The other morning I noticed the points at CP83 in Palmer on CSX’s former Boston & Albany line were set for the controlled siding.
Since CSX’s local freight B740 from West Springfield, Massachusetts often arrives at Palmer in mid-Morning, I thought it was likely I could make some photos.
Bright autumn sun in this classic location made for excellent conditions.
I didn’t have to wait long at the South Main Street overpass, when I heard the short freight dropping down grade toward the Palmer diamond.
I made this sequence using my FujiFilm XT1 with 90mm Fujinon lens.
CSX local freight B740 takes the controlled siding at CP83 in Palmer, Massachusetts. This will allow B740 to access the leads to Palmer yard and make its interchange.The classic view of B740 arriving in Palmer. Trains on the controlled siding make for a more pleasing angle to photograph because they are further from south side of the cutting. October morning sun is pleasing light.Is this view too close?Trailing view looking toward the Palmer yard.
My white-balance was set to ‘auto’ so the color balance might change as the train approached, since with each frame the camera was re-calculating the average color balance for the scene.
Cut and fill is a standard method of railroad construction. In the North America we tend to use the foreshortened term for cutting, ‘cut’. This is where the line has been dug out from the surrounding landscape. In Palmer as the railroad approaches the South Main Street overpass it enters a cutting (cut if you prefer).
I can’t fathom how simply changing the F-stop would improve these photos.
Using a post processing editing program, such as Lightroom’, you can lighten shadow areas and darken highlights, among many other adjustments. These can be implemented in countless ways to improve or otherwise alter a scene.
Anonymous on said:
The top photo you can see the leaves are now starting to change colors but the second that color is not as evident.
Was it the reflection of the sun light off of the light color covered hoppers that changed the overall color?
In that second photo caption you mention “south side of the cutting”. What’s a cutting? Is “cutting” a European phrase?
Nothing is too close or far. It’s all in what you want the photo to demonstrate. From my perspective, I like a closeup. It shows more detail. But that’s just me….
Is there something that a photographer might do for the last shot of the departing train to overcome the shadows that makes seeing if the last car has an EOT device on it less difficult? That may have made a more comprehensive shot.
I know! Everyone’s a critic?! Just asking?!
How far away were you from the train? Could 1 more “f” stop be of any help?
Or, if someone wanted to, could the shot be modified in a computer program like, what is the one you use, Lighthouse? I have very little experience in that regard.
Always interesting!! Temps will be getting a little more brisk and I think rain for this next week so leaves will be changing rapidly for the “leaf peepers”. For the residents, it’s leaf blowers and rakes to gather up all those maple tree leaves!
Wet leaves will likely the trains that climb that grade near the state line a fit! Also might offer some opportunities for rich, colorful railroad/leaves photos in the low light of fall or maybe of frost in the early morning.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
I deleted my cookies so my email wasn’t auto filled in.
My white-balance was set to ‘auto’ so the color balance might change as the train approached, since with each frame the camera was re-calculating the average color balance for the scene.
Cut and fill is a standard method of railroad construction. In the North America we tend to use the foreshortened term for cutting, ‘cut’. This is where the line has been dug out from the surrounding landscape. In Palmer as the railroad approaches the South Main Street overpass it enters a cutting (cut if you prefer).
I can’t fathom how simply changing the F-stop would improve these photos.
Using a post processing editing program, such as Lightroom’, you can lighten shadow areas and darken highlights, among many other adjustments. These can be implemented in countless ways to improve or otherwise alter a scene.
The top photo you can see the leaves are now starting to change colors but the second that color is not as evident.
Was it the reflection of the sun light off of the light color covered hoppers that changed the overall color?
In that second photo caption you mention “south side of the cutting”. What’s a cutting? Is “cutting” a European phrase?
Nothing is too close or far. It’s all in what you want the photo to demonstrate. From my perspective, I like a closeup. It shows more detail. But that’s just me….
Is there something that a photographer might do for the last shot of the departing train to overcome the shadows that makes seeing if the last car has an EOT device on it less difficult? That may have made a more comprehensive shot.
I know! Everyone’s a critic?! Just asking?!
How far away were you from the train? Could 1 more “f” stop be of any help?
Or, if someone wanted to, could the shot be modified in a computer program like, what is the one you use, Lighthouse? I have very little experience in that regard.
Always interesting!! Temps will be getting a little more brisk and I think rain for this next week so leaves will be changing rapidly for the “leaf peepers”. For the residents, it’s leaf blowers and rakes to gather up all those maple tree leaves!
Wet leaves will likely the trains that climb that grade near the state line a fit! Also might offer some opportunities for rich, colorful railroad/leaves photos in the low light of fall or maybe of frost in the early morning.
Keep up the good work!