Strasburg Rail Road’s preserved J-Tower made for an ideal static subject to test Nikon’s Z6-III image-making with f1.4 Nikkor lens at ISO 64000.
For point of comparison I made exposures at ISO 100 and ISO 64000.
I then converted the ISO 64000 image to a DNG format using DxO PureRaw which denoised the image while eliminating vignetting and other lens imperfections. I’ve enlarged the tower section of each image to make comparison easier.
My next Railroad Photography 101 Class at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will be held on Saturday Dec 13, 2025 from 9 to 11am. The theme to this class will be working with holiday settings, including how to make better night train photographs.
Full frame image with Nikon Z6-III with f1.4 50mm at ISO 64000 and converted without changes to appearance from the original NEF RAW file.Enlarged portion of the above image with Nikon Z6-III with f1.4 50mm at ISO 64000 converted NEF RAW file.PureRaw-processed file. This was made from the same RAW NEF image as the above photos. It demonstrates the capabilities of the PureRaw software.Enlarged portion of PureRaw-processed file. This was made from the same RAW image as the above photos.Comparison image exposed at ISO 100. Note the lack of noise. This was not processed with Dxo PureRaw.Enlarged portion of the IS0 100 image.
My next Railroad Photography 101 Class at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will be held on Saturday Dec 13, 2025 from 9 to 11am. The theme to this class will be working with holiday settings, including how to make better night train photographs.
To prepare some material for the class, I went over to Strasburg the other night and made photos of Strasburg Rail Road’s holiday lights around the station using a Nikon Z6-III with f1.4 50mm Nikkor Z-series lens.
With the camera firmly mounted on a 3Pod tripod, I took a series of photos varying the lens aperture from f1.4 (widest setting to f8.0) as a test of the lens abilities. I allowed the camera to automatic adjust the exposure using a matrix metering setting. The white balance was set to A1 (‘auto’) and the color profile to SDR (standard).
The photos displayed here are converted and scaled directly from the Z6-III’s NEF Raw files without any post processing alterations to composition, color, contrast, exposure or any other visual elements of the photo.
This is a work in progress and in following posts, I will explore changes to holiday-night photo RAW files in post processing.
Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor f1.4 50mm lens set at f1.4; 1/13th of a second.Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor f1.4 50mm lens set at f2.8; 2/5th of a second.Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor f1.4 50mm lens set at f4; 4/5th of a second.Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor f1.4 50mm lens set at f8; 2.5 seconds.
If you observe carefully, you may notice that the image exposed at f1.4 has a different color balance and is slightly darker that the others. This likely due to the shorter exposure time and the flickering effect of the LED holiday lights.
Tracking the Light Posts about railroad photography.
I saw this antique Ford Motor Company automobile (Model A? Not sure, I’m not an authority on antique autos ) parked near Strasburg Rail Road’s crossing of Blackhorse Road.
When the midday train passed, I focused on the auto, allowing the train to serve as background.
Perhaps at some point I should recreate this image by making a photo of our Honda CRV with the Viewliner baggage car on Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian as background—Same concept, different equipment.
Tracking the Light explores railroad image making.
A few moments of low evening sun yesterday made for a classic view of Strasburg Rail Road’s former Pennsylvania Railroad J-Tower.
In addition to this digital photo, I made a single color slide on Velvia 50 using my old F3 with 35mm lens. I’ll be sending that out for processing soon.
Nikon Z6 mirror-less digital camera with 24-70mm lens set to 43mm. ISO 100, f4, 1/320 second. White balance set to daylight.
Tracking the Light Posts Details on Railroad Photography!
Upon on our arrival a wisp of smoke lingered; we’d just missed Strasburg’s evening train departing Leaman Place.
I drove to Cherry Hill Road. The angle of the setting sun perfectly illuminated the track between rows of corn.
Number 90 began to accelerate as it approached the grade crossing, and the train passed me as if it were moving in slow motion. I aimed to catch the power of the engine.
I exposed this series of photos using my Nikon Z7-II.
Not every situation is made to order for photography.
I was on my way to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania to conduct research for my next book. Since I was just a little early, I opted to divert via Esbenshade Road and roll by Strasburg Rail Road’s returning 1pm train.
I heard the engine working the grade. On most recent visits, former Canadian National 2-6-0 No. 89 has been assigned to the run. Since this is a relative small locomotive the crews have to work it reasonably hard ascending the grade from Cherry Hill.
However, on this afternoon I listened carefully; the softer bark of the stack told me that the engine wasn’t working especially hard. This couldn’t be 89, so it must be No. 90—the former Great Western 2-10-0 (a relatively big Baldwin).
Inded it was!
Canadian wildfires made for the air thick with particulates, and the sunlight was tinged with brown. Not pretty light at all.
Photos exposed using my Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.
NEF RAW files were adjusted using Lightroom to maximize detail.
Yesterday (July 29, 2025), I attended the Roundhouse Groundbreaking ceremony at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg.
Work has begun on the long-planned six-stall roundhouse that will be used to house six former Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotives that are in the museum collection.
Museum Director Patrick Morrison led the ceremony with an introductory speech, followed by speeches by several key dignitaries, including former Museum Director David Dunn who, many years ago, got the ball rolling for the roundhouse construction.
Afterwards the assembled group was invited outside to see the site for the new structure and to ceremonial move some earth. I missed the earth moving as I was chatting with other guests, but I did make a few photos of the gilded shovels and other proceedings.
It was a landmark day in Pennsylvania railroad preservation! (Capital ‘R’ optional on ‘railroad’).
Thursday evening, Kris, Seamus-the-Dog and I went for an evening drive.
The sun set through a rain shower, then the fireflies illuminated the landscape, and as darkness fell a fireworks display colored the night sky on the eve of American Independance Day.
I made this selection of photos using my Nikon Z-series mirrorless digital camera. Even though there’s only one railroad-themed image in this selection, I feel they meet the criteria for ‘Tracking the Light’.
It’s been nearly five years since I bought my first Nikon Z-series mirrorless camera and I’m still exploring the camera’s features.
Normally when working with the Nikon Z, I exposed photos simulataneously in NEF Raw and JPG. Typically, I only use the JPGs as back up and to quickly review images (because it is easier and faster to open the JPG files). I work with the NEF files using Lightroom and other software to make the most of images in post processing.
One of the advantages of my FujiFilm X-Series cameras is that the photos come right out of the camera with excellent color. I can select from a variety of color profile presents that emulate Fuji’s popular film color palates. Not only are the JPGs typically ‘ready to go’, but I can easily apply the present color profiles to the Fuji RAW (RAF) files and use the Fuji color profiles as a starting point when refining RAW images in post processing.
My Nikon Z cameras offer a feature called ‘Active D-Lighting’ that can be applied in-camera to the JPG files as a tool to reduce contrast and make the most of high-contrast situations.
The other day, Seamus-the-Dog and I were driving around. I planned to intercept the 11am Strasburg Rail Road excursion to Leaman Place. It was intermittently raining and the sky was bright with laden clouds. I felt this would be a grand opportunity to try the Active D-Lighting feature. I selected one of the intermediate ADL settings.
Below are my scaled, but otherwise unaltered JPGs. This reflects the color and contrast as preserved in the original file.
More exploration of this feature is necessary. Stay tuned.
Yesterday (Tuesday, April 22, 2025), I was a guest at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.
I paid my first visit to the museum almost 45 years ago. At the time I was dismayed that the DD1 electric was stored at the back of the museum where it was inhabited by pigeons. Today, it is positioned out in front.
Yesteday’s event was attended by various dignitaries, Friends of the Museum, members of the public, and guests. Museum Director Pat Morrison presided over the event. To mark 50 years, the bell on Pennsylvania Railroad 4-4-2 7002 was rung, speeches were made, a ribbon was cut, and a band played (although not all at the same moment.)
I wonder what the museum will be like in 2075?
I made these photos using my FujiFilm XT1 with 16-55mm Fujinon lens.
There was a cotton candy sky hanging over Strasburg.
I thought this offered an opportunity to demonstrate the advantages of exposing using RAW, then converting the file using DxO Pure Raw softwar and importing the converted file into Lightroom for adjustment.
Below are three versions of the same image exposed using my Nikon Z6 with 28-70mm lens
The first image is the in-camera Jpg (scaled without adjustment). The second is the NEF RAW file after conversion to PNG format using Pure Raw. The last is end result following adjustment in Lightroom.
In camera JPG without adjustment.NEF file converted using PureRaw to correct for lens defects, reduce pixelization etc.PNG file following adjustments in Lightroom to make better use of shadow and highlight detail, adjust contrast and color balance, etc.
Sometimes when the future presents itself the sensation seems surreal.
We spent the daylight decorating for the holidays. This was something that Kris and her mom always enjoyed.
As evening encroached, we decided to go for drive. There’s comfort in the familiar. So, I navigated our way to Blackhorse Road where we have often watched the Strasburg Rail Road.
The sun had set, but the blue glow of dusk hung in the western sky, reminding us of days gone by.
It has been almost a year since we added a 50-140mm Fujinon telephoto zoom to our arsenal of lenses for the Fuji X-T4.
I often like to play with . . . I mean experiment with . . . different types of equipment. So a few days ago I took the X-T4 out to make a few photos of Straburg Rail Road’s outbound midday train. Usually it is in Kris’ capable hands. I exposed these views at Blackhorse Road using the 50-140mm lens.
I’ve always liked the color palatte and sharpness offered by the FujiFilm digital cameras, and these photos exemplify the warm saturated tones offered by the X-T4.
Strasburg 89 near Blackhorse Road; exposed in RAF (RAW) format using a FujiFilm X-T4 with 50-140mm lens. Processed in Lightroom.Strasburg 89 near Blackhorse Road; exposed in RAF (RAW) format using a FujiFilm X-T4 with 50-140mm lens. Processed in Lightroom and cropped slightly from the original file.
It was a beautiful evening between trains at Strasburg Rail Road’s East Strasburg Station. I used this opportunity to make some detailed views of the equipment and the environment around the station.
Rich low sun offers many opportunities for photos that simply cannot exist on dull days.
No matter how often we visit Strasburg, I always find a new angle.
On our way back through Strasburg, we spotted a hot-air balloon over the cornfields.
It was drifting toward the Strasburg Rail Road’s parking lot, so we pulled in to get a better view. As the balloon approached it was getting lower and lower. I made few photos of it sailing over the railroad’s antique wood passenger cars. Then as the sunset in the western sky, we continued to follow the balloon across the farm fields.
Working with both my Nikon Z-series digital cameras, I made these photos of the balloon. That was different! We don’t get to chase balloons everyday!
Tuesday night a line of intense electrical storms passed to the south of us.
Kris and I drove over to Strasburg as lightning flashed across the sky. It was 15 to 20 miles to the south, and far enough away that we couldn’t hear the thunder. To the north the sky had cleared and in the west was a colorful sunset.
We parked at Blackhorse Road by the Strasburg Rail Road to watch the light show.
Working with my Nikon Z7-II set at 4000 ISO, I made this sequence of photos hand held.
When I very young, I learned to photograph lightning working with my dad’s 120-size roll film Rollei Model T. My choice of equipment has changed, but the basic technique is still very effective.
It was more than 90F the other day when I made these photographs.
Strasburg number 89, a former Canadian National Railways 2-6-0 Mogul, was leading the return run of the 3pm excursion to Paradise.
The best photo eclipsed the train altogher. After the excursion crossed Esbenshade Road, Amish horsedrawn buggies passed in front of me.
I made this photo from the hip; with no view finder. Old school technique with a modern digital camera. Unfortunately, the Strasburg Rail Road excursion was entirely blocked by the back-end of a horse.
We caught Strasburg’s evening train returning from Leaman Place at Cherry Hill. On the long days the sun favors the northside of the tracks allowing for classic views as the locomotive accelerates away from Groffs Grove.
This run proved to be a convergence of friends. Not only was a fellow Conway Scenic employee enjoying a ride in the tail car, but at the last moment a pickup truck with New Hampshire plates pulled up to the crossing with two more familiar faces!
A recent visit to Strasburg, found engine 89 working an extra passenger train.
The setting sun had briefly illuminated the clouds of what I call a ‘cotton candy sky’.
As 89 was uncoupled to begin its run-around, I made this silhouette.
Knowing that I’d make adjustments in post-processing, I exposed the photo manually in order to capture the detail in the sky. The enormous data capture afforded by the Z-series cameras allowed for a two-stop lightening of the shadow areas and considerable adjustments to sky while affording global changes to contrast.
Below I’ve included the NEF RAW file (scaled as a Jpg, but without adjustments to exposure, contrast, color etc) and the final adjusted file.
I’ve also included two screenshots of the Adobe Lightroom work windows to demonstrate how I accomplished some of the corrections.
RAW file without adjustment to exposure, contrast, color balance etc.Final adjusted file adapted from the RAW NEF file. Note the high level of detail recovered from the shadow areas. This is a single frame exposure and not an blend of images.
At the end of March, having completed much travel, Kris and I paid a short visit to Pennsylvania’s Strasburg Rail Road. There we caught former Canadian National 2-6-0 number 89 leading an afternoon excursion on its return from Leaman Place.
I made these views using my Nikon Z7-II with 70-200mm lens.
It was nice to see the green grass growing in the fields!
Bright snow, black locomotive and arctic cold. The contrast between light and dark was a challenge, but the largest difficulty was the fine snow blowing across the open landscape, which blurred the hightlights and muted shadows in unexpected ways.
The raw cold hit me like a razor which made it difficult to think straight.
Yet, through it all, I persevered and made this sequence of Strasburg Rail Road 475 running tender first leading a mid-day train toward Leaman Place, Pennsylvania.
The lessons are: keep at it, get your focus point set where you need it, over expose by at least 1/3 of a stop, and don’t give up!
Tracking the Light Posts Daily! (Even when its cold)
During the Christmas peak, Strasburg Rail Road operates half-hourly departures on its very popular run to Leaman Place.
This schedule results in steam-hauled trains meeting every half hour on the siding at Groffs near Cherry Hill Road in Strasburg, PA.
Soft winter sun on Saturday and pleasantly warm temperatures made for an ideal time to photograph the Groffs meet, so Kris and I set up just before lunchtime in anticipation of the show.
I made this photographic sequence using my Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.
By design, this day last week I caught up with Dan Cupper and railroad artist Craig Thorpe at Black Horse Road in Strasburg. We planned our meeting to coincide with the passing of the hourly excursion.
I made photos of the train and my friends.
Craig had brought with him a print of painting that he made of Reading & Northern 4-8-4 2102 at Nesquehoning that he created from still photographs that Dan had made.
After Strasburg 89 passed, we walked up the hill to Carpenters Cemetery and photographed the return run. In the meantime some Amish farmers were working a nearby field with an impressive team of draft (draught) horses.
These views were products of my Nikon Z-series mirror-less digital cameras.
A couple weeks ago, I caught up with my friend Kurt Bell at the Strasburg Rail Road, and later we went across the street to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. These are two institutions with which Kurt has had decades-long affiliations.
Kurt is a Railroad Collections Archivist in Harrisburg with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museums Commission and the author of a book about the Strasburg Rail Road.
It was a beautiful autumn day and we wandered among the antique trains, visiting with people and taking in the majesty of the railroad environment.
I think one of the highlights of the day for Kurt was seeing his old favorite engine, Strasburg No. 31 (a former Canadian National Railways 0-6-0 switcher) ‘in kit form’ in Strasburg’s shop, where it has been undergoing restoration work.
Kurt had a story to tell me about everything we saw and everyone we met. I learned a lot about tourist railways and railway museums that day!
I made the photos with my Nikon Z7-II.
Thanks Kurt!
Kurt with the cab of Strasburg Rail Road No. 31.At the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.This is perhaps the museums newest exhibit inside the main building. The cab signal display inside of PRR G5 5741 is desgined to be in sync with the position light signal to the right of the locomotive.
Sometimes accidentally trying something different yields a better result.
The other evening, Kris and I went out to watch Strasburg Rail Road’s 6pm train on its return run.
It was a beautiful and clear, and I’d hoped to make a photo from either Carpenters or Paradise Lane. However we were delayed, and the best that I could do was to reach East Strasburg Station.
The railroad had a Thomas-the-Tank event going on earlier in the day. While, normally, I avoid these events, which are geared toward a much younger enthusiast and tend a attract big crowds, in this case the event worked to my advantage.
To make room for the Thomas train, the railroad had cleared out a row of equipment that had been stored on the siding adjacent to the run-around track opening up a classic view of the station. Normally this stored equipment blocked the view (and the evening sun light) from the north side of the tracks of an in-coming train.
So our tardy arrive produced some fortuitous photos.
Strasburg Rail Road’s excursions offer open cars which are a pleasant way to spend a summer’s afternoon in Pennsylvania Dutch country.
The other day, our friend Dan Cupper, invited Kris and I to travel on the railroad, so we rode behind former Canadian National Railways 89 to Leaman Place and back.
I made these photos using my Nikon Z6 with 24-70mm Z-series zoom.
We drove to Cherry Hill Road which is approximately the half-way point on the Strasburg Rail Road.
We didn’t have to wait long before a low mournful whistle announced the approach of the returning 2pm train.
Over the last month, most of Strasburg’s excursion have been led by 2-6-0 number 89, so I was pleased when I saw former Norfolk & Western 4-8-0 number 475 come into view.
As the train pulled away from the Groff’s picnic area, the engineer made a spectucular show of steam and smoke as the train slowly accelerated upgrade.
I made these photos with my Nikon Z7-II with 70-200mm lens as Kris recorded the performance with her iPhone.
Over the summer, Kris and I have been photographing Strasburg Rail Road’s late weekend train, the 1900 departure, which is a favorite of mine because it catches the low sun on its return to the East Strasburg Station.
I think that this past weekend might have been the last opportunity to work with the sun on this train for a while.
I made these trailing views at Esbenshade Road near Strasburg, Pennsylvania.
Nikon Z6 with 24-70mm lens.Nikon Z7-II with 70-200mmNikon Z6 with 24-70mm lens.
The evening began with dissipating fluffy clouds. As the sun sunk in the western sky, I anticipated a colorful late summer sunset.
We drove to Strasburg, where I made this sequence of photos of Strasburg Rail Road’s J tower, and various equipment on dispay at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and in the Strasburg Rail Road’s yard using my Z7-II with 70-200mm Nikkor Z-series lens.
There aren’t too many place in the United States where you can pull up to a rural grade crossing on a Monday and roll by a steam locomotive .
That’s just what I did the other day on my drive through Strasburg.
I made these photos using my Lumix LX7. The scene is timeless. Consider; a Mogul type hauling wooden-body passenger cars, and there no wires, no automobiles, no cell-phones . . . well all that is all behind me-literally.
Lumix LX7 photo exposed in RAW, color adjusted in post processing. Compare with the de-saturated mono-chrome version below.In post processing I altered the contrast and used the ‘saturation’ slider to convert the image to monochrome (black &white).Clean burning engine, rods down. Now, if we only switch off the headlight, it could be 1925.
