{"id":8243,"date":"2014-09-21T02:10:07","date_gmt":"2014-09-21T06:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=8243"},"modified":"2014-09-14T03:20:38","modified_gmt":"2014-09-14T07:20:38","slug":"irish-narrow-gauge-bord-na-mona-approaching-sunset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/irish-narrow-gauge-bord-na-mona-approaching-sunset\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Narrow Gauge: Bord na Mona Approaching Sunset"},"content":{"rendered":"

Empties Climbing Away from the River Blackwater at Corbane.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In August 2014, Denis McCabe and I continued our on-going exploration of the Bord na Mona (Irish Peat Board) narrow gauge railway network. (see:\u00a0Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 1<\/a>,\u00a0More Adventures with Ireland\u2019s Bord na Mona\u2014September 2013,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Bord na Mona\u2019s Ash Train<\/a>, among other previous posts).<\/p>\n

We followed a pair of empties from Shannonbridge, eastward toward Ferbane. Access is limited, owing to the nature of the bogs. Toward the end of the day, we set up at the N62 highway overpass, where the Bord na Mona\u2019s line climbs away from the River Blackwater.<\/p>\n

\"Bord<\/a>
Bord na Mona’s three-foot gauge tracks looking west toward Shannon Bridge in August 2014. Canon EOS 7D with 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My challenge was making the most of the backlit scene. The sun was setting almost immediately behind the train. I opted for my 200mm lens in order to compress the perspective, eliminate the sky, and minimize the effects of flare. I positioned myself near post on the side of the road to help shade the front element of my lens.<\/p>\n

Here the effects of backlighting combined with the long telephoto lens make for a cinematic look; the exhaust of the locomotive is more pronounced, the wavy condition of the tracks are exaggerated, and the pastoral scene made more impressive.<\/p>\n

\"Exposed<\/a>
Exposed with a Canon EOS 7D fitted with f2.8 200mm lens set at 1\/500th of a second at f5.6. Front element of the lens was shaded from direct sun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I particularly like the silhouette of the train driver in the cab, which emphasizes the human element.<\/p>\n

My only disappointment with the photos is that the following train hadn\u2019t effectively enter the scene. (Often Bord na Mona trains working in pairs follow one right after the other. In this situation, the following train was just around the bend.) But, I\u2019ve had plenty of opportunities to make images with two or more Bord na Mona trains, so I\u2019ll settle for this one of a lone train.<\/p>\n

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