Tag Archives: The Western Explorer

Lumix Views: Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s The Western Explorer—Part 3.

October 27, 2016 brian solomon Leave a comment

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.

Washboard sky at Monasterevin. Saturday 22 October 2016.

Ennis, County Clare. Saturday 22 October 2016.

Irish Rail station building at Ennis. Saturday 22 October 2016.

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Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s The Western Explorer—Part 2.

October 24, 2016 brian solomon Leave a comment

Yesterday, I presented scaled camera JPGs of Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s The Western Explorer, which operated from Dublin’s Connolly Station on 22 October 2016.

Today’s selection, are photos made using my FujiFilm X-T1 digital camera, but using the Camera RAW files and manipulating the data in Lightroom to present a more pleasing image.

Using contrast controls, I’ve maximized detail in highlights and shadows while adjusting colour saturation and exposure to produce more refined final images.

The day of trip featured fine weather and fluffy/lacey clouds decorated a largely blue sky. To bring in sky detail, it was necessary to locally adjust exposure and contrast using a digitally applied graduated filter.

In other instances, I manually lightened shadow areas, that without such adjustment would appear too dark and lacking in necessary detail.

I was especially impressed with the sky at Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Although I had my graduated neutral density filter kit in my camera bag, the hasty nature of photo stops was conducive to using it. Instead, I've had to make due with digital adjustment in post processing. — I was especially impressed with the sky at Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Although I had my graduated neutral density filter kit in my camera bag, the hasty nature of photo stops was not conducive to using it. Instead, I’ve had to make due with digital adjustment in post processing.

A little contrast control goes a long way. By lowering the highlights and brightening the shadow areas, I was able to make for a much more pleasing image.

Wide angle view of RPSI's the Western Explorer at Athenry, County Galway. — Wide angle view of RPSI’s the Western Explorer at Athenry, County Galway.

Gort features a modern footbridge that uses thick sheet-metal meshes. The effect of the holes in the mesh distorts the light resulting in some peculiar patterns. The patterns are not the result of digital image processing. — Gort station features a modern footbridge that uses thick sheet-metal meshes. The effect of the holes in the mesh distorts the light resulting in some peculiar patterns. The patterns are not the result of digital image processing.

Another view at Gort. — Another view at Gort station.

Photographers were looking for angles at Ennis, County Clare. The station shadow made for a challenging used of light.

At Dromkeen, the special crossed an ICR on its way to Limerick.

I made a series of views from the train windows. This one was exposed using my FujiFilm X-T1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit lens.

mark_watching_scenery_dscf8248 — A view with the Zeiss 12mm Touit lens

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RPSI’s The Western Explorer, 22 October 2016—Part 1 with Dozens of JPGs.

October 23, 2016 brian solomon 1 Comment

Yesterday (22 October 2016) the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland in cooperation with Irish Rail operated a diesel-hauled excursion making a circle trip from Dublin’s Connolly Station.

Among the goals for the tour was a fundraising effort to help restore RPSI’s 1960-era class 121/141 General Motors diesels to traffic.

To emphasize the roll of heritage diesels, Irish Rail locomotive 071 (class leader) wearing the retro 1970s ‘Super Train’ livery worked from Dublin to Limerick, with engine 084 (in modern gray and yellow) bringing the train back up to Dublin.

My interest was in capturing the spirit of the day. In addition to photographs of the equipment, I focused on people; Irish Rail employees, RPSI volunteers and organizers, and passengers.

My cameras were busy all day. I made more than 500 digital images; so I’ll be editing my files for some hours yet.

This first round of photographs is a selection of camera-JPGs from my FujiFilm X-T1 digital camera. Since the JPGs don’t require much work (except for scaling) these are easier to put up quickly. Later I’ll present a selection of images made from Camera RAW files, and finally a few views with my Lumix LX7.

As is often the case, I also exposed some 35mm slides, but those remain latent for the moment.