo.
Low sun offers contrast and rich lighting that is well suited to making dramatic railway images.
For me it was like the LUAS transplanted. The trams at Valenciennes are variations of Alstom’s Citadis trams that have worked Dublin’s Green and Red Lines since 2004.
While, visiting Valenciennes, my host Mauno Pajunen and I went for spin on the light rail, and I made a variety of images using my Fuji X-T1 and Lumix LX7 digital cameras.
We benefitted from rich polarized autumn sun. Trams operated on a ten minute frequency on each of the two routes.
October 1, 2015 was a beautifully clear autumn day in northern France. Following my talk to the European Railway Agency, my host Mauno Pajunen gave me a guided tour of the Gare de Valenciennes.
Historically this region had been rich with coal, and this made for a busy railway. Today, the coal business is all but extinct, and SNCF appeared to be largely focused on passengers, although we saw a unit grain train, and a Vossloh diesel shunting the goods yard.
The station was built in 1906 by Chemin de fer du Nord (the northern railway of France) and has a handsome period exterior. Inside the station has been stripped of much of its traditional décor.
SNCF’s Gare de Valenciennes. Exposed with my Lumix LX7, contrast adjusted globally in post processing.SNCF’s Gare de Valenciennes. Lumix LX7 photo.SNCF’s Gare de Valenciennes. Lumix LX7 photo.An old TGV PSE set at SNCF’s Gare de Valenciennes. Lumix LX7 photo.
I was pleased to find one of the original TGV PSE high-speed sets outside. These trains defined France’s innovative high-speed rail in the early 1980s, but the design is now 35 years old, and the train itself was exhibiting the signs of heavy use.
In addition to these digital photos, I also exposed several 35mm colour slides. Although, I’ve visited France on various occasions, I have comparatively few images of SNCF.
Local SNCF railcar at Gare de Valenciennes. Lumix LX7 photo.I set my Lumix LX7 in HDR mode to reduce contrast and improve shadow detail. HDR stands for ‘high dynamic range’ and effectively blends three photographs exposed at different settings. These images are made in rapid succession and combined in-camera. It is useful for static scenes such as these standing SNCF diesels, but not much help for photos of moving trains.Another HDR view of the SNCF grain train. The diesels were built by Alstom and Siemens.
Yesterday I traveled by SNCB (Belgian Railways) train from La Hulpe in suburban Brussels to Mons near the French frontier where I was collected by Mauno Pajunen. We drove to the European Railway Agency’s HQ at Valenciennes where I presented my illustrated talk on railway photography.
I made a few final adjustments to my program in Power Point while traveling on the train to Mons. Lumix LX7 photo (Photo on the computer is an image of the Southern Pacific on Donner Pass exposed with my old Leica M2).ERA’s offices at Valenciennes.Here I am at the ERA in Valenciennes, France. Photo by Mauno Pajunen with my Lumix LX7.
I had an enthusiastic and receptive audience. In addition to displaying about 90 images from my lap top using a digital projection system, I showed off the demonstration copy of my new book Railway Depots, Stations and Terminals and explained the virtues of my three primary cameras.
My audience had some excellent questions, which I did my best to answer.
It was a bright clear afternoon, and after the talk my host Mauno Pajunen gave me a tour of railways in Valenciennes.
During my Rhein travels in September, I had the opportunity to make a few photographs of the narrow gauge tram network at Mainz.
In the fading light of that day, I exposed these photos using my FujiFilm X-T1 and Lumix LX-7.
Mainz is one of dozens of German cities with an active tram network. Someday, I hope to be able explore it fully.
Panning and low angles a nice trick from making more dramatic tram pictures.
Lumix LX7 of a tram in Mainz. Here I’ve composed the photo to emphasize the track work and street paving. LX7 photo.A slight pan sets the tram apart from the background. LX7 photo.Spot the subject. LX7 photo.Narrow gauge for narrow streets. Fuji film X-T1 photo.Tram with fountain. LX7 photo.Panning helps compensate for a slower shutter speed while conveying motion. LX7 photo.Passengers are part of the scene. LX7 photo.LX7 photo.
