The benefits of familiarity; knowing your locations.
Take the Bellows Falls Tunnel on the Connecticut River line. Back in 1988, I’d photographed a southward Boston & Maine (Guilford) freight in the afternoon and noted that late in the day, when the south portal was in shadow, a shaft of light illuminates the train on the north side of the tunnel.
The location and effect were filed away for future reference.
A couple of week ago, on June 18, 2016, Pat Yough and I were following Amtrak’s Exhibition Train on its way south from Claremont, New Hampshire. At Bellows Falls, Vermont the train paused to refuel, and this resulted in the leading locomotive, Amtrak F40PH 406, pulling past the grade crossing near the station.
I noticed it had gone just far enough to bask in the window of sun near the north portal of the tunnel.
This opened up opportunity for photography.
Below are a examples angles exposed from the south portal, a location reached by a narrow street from the center of town. I like the relative abstraction of tracks and engine appearing to float in a sea of darkness.
Tracking the Light Posts Every Day.
I do have a few photos from the 1980s. Including a similar view (mentioned in the post) of B&M freight. The line was undercut even then, but the effect was as pronounced.
In post, I’d bring the portal in the first photo out of the shadows just a touch more, if possible, although it’s too easy to overdo it and ruin the intent. A great photo!
I understand that in the last few years the tunnel was undercut to gain height for auto transporters and/or double-stacks, but the bridge behind you could not be lowered. Thus the roller-coaster effect of the tracks, which are so beautifully lit in your photos. Do you have any photos from before the undercutting?
Glad you’ve enjoyed the book! And, thanks for the insight and compliments.
Cheers,
Brian S.
A pleasant series of photos with many lessons for other photographers, i.e., timing and taking note of lighting conditions for future reference, including context of photo in the series (i.e. steep road), and, lastly, close cropping and using shadows to frame the main item.
Btw, I had ordered your Chicago road roads book earlier this week, and it arrived yesterday. I really enjoyed both the text and the photos, a perfect balance. Excellent value.
Roger