Views
1780
Likes
Awards
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Spring 21 Award
Legendary Award
Judge Favorite
9Teen Award
Contest Finalist in Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 24
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 48
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Genius
Top Ranks
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on July 1, 2019 while traveling from Silverton, Colorado to Durango, Colorado on the D. & S.N.G. (Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge) Railroad. According to the brochure and website, this coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive travels 45.4 miles each way between Silverton and Durango using the same railroad tracks that were used by miners, cowboys, and the early settlers of the Old West. The train route winds in and out of the canyons and wilderness, often traveling alongside of and/or crossing over the Animas River. I had a wonderful day exploring the city of Silverton, an old mining town, and I took hundreds of photos of the historic trains, the depot, and the Silverton Freight Yard Museum. The train ride back to Durango was the highlight of my trip. It was so relaxing to travel in the open air car while viewing and photographing the gorgeous mountains, trees, animals, bridges, and waterfalls along the Animas River. I recommend it highly!Time
This photo was taken in the later afternoon, probably around 4 p.m.Lighting
I'm an amateur photographer with only a little formal training, so I usually use whatever light is available in the environment, but I have been experimenting more with angles and shadows. I didn't have many options for adjusting the angles for this shot, however, as I was only willing to lean out of the train so far! LOL.Equipment
I use a Canon Rebel T5 EOS camera with a Tamron 16-300mm F/3.5 - 6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO All-In-One Zoom lens, Model B016.Inspiration
I love both traveling and photography, so when I'm on vacation, I spend as much time as I can exploring the sights and taking pictures of all the amazing things I see along the way. On the morning of this trip, my friend Maureen checked in with me by text. She had helped me plan much of the itinerary for my travels through Colorado, and she prompted me to try to get some shots that included the side of the train as it was winding through the mountains. She suggested that I take a look at the beautiful shots on the D. & S.N.G Railroad's website. Maureen and the website were my inspiration for this photo.Editing
I haven't ventured into the arena of post-processing. I like the challenge of trying different camera settings, angles, and points of view, capturing things as they are in the natural environment. If the shots don't turn out, I just delete them. My pics are far from perfect, but when I look back at the pictures I took a few years ago, I think I've made a lot of progress.In my camera bag
I try to keep things light as I do a lot of walking and a little climbing on my travels. I usually just have my camera, a gray screen to customize the light balance, some lip balm, and my inhalers (for asthma). I try to keep my cell phone with me too, so I don't get lost!Feedback
Again, I'm no expert. My only recommendations are to take as many shots as you can, exploring angles, lighting, and composition. Try lots of different camera settings to see what you like. I also spend a lot of time on the ViewBug website. Seeing the work of great photographers always inspires me to look at the world from unique and wonderful perspectives!