Tag Archives: #SBB

Gotthard Pendolino Revisited

On this day in 2016, I photographed an SBB Pendolino descending the Gotthard Pass near Erstfeld using my first FujiFilm XT1 with 18-135mm Fujinon zoom.

At the time, I wasn’t 100 percent satisfied with the photographic quality of the image. Recently, I returned to my original Fuji RAF files from this trip and re-processed some of the images using DxO Pure Raw software. Significantly, this corrects for lens defects and other problems. The results are much better than my earlier un-corrected RAW files.

This was further adjusted using Adobe Lighttoom to make the most out highlight and shadow detail. I had an 8×10 print made from the improved file and it looks outstanding.

There’s lesson in this exercise. Improved image processing software can make a big difference with older digital files. Try it, you might be surprised!

SBB near Erstfeld, Switzerland on 15 April 2016.
Greatly enlarged portion of the Fuji RAF Raw file without DxO conversion.
A portion of the same Fuji RAF Raw file following conversion to DNG with corrections with DxO PureRaw. Notice the improved contrast and sharpness, with minimal chromatic aberration when compared with the unconverted file.

Freight over the Gotthard Pass—April 2016

On this day seven years ago—15 April 2016—my Irish friends and I were visiting Switzerland’s famous Gotthard Pass.

This was shortly before opening of SBB’s new 35-mile long Gotthard Base Tunnel, so the old sinuous double-track electrified line was still alive and very busy with freight and passenger traffic.

In the evening near Zgraggen, Switzerland we caught this uphill DB freight winding its way toward the old Gotthard Tunnel.

I exposed this vertically oriented image as part of a sequence of photos with my old FujiFilm XT1 digital camera.

FujiFilm XT1 with Fujinon 18-135mm lens set at 25mm and f7.1, 1/500th of second, ISO 400.

Tracking the Light Posts Every Day!

SBB along the shore of Lake Geneva

Sometimes it’s still nice to have a color slide.

In the early evening on 21 April 2017, photographer Denis McCabe and I were set up along the shore of Lake Geneva at Chillon, Switzerland.

Although I had two digital cameras with me, I opted to make this photograph of an SBB express on Fuji Provia 100F color slide film.

Last night I scanned the slide using a Nikon LS5000 slide scanner for presentation here. I like the full rich color offered by this traditional photograph.

Tracking the Light Posts Daily!

SBB Freight—Five years ago.

A venerable SBB electric in classic red paint glides along leading freight on super-elevated track through Wangen bei Olten, Switzerland on April 14, 2016.

Earlier in the day I’d flown with my Irish friends from Dublin to Basel.

I made this view with my FujiFilm XT1. This photo is scaled directly from the camera created JPG with Velvia color profile.

Tracking the Light Posts Every Day!