I was conducting signaling research at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania when I recognized its whistle in the morning: Strasburg Rail Road 4-8-0 475 was working the excursion train. It was a perfect October day, so I opted to catch the noon return run at Carpenters on Black Horse Road.
As the locomotive worked toward the crossing, I aimed my Nikon Z6-III, fitted with a 24-70mm zoom, to frame this vertical 32mm view.
Ideally, I like to freeze steam locomotives in the classic ‘rods down’ position.
As the engine approached, it sounded its warning for Black Horse, evidenced by a burst of steam from the brass whistle. I watched the drivers, planning to release the shutter when the rods reached the ‘down’ position. However, I was also keeping an eye on the edge of the frame. I made a ‘test’ shot when the locomotive was perfectly positioned compositionally.
I made another photo with the engine’s rods down. No doubt, someone may observe the non-standard treatment of the firebox in the latter view.
Yeah.
Tracking the Light Examines Rail Photo Composition.
Speaking of Irony Horses, in case you wondered what Chaucer would have said about my compositional challenge, I procured this modern-day ‘translation’ from the realm of AI, in an effort to support the new age:
Of Whistles, Steem, and Ye Rodes Down: A Tale of the Iron Horse
Whilom, as I pursued my studie of signalynge at the Railway Museum of Pennsylvania, I herkened in the morwe a whistle most familiar unto myn eeres.
Lo! It was the Strasburg Railway’s mighty 4-8-0, number 475, that laboured upon the excursion train.
The day of October was fair and bright, as though Nature herself had donned her fairest cote. And so I chose to await the return passage at twelve of the clok, at Carpenters upon Black Horse Road.
As this noble engine drew nigh unto the crossing, I raised my Nikon Z6-III, armed with a lens of 24-70mm, and framed a portrait in the vertical manner, at 32mm.
Forsooth, I have ever held that a steam engine is most comely when caught with her connecting rods in the downward position, as is the custom among those who pursue the art of railway photography.
And lo, as the engine approached, she sounded her warning unto Black Horse, and from her brazen whistle there burst forth a cloud of steem.
I watched the great driving wheels, with intent to loose my shutter at the very instant when the rods should descend unto their proper station.
Yet was I also mindful of the edge of my frame, lest some unwelcome mischief should intrude upon the composition.
And so I made a trial photograph when the iron beast stood in perfect accord with my chosen framing.
A second image followed, wherein the rods were indeed down, as I had wished.
Certes, there may be some among ye who shall remark upon the uncustomary treatment of the firebox in this latter portrait.
Yea.
And there endeth my tale.
Tracking the Light Examines the Craft of Railway Photography!