Shafts of filtered light and a dark background make for a fascinating setting, while the opportunity to make silhouettes against the daylight provide a contrast.
The men of the footplate proudly wear the coal dust, cinders and ash that identify them.
I made these portraits of the crew on board Great Northern Railway of Ireland 85 on its excursions last week.
Driver Ken Fox adjusts the regulator on locomotive 85.Lumix LX7 portrait.Lumix LX7 portrait.FujiFilm X-T1 with 12mm Touit lens.Lumix LX7 portrait.
Special thanks to everyone at the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) and at Irish Rail for making my locomotive journeys possible.
For details about the RPSI and scheduled steam and diesel trips see:
On Monday, 3 September 2018, Irish Rail 079 worked Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s preserved Cravens carriages, running as an empty train from Dublin’s Inchicore Works to Connolly station.
This was a scheduled move to position the heritage train for RPSI’s private charter to Killarney, County Kerry with steam locomotive 85 (featured in earlier Tracking the Light Posts).
Working with my FujiFilm XT1 and 90mm lens, I photographed from the north end of Connolly platform 1 & 2.
The train was slightly backlit. To compensate, I made nominal adjustment to the Fuji RAW file to lighten shadows in post processing, then exported as a scaled JPG for internet presentation.
Irish Rail’s Ken Fox is at the throttle of General Motors-built class 071 number 079 approaching Dublin Connolly station.
For details about the RPSI and scheduled steam and diesel trips see:
Earlier this week it was organized for me to travel on the footplate of Great Northern Railway of Ireland 85.
The thrill of experiencing a steam locomotive cab on the main line is a rare privilege.
My job was to make photographs and stay out of the way.
Locomotive driver Ken Fox works on the left side of the engine as it rolls through Tipperary countryside.
Locomotive 85 is a three cylinder compound 4-4-0, a 1932 product of Beyer Peacock.
The compound arrangement is what intrigued me, but like the low droning throb sounding from the 20 cylinder diesel powering an EMD SD45, this element of the steam equipment is beyond my ability to picture.
Instead, I had to settle for making images of the crew at work and the locomotive in motion.
Fireman’s view near Mountrath on the Cork Line.12mm Zeiss Touit view of the fireman shoveling coal.Fireman’s view of a Mark 4 train up road near Thurles. Special viewing equipment on my Fuji XT1 made images like this possible.Fireman’s view. Working the injector.View of the firebox.
The footplate offers a rough ride, while swirling coal dust and locomotive exhaust complicate photography and the handling of sensitive equipment. The lighting is at best difficult. Staying out of the way often means that I wasn’t always able to get the angle I really wanted and needed to make due with where I was able to stand.
Driver side view.Feeding the fire. Lumix LX7 photo.
The locomotive is bathed in smoke and dust.
Special thanks to everyone at the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) and at Irish Rail for making my locomotive journeys possible.
For details about the RPSI and scheduled steam and diesel trips see:
Yesterday (3 September 2018), sunny skies greeted Great Northern Railway Ireland 85, a 4-4-0 three-cylinder compound locomotive operated by Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, when it paused at Portarlington, County Laois to take water.
This classic Irish express passenger locomotive was working a chartered train from Dublin Connolly to Killarney.
I exposed these images using my FujiFilm XT1 fitted with 12mm Zeiss Touit lens.
The photos here were scaled without modification from camera JPG files using the Velvia color profile.
An active contrast of modern and antique at Portarlington.85’s safety valves lift making for an awesome sight.Driver Ken Fox and his crew made a great run from Dublin.
I also made a few colour slides on real FujiFilm: Provia 100F.
On Satuday 24 March 2018, I shared Dublin’s Claude Road foot-bridge with Paul Maguire and Ciarán Cooney, as we waited for the RPSI Cravens to run from Inchicore to Connolly for a scheduled inspection of the equipment.
It had been completely sunny, but as the time for the train approached, clouds began to dapple the morning sky.
I exposed this view using a Nikon N90S with 180mm Nikkor telephoto lens on Fujichrome Provia100F slide film.
The light was in flux when I released the shutter. Was the train in sun?
I had to wait more than three weeks to find out, since I’ve just received my slides back from the lab.
Irish Rail 084 leads the RPSI Cravens eastward at Claude Road. File adjusted with Lightroom.
I made some nominal adjustments to contrast and colour balance after scanning.
Tracking the Light Posts Every Day.
I feature Irish Rail and the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland in my new Railway Guide to Europe, which is now available from Kalmbach Books.
Yesterday, 7 April 2018, Railway Preservation Society of Ireland in conjunction with Irish Rail operated its The Branchline Wanderer.
This covered several lightly traveled lines, including the Waterford-Limerick Junction section, which was a favorite of mine in years gone by.
The trip was well patronized. Despite wildly varying weather, I found numerous opportunities for interesting photos of RPSI’s train, its crew and passengers, and the places we visited.
Special thanks to RPSI’s Operating Crews and Irish Rail staff for an excellent day out.
This display represents the first few hours of photos exposed with my FujiFilm XT1. This was one of four cameras I used on the day. More photos to follow.
If everything has gone according to plan, as you read this I’m traveling upon Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s diesel-hauled Branchline Explorer rail tour.
I made this photo on 6 April 2018 of Irish Rail 071 (in 1970s heritage livery) leading the RPSI preserved Cravens carriages across the River Liffey at Islandbridge in the fading light of the evening.
Thanks to Jay Monaghan!
An Irish Rail ICR working Grand Canal Docks suburban service exits the Phoenix Park Tunnel on 6 April 2018. Irish Rail 071 with RPSI Cravens can be seen in the distance. Exposed digitally using a FujiFilm X-T1 camera fitted with a 90mm f2.0 telephoto lens.An instant classic: Irish Rail 071 (class leader in retro paint) leads the RPSI Cravens across the River Liffey at Islandbridge in Dublin. Exposed digitally using a FujiFilm X-T1 camera fitted with a 90mm f2.0 telephoto lens.
Easter Monday, photographer Jay Monaghan and I were in position at Memorial Road in Dublin to catch the RPSI carriage transfer on its way from Connolly Station to Inchicore.
Getting from Dubin’s city centre to Memorial Road, required a well-timed sprint to catch the 25B bus.
Although we were hoping for Irish Rail 073 in heritage paint, 201-class locomotive 232 in silver, green and yellow added colour to RPSI’s heritage train.
Irish Rail 232 leads RPSI’s Cravens up the gullet on Easter Monday. Exposed using a FujiFilm X-T1 digital camera.Tight telephoto trailing view of the RPSI train heading toward Inchicore Works.Although the train is slightly more distant, I prefer this training view because the trees to the left of the line aren’t cropped.
So, was this Ireland’s most colourful train on Easter Monday 2018?
Dublin’s Loop Line is a difficult bridge to picture trains upon owing to a high degree of foreground and background clutter, complex lattice girder construction, and brightly coloured graffiti.
Tank locomotive number 4 is an awkward mass and largely painted black that makes for a hard subject to picture satisfactorily, even on a good bright day.
It wasn’t a bright day; the lighting conditions were flat (low contrast) and bland.
Further complicating matters, there wasn’t more than a few seconds warning before the train entered the scene, so I needed to be poised.
Friends on board assisted my timing by keeping me up to date as to the location of the train.
I made my views from the Rosie Hackett Bridge (opened in 2014) looking down river toward Dublin Port.
Rather than work with a zoom, I opted for my fixed focal length 90mm telephoto on my FujiFilm X-T1. This gave me a wider aperture, allowed for shallow depth of field to help distinguish the train from its background, and is a very sharp lens corner to corner.
DART electric suburban trains made for opportunities to make practice photos to test exposure, depth of field, focus and composition.
As the train clattered across the bridge I made several exposures, trying to minimize the distractions of bridge infrastructure and background clutter.
My first view of RPSI No. 4 on the bridge. This subtly shows Dublin port in the distance and features traffic on the south quays.This is probably the best of my efforts. I adjust the contrast locally to help emphasize the smoke from the engine. I suppose that’s cheating in some eyes, but all I did was enhance the smoke to help show direction and that the engine was working and not static.How about this view of RPSI’s nice painted Cravens carriages? The rippled patters in the Liffey was an attraction of this angle.
Although these are nice attempts, I’m not 100 percent satisfied, but without better light and an elevated view, I’m not sure how I could have made substantially better photos.
As a follow-up to my black & white posts: On Sunday, 18 March 2018, I also worked with my two digital cameras to expose a few choice photographs of Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s The Midlander on its run from Connolly Station Dublin to Maynooth.
Telephoto view at Connolly. This is a colour photograph, but has the contrast and texture of a black & white image. Are the red signals an improvement or a distraction?Looking back at the train from tank engine number 4.Irish Rail 073 in heritage paint brought the RPSI train over from Inchicore Works to Connolly Station.Engine No. 4 hauled the excursion.
An NI Railways CAF train arrives at Connolly substituting for the normal Enterprise set.Approaching Glasnevin Junction in Dublin.Working the Midland route toward Maynooth.Running around at Maynooth.Number 4 with its admirers at Maynooth.
My new book ‘Brian Solomon’s Railway Guide to Europe features RPSI trains in its section on Ireland.
On one level, it seems appropriate to make images of steam locomotives and their environment with Retropan. ‘Retro on Retro’ right?
Yet, I know many old-school black & white photographers would object to the essential qualities of Retropan black & white film, which by design is comparatively soft and grainy.
Yes, there are sharper films; and of course there’s colour, not to mention digital, but the reason I chose Foma Retropan for these photos was because of the gritty quality it offers.
Someone might ask why does the RPSI run a steam locomotive, when there are more efficient diesel railcars available?
Connolly Station, exposed on Retropan 18 March 2018.Connolly Station, exposed on Retropan 18 March 2018.
Ooo! Look an efficient diesel railcar. And it’s on Retropan too! Drumcondra, Dublin.Approaching Glasnevin Junction, Dublin.Maynooth.Locomotive number 4 at Maynooth. Notice the modern signal in the distance and the bright lamps on the locomotive.
Psssst! I also made some colour slides, and a whole bunch of colour digital image on the same day.
Tracking the Light Posts Every Day!
My new book ‘Brian Solomon’s Railway Guide to Europe features RPSI trains in its section on Ireland.
It was cold and snowy at Dublin’s Connolly Station last Sunday.
While snow complicated Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s planned trips to Maynooth, it made for ideal conditions to expose black & white photos.
Using my Nikon F3 with 35mm and 135mm lens, I made these images on platform 3.
My new book ‘Brian Solomon’s Railway Guide to Europe features RPSI trains in its section on Ireland.
All were exposed using Kodak Tri-X black & white film, which I processed in Ilford ID-11 (1-1 at 68 degrees F for 7 minutes 45 seconds, plus extended presoak with very dilute HC110 to pre-activate development.)
I scanned the negatives using an Epson V500 flatbed scanner.
A rare sunny Sunday in Ireland. It was clear from dawn to dusk.
Making it extra special was Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s driver training special using tank engine No. 4 and the preserved Cravens carriages.
This worked the Northern line between Connolly Station in Dublin and Drogheda.
I was traveling with William Malone and Honer Travers.
We decided to visit the viaduct at Laytown, which offers a good place to catch a steam locomotive at work.
I made this view using my Lumix LX7, but also exposed a sequence of Fujichrome colour slides with my Nikon N90S and 35mm lens. We’ll have to wait to see those.
My Lumix LX7 is a nifty tool for making action photos of train. Although a small camera, it has the ability to produce both RAW and JPG files and features a remarkably sharp lens.
I find that engine number 4 photographs best from a broadside angle. It looks awkward viewed head-on.
It was nearly 20 years ago that I traveled on this Irish Railway Preservation Society special from Connolly Station Dublin to Mullingar.
The train paused for a crossing with an up-passenger at Enfield, and I made this view from the main road bridge.
It was my first trip to Enfield, and I returned many more times over the years. The signal cabin and mechanical signaling were the big attraction for me.
Exposed on Ilford HP5 using a Nikon F2 with 24mm lens. Processed in ID11 and scanned using an Epson V750 flatbed scanner.
Saturday 14 October was a great day out; Railway Preservation Society of Ireland operated its Munster Double Railtour from Connolly Station in Dublin to Cork and Tralee.
The attraction of this trip was the highly unusual multiple-unit operation of two class 071 diesels together. Both of Irish Rail’s 071s in heritage paint were selected for the trip, which was an added bonus for photographers.
Honer Travers and I joined the trip at Connolly Station and during the course of the day I made dozens of digital images. Below is just a small section.
Connolly Station, Dublin. Lumix LX7 photo.Connolly Station, Dublin. Lumix LX7 photo.Island bridge Junction, Dublin, looking toward the famous ‘box’ along the St. John’s Road where many of my sunny day photos are made. Lumix LX7 photo.Kent Station, Cork. FujiFIlm XT1 with 28-135mm lens.FujiFilm XT1 photo.Mallow, County Cork. Lumix LX7 photo.Mallow, County Cork. Lumix LX7 photo.Mallow, County Cork. Lumix LX7 photo.Irish Rail 073 detailed view at Killarney.Killarney. County Kerry. Lumix LX7 photo.Tralee. FujiFilm XT1 with 28-135mm lens.Tralee. FujiFilm XT1 with 28-135mm lens.Tralee. FujiFilm XT1 with 28-135mm lens.Tralee. Lumix LX7 photo.Tralee. FujiFilm XT1 with 28-135mm lens.Paused at a red signal in Killarney, Lumix LX7 photo.Connolly Station in the evening. Lumix LX7 photo.
Tomorrow I’ll focus on the passengers and people participating in operations.
It’s undoubtedly all wrong. It was nearly dark and raining steadily when I exposed these photos of former Great Northern Railway (of Ireland) V-Class 4-4-0 number 85 Merlin at Lisburn.
This is a follow up post from my digital views of the same evening titled Steam in the Rain: RPSI Steam & Jazz at Lisburn—25 August, 2017 that appeared on Tracking the Light a couple of weeks ago. Honer Travers had brought me down to Lisburn to watch 85 arrive and introduce me to the crew.
Working in low light, exposed these photos on Fomapan 100 Classic using my battle worn Nikon F3 with an old non-AI f1.4 50mm lens.
My exposure times ranged from 1/30th to 1/8th of a second, and all photos were made handheld. I processed the film in Ilford Perceptol stock solution for 5 minutes 45 seconds at 71 degrees F.
By panning vertically I aimed to convey a sense of motion. Notice that the buffer beam on 85 is sharp.Trailing view at the footbridge in Lisburn.
1/8th of second at f2.
By using the lens wide open, I was working with shallow depth of field and a comparatively soft overall view. While the slow shutter speed allowed for motion blur. These are not conditions conductive to making razor sharp images. So I had no intentions of doing so.
Sometimes making softer, more interpretive images better conveys the spirit of the scene than clinically sharp images with over the shoulder light.
Lisburn is a surviving gem among old Great Northern Railway stations in Northern Ireland.
RPSI’s steam crew apologized for the weather, but there was no need. Steam locomotives make for excellent subjects when photographed at dusk in the rain.
This was my reunion with Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s engine 85, a Great Northern compound 4-4-0.
Great Northern Railway (of Ireland) engine 85 is named Merlin. It was one of five V-class compounds, all of which were named for birds of prey.
Honer Travers arranged my visit to Lisburn to witness the arrival of the scheduled Steam & Jazz special from Belfast, and introduced me to members of the crew (some of whom I’d met on previous occasions).
Working with three cameras, I made dozens of atmospheric images in the course of about 15 minutes. These photos were made digitally with my FujiFilm XT1 and Panasonic Lumic LX7. In addition, I exposed a handful of black & white photos using a Nikon loaded with Fomapan Classic.
RPSI’s Steam & Jazz excursion arrives from Belfast in a steadily drizzling rain.Cold, windy, wet and dark, but great for atmospheric photos. It helps to have a FAST lens, in this case an f2.0 90mm Fujinon telephoto.Number 85 runs around at Lisburn. Fuji XT1 photo.Exposed with a FujiFilm XT1, notice the effect of shallow depth of field and selective focus.Lumix LX7 photo at Lisburn.
Sometimes the railway photo isn’t about the train.
I made this pair of photos at Bray Head, County Wicklow, Ireland on Easter Monday 2017.
Railway Preservation Society engine No 4 was working trips from Dublin to Graystones, so I made the trek out along the head to capture these timeless views.
Although I made a few digital images, I prefer these black & white photos.
These were exposed on Ilford HP5 using a Leica IIIA and processed in Perceptol (1:1 for 14 minutes at 69 degrees F). No toning. Although, I think a dip in selenium would improve the contrast a bit.
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is naturally historically minded, obviously. But in this situation I’ve used a vintage 1930s Leica IIIa with period Nikkor 35mm lens to expose traditional black & white film.
All of these photos were made on RPSI’s diesel tour to Galway and Kilkenny on 8 April 2017.
For some images I used Kodak Tri-X processed in Iford ID11 and toned with selenium, for others I worked with Ilford FP4 (ISO 125) which I processed in Agfa Rodinal Special.
You’ll spot subtle differences in tonality.
Kodak Tri-X, rated at ISO 320 and processed in a two bath developer then toned with selenium for 9 minutes mixed 1 to 9 with water.Kodak Tri-X, rated at ISO 320.Portarlington. Kodak Tri-X, rated at ISO 320Ilford FP-4 processed in Agfa Rodinal Special.Kodak Tri-X, rated at ISO 320Kodak Tri-X, rated at ISO 320View from the train near Woodlawn. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.Focused on the train at Attymon. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.My view of the train at Attymon in black & white. I’ve got a tight shot in colour. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.Galway. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.Galway. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.Galway. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.Ballinasloe. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.Portarlington. Kodak Tri-X processed in Ilford ID11 and toned with selenium. Note the extreme range of exposure latitude. Kilkenny. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.At the end of the day in Connolly Station, Dublin. Ilford FP-4 rated at ISO 125.
Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s Trip to Galway and Kilkenny—Part 2.
More photos from my Lumix exposed Saturday 8 April 2017, on the RPSI’s The Marble Tribesman Diesel Tour that ran from Dublin Connolly Station to Galway via Portarlington and Athlone then to Kilkenny via Kildare.
Galway. (something behind me must be more interesting than old 081 beneath the shed!).Irish Rail’s 081 catches the sun at Galway. Not much left of the sidings in the goods yard here.Galway.Photo at Woodlawn, County Galway.Welcome to Woodlawn! (Thanks to Stephen King for pointing out the sign).Kilkenny.
Kilkenny.
Detail of 081 at Kilkenny.Kilkenny.Station stop at Athy, County Kildare.Reviewing photos from the stop at Kilkenny.A surprise birthday song for barman Jon Nabb (left).Jon opens a gift.
Also surprised for his birthday was RPSI’s Fergus (left).We arrived back at Connolly Station at dusk after more than 12 hours on the road.Engine 088 having been uncouple from the train waits to run around at Connolly Station, Dublin.Group portrait of Irish Rail staff and hangers on at Connolly.
On Saturday 8 April 2017, I traveled on the RPSI’s The Marble Tribesman Diesel Tour that ran from Dublin Connolly Station to Galway via Portarlington and Athlone then to Kilkenny via Kildare.
Irish Rail locomotive 081 in fresh gray and yellow paint led the train to Galway and Kilkenny, while 088 brought the return leg to Connolly.
It was a fine day with blue skies from dawn to dusk. The trip largely held to time and a grand time was had by all involved.
I exposed photos with three cameras. These images were exposed with my Lumix LX7. More images to follow over the next few days.
Not one, not two but three cameras served as my visual capturing arsenal last Saturday.
I had so many files to download that it’s taken me a few days to finally get this selection ready for review.
Is more better?
As with my FujiFilm X-T1 photos, with my Lumix I was interested in capturing some of personalities on Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s The Western Explorer.
Getting the right angle at Connolly Station before the trip. Saturday 22 October 2016.Saturday 22 October 2016.Documenting the down run.Washboard sky at Monasterevin. Saturday 22 October 2016.Saturday 22 October 2016.Gort. Saturday 22 October 2016.Gort. Saturday 22 October 2016.Ennis, County Clare. Saturday 22 October 2016.Ennis, County Clare. Saturday 22 October 2016.Irish Rail station building at Ennis. Saturday 22 October 2016.Limerick. Saturday 22 October 2016.Limerick. Saturday 22 October 2016.Limerick. Saturday 22 October 2016.Limerick. Saturday 22 October 2016.Limerick. Saturday 22 October 2016.Limerick. Saturday 22 October 2016.
My photo of Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s engine number 4 appears on the cover of this year’s Southern Steam Calendar.
RPSI’s former Northern Counties Commission engine number 4 works toward Pearse Station Dublin on 18 Dec 2010. The cool dry conditions combined with a rare blanket of Irish snow made for a classic view of RPSI’s Santa Train. I exposed this view digitally using my Canon EOS-7D.
The calendar features the work of a dozen of Ireland’s most talented railway photographers. It is arranged to display one large photo per month.
My view here has been specially cropped for display on Tracking the Light. The calendar displays a larger version of this image.
Southern Steam has been produced by my friends Kevin Meany and Ken Fox for the charity Pieta House—Centre of Prevention of Suicide Or Self-Harm.
Southern Steam—2017 is available in Ireland with proceeds going to the charity. If you are interested is obtaining a copy of the calendar please contact Ken Fox at:
On Sunday morning (3 April 2016) I took a spin on the down Rosslare Europort train from Tara Street to Dún Laoghaire.
Honestly, conditions were inauspicious for photography, but I persevered none-the-less.
A low ceiling and light rain made for gloomy conditions.
I used a blend of techniques in an effort to make some visually gripping images despite the conditions.
Working with the Lee graduated neutral density filter to maintain detail in the sky, I made a series of pans at 1/60th of second using my FujiFilm X-T1 digital camera.
Yesterday, the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) operated a pair of excursions from Dublin’s Connolly Station to Greystones, County Wicklow and return using former Dublin & South Eastern 2-6-0 461.
The trains were well patronized, which demonstrates a continued interest in Irish steam trains.
461 approaches Connolly Station tender first.
Driver Ken Fox on the footplate.
Dull weather prevailed, while cool temperatures made lots of steam condensation.
Sometimes I find that dull days makes for better steam photos.
Here’s a sample of digital images I made with my FujiFilm X-T1.
Most required contrast and saturation adjustment in post-processing.
Any favorites?
Connolly shed with two locomotives in steam.View from the Loop Line bridge in Dublin.461 with admirers in the rain at Greystones.After the trip, Irish Rail 075 brought the RPSI carriages back across to Inchicore. I made this image using an external graduated neutral density filter to improve detail in the sky.
Railway Preservation Society Ireland had scheduled a trip to depart Connolly Station Dublin for a run out the Sligo Road to Carrick-on-Shannon and Boyle.
Where to catch it?
There’s a bit of a pull up toward Glasnevin Junction with the stiffest climb as the line passes Croke Park.
At Claude Road a pedestrian bridge over the line offers an excellent view to the east.
On a clear day this isn’t a preferred mid-morning view, because you’d be fighting the sun (to no advantage).
No chance of the sun presenting a problem yesterday morning.
I could hear number 4’s shrill whistle as the engine departed Connolly, followed by more than five minutes of stack talk as the engine worked its consist of Cravens upgrade.
Using my FujiFilm X-T1, I exposed this sequence of digital images as the train worked by me.
The Croke Park stadium looms in the distance as RSPI number 4 barks up grade.Using my 18-135mm zoom lens, I pulled back as the locomotive approached.Old number 4 is working ‘bunker first’, and that’s cool, after all its a tank engine!I had my camera in ‘turbo flutter’ and was exposing pixels at light speed.Looking toward Phibsborough.
I wonder, perhaps I’d have been better off with my old Nikon and 400mm Tokina telephoto to hone in on the working engine? That would be a slide of course. Maybe next time.
On the day, steam locomotive 461 had done the honors for the paying passengers.
After the train arrived back at Connolly, freshly painted Irish Rail 071 (class leader) tied onto the empty carriages to bring them across to Inchicore.
Irish Rail class 071 at Connolly Station with the RPSI empty Cravens on 21 April 2014. Exposed on Fuji Acros 100 film.
I exposed this view at the end of the day using my Nikon F3 with 24mm lens. Using my perfected chemical recipe, I processed the Fuji Acros 100 film in Kodak HC110 then toned the negatives with selenium solution. Finally, I scanned them and made minor adjustments in Lightroom (mostly to remove dust spots).
Why black & white? Why film?
Why not?
I’ve always exposed film, and while digital photography tends to dominate my image making, I still expose the occasional roll of B&W or color slide film.
A decade ago, David Hegarty and I made a project of photographing Irish Rail’s South Wexford line between Rosslare Strand and Waterford.
Sugar Beet traffic ended in January 2006, and regular passenger services were withdrawn five years ago in September 2010.
Irish Rail 087 near Robbinstown, County, Wexford on the South Wexford line. 28 September 2015.Irish Rail 087 near Robbinstown, County, Wexford on the South Wexford line. 28 September 2015.Irish Rail 087 with Emerald Isle Express’s empty carriages at Taylorstown, County, Wexford on the South Wexford line. 28 September 2015.West of Campile, South Wexford line. 28 September 2015.
Yesterday, RailTours Ireland’s Emerald Isle Express (operated in cooperation with the Railway Preservation Society Ireland and Irish Rail) ran as a train of empty carriages across the line. This was probably the first train in months to use the scenic route.
Maximum speed was 15 mph.
Mark Healy and I were among the photographers on site to witness this very unusual move.
In addition to these digital photos, I exposed a handful of colour slides, you know, for posterity.
I’m honored to have been included in the new Southern Steam 2016 Calendar put together by Ken Fox and Kevin Meany. My photo is August 2016. Buy the calendar and check it out (proceeds for charity).
Rather than spoil it for you, I’ve posted one of my outakes, an image I made in 2006 at Farranfore, Co. Kerry, rather than show you the image used in the calendar.
I exposed this view of locomotive 186 at Farranfore back in May 2006. Some of you may know of my personal connection with Farranfore. This is not my image used in the calendar, but rather one made on the same trip a little later in the day. Buy the calendar, support the charity, check it out. Exposed using my Nikon F3 on Fujichrome.
The calendar for 2016 features photographs of Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s steam operations in the Munster region. The Price is advertised as €10.00 plus €3.00 for shipping. Please contact Ken Fox (railwaymad@hotmail.com) or Kevin Meany (kevinmeanydisplays@gmail.com) to order the calendar.
Proceeds from the calendar benefit the charity Pieta House (www.pieta.ie).
At 10:54 am this morning (Sunday August 23, 2015) Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s Marble City (Dublin Connolly to Kilkenny) led by engine number 4 made an impressive display working up the Gullet from Islandbridge Junction in Dublin.
Shortly before the arrival of the special, an Irish Rail ICR eased up to the bridge of signals. While this wasn’t what I anticipated, it makes for an interesting contrast in equipment.
Déjà vu? I think so.
Kudo’s to the RPSI and Irish Rail for running the train. I hope everyone on board has an enjoyable trip!
Exposed with my FujiFilm X-T1 with 18-135mm zoom lens. August 23, 2015.Exposed with my FujiFilm X-T1 with 18-135mm zoom lens. August 23, 2015. Contrast and exposure modified in post processing.
With a few of the distant exposures, I found the camera struggled to pick an accurate focus point. However, by using the ‘continuous high’ setting I was able to make up for the problem by making a lot of photos in short bursts as the camera focused in-and-out. Steam can often fool autofocus (especially on dull days) and its important to be ready this degree of uncertainty when making photographs.
Tracking the Light posts new material every day!
Exposed with my FujiFilm X-T1 with 18-135mm zoom lens. August 23, 2015.
I kept the cameras busy yesterday. I’ve altered the way I process my files. Rather than work from camera-shaped Jpgs, instead I’ve presented camera RAW files. With a few I applied a bit of contrast/exposure adjustment, but the others have just been scaled for internet presentation.
I exposed more than 500 images and haven’t, as of yet, had adequate time to digest this photographically intense experience.
Do you have any favorites among these photos?
Uproad near Near Mosney.
Downroad near Mosney.Dundalk.Tea!
Down Enterprise at Drogheda.Loco needs water, son.Clock at Dundalk.
Today, Sunday 9 August 2015, the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland in cooperation with Irish Rail operated a steam special from Dublin’s Connolly Station to Drogheda and Dundalk with locomotive number 4.
Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1; RAW File exported as a Jpg using Adobe Lightroom.Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1; RAW File exported as a Jpg using Adobe Lightroom.
This was my first opportunity to photograph this classic locomotive in more than four years. Special thanks to everyone at the RPSI and Irish Rail who made today’s trips a success.
Stay tuned for more photos tomorrow!
Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1; RAW File exported as a Jpg using Adobe Lightroom.
This year, I opted to take the DART to Bray and hike the cliff-walk around the head to make these views.
Despite clear skies and warm spring weather, wafting sea fog made for a challenging photographic conditions.
Irish Rail’s DART suburban service at Brandy Hole, Bray Head on Monday 6 April 2015. Fuji X-T1 digital photograph.
I made a point of photographing DART electric trains and Irish Rail’s intercity diesel railcars while in position for the steam special.
Shortly before locomotive 461 emerged from the tunnels near Brandy Hole, a cloud of fog rose to add a bit of atmosphere.
Sea fog made for atmospheric images.A DART electric skirts the cliffs at Bray Head. Fuji XT-1.Fog obscures the tunnels at Bray Head as the Easter Eggspress makes its way south toward Wicklow. Fuji X-T1 digital photograph.By the time engine 461 reached the optimal spot for photography it was in bright sun. Fuji XT-1 photograph. I exposed some wide-angle views on colour slide film from this spot that take in the whole scene. Steam, smoke and sea mist mark the passing of 461 at Bray Head.An Irish Rail ICR from Rosslare works toward Dublin.
In addition to these digital photographs, I exposed a series of 35mm colour slides on Provia 100F using my Canon EOS-3 with 40mm pancake lens. The mix of stunning scenery, wafting fog and bright sun made for a spectacular backdrop for the annual special.
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