Tracking the Light posts daily!

The fine art of the pacing shot was perfected many years ago. In the steam era, Jim Shaughnessy and others paced big steam across the prairies and grasslands in a quest for dramatic images.

I was traveling along the west bank of the Rhein a couple of days ago with Denis McCabe, Stephen Hirsch and Gerry Conmy.

The railway here is exceptionally busy. The sun was bright and we were searching for photographic locations.

‘Green signal. Southbound.’

A minute later, ‘there’s a train overtaking us!’

I unrolled the window, switched my Lumix on, set it to ISO 80 at f8 and used the ‘A’ (aperture priority) mode, and exposed this series of images in rapid succession.

By using the  settings described above, I allowed the camera meter to adjust the exposure to compensate for changing lighting conditions, while insuring the slowest possible shutter speed to maximize the effect of background blur.

Complicating the exposure was the reflective silver paint.

Other than scaling for internet presentation, I have not altered these images in post processing.

Tracking the Light posts daily!