{"id":4283,"date":"2013-10-27T05:18:05","date_gmt":"2013-10-27T09:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=4283"},"modified":"2013-10-27T05:17:17","modified_gmt":"2013-10-27T09:17:17","slug":"pan-am-railways-crosses-the-connecticut-october-17-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/pan-am-railways-crosses-the-connecticut-october-17-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Pan Am Railways Crosses the Connecticut, October 17, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two Perspectives from the Same Vantage Point.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

New England is famous for its autumn foliage. When making railroad photos in the season, are the leaves the subject, the setting or simply background?<\/p>\n

On the morning of October 17, 2013, I made a series of photographs of Pan Am Railway\u2019s (Pan Am Southern) westward freight symbol 190ED between Erving and East Deerfield. Leading the train were a pair of SD40-2s in the latest corporate scheme.<\/p>\n

I made my way to the former Boston & Maine bridge over the Connecticut River where there was some very colorful foliage in the foreground and background. Incidentally, this is the location of the \u2018icon photo\u2019 used to introduce Tracking the Light.<\/p>\n

\"Connecticut<\/a>
Exposed with a Canon EOS 7D with 40mm pancake lens; f4 at 1\/320 second ISO 200.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the freight eased across the bridge, I had ample time to compose several images. Working with my Canon EOS 7D with 40mm lens, I exposed a non-conventional image focused on some foreground foliage, and used a low aperture to deliberately allow the locomotives to be out of focus.<\/p>\n

I then changed my focus to the locomotives and bridge and exposed several more conventional images. I also had time to pop off a color slide with my dad\u2019s Leica M4.<\/p>\n

\"Freight<\/a>
Pan Am 606 leads the westward symbol freight 190ED across the Connecticut River at East Deerfield, Massachusetts on October 17, 2013. Exposed with a Canon EOS 7D with 40mm pancake lens; f4 at 1\/320 second ISO 200.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I realize that the image focused on the leaves won\u2019t appeal to everyone. But I find it a bit evocative. It\u2019s more about the foliage than the train, yet the train remains the subject. You cannot help but see the engine\u2019s headlights, like evil eyes, peering from beyond the leaves.<\/p>\n

As an aside, the lead locomotive interested me. Pan Am 606 is a variation of the SD40-2 produced with a longer than normal short-hood or ‘nose’ to house 1970s-era radio-control equipment. At this point in time this feature is a left over from an earlier time and its original owner. Pan Am neither has \u00a0a need to use such locomotives in mid-train remote service, nor is the locomotive like to remain so equipped. But it is a visually distinguishing feature that sets it apart from other locomotives on the railroad.<\/p>\n

Tracking the Light<\/a>\u00a0posts new material daily.<\/strong><\/p>\n

See Thursday’s News Flash:\u00a0Massachusetts Central\u2019s Recently Acquired GP38 makes First Revenue Run<\/a><\/p>\n

Please spread the word and share\u00a0Tracking the Light<\/a>\u00a0with anyone who may enjoy seeing it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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