ZooLights Train
Every year, the Oregon Zoo blankets the park with lights for the holidays. The zoo train gets the treatment as well. This photo was captured without a tripod ju...
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Every year, the Oregon Zoo blankets the park with lights for the holidays. The zoo train gets the treatment as well. This photo was captured without a tripod just moments before the train left the station.
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Nov, 2012Views
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carolyn_anderson_860
November 27, 2012
This is awesome very creative & great composition! A new fav!
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the Oregon Zoo during their annual Zoo Lights display. Every year, the whole park gets decked out with millions of Christmas light in preparation for the holidays. Even the narrow gage train gets the treatment. The amazing thing about this photo is that a hand held shot turned out this good.Time
This was probably around 7pmLighting
It was pitch dark outside (it gets dark early that time of year in Portland), so the only light in this photo is from the train's holiday lights.Equipment
Canon 450D with standard 55mm kit lens. No flash, no tripod. I was also in a hurry when I took the shot because my kids were impatient to get on the train again!Inspiration
I just thought it was a really surreal image. How often do you see an old locomotive decked out in Christmas lights?Editing
I cropped the image slightly, but that's it. Everything you see is the way it was.In my camera bag
These days I usually only carry my iPhone. Sadly, my DSLR has been languishing in a box the last couple years. The iPhone's camera became 'good enough', and it was nice to leave all the clunky gear at home.Feedback
My advice is to be ready when opportunity arises. I didn't go to the zoo planning to get a shot like this. I took my camera not knowing what I'd find, and I happened to be ready when this situation presented its self. Since I'm an opportunistic photographer, I always make sure my iPhone has a full charge before I leave the house. You never know what you're going to encounter when you least expect it.
