Winter train
Nov, 2015Views
182
Likes
Awards
Top Shot Award 22
Winner in Trains in motion Photo Challenge
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
Top Ranks
Top 10 rank
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on the Harz Railway in Germany. The train had recently departed from the Brocken, the highest station on the railway, bound for the main terminus at Wernigerode. At 1,125 metres, Brocken is the highest station in Germany served by a conventional railway.Time
It was mid morning on a cold December day.Lighting
It had snowed heavily all of the previous night and the day looked like a washout when we awoke. However, the clouds cleared and by mid morning the sky was blue from horizon to horizon, a perfect winter day. I rode the first train from Wernigerode to the Brocken, on arrival walked about one kilometre to the location. The temperature was minus 17 degrees celcius, resulting in dry air and excellent visibility with any moisture in the air frozen into crystals. The steam locomotives on the Harz Railway are very shiny and black, that is challenging photographically as there was extreme contrast between the black locomotive and the white snow, but the sun reflecting off the snow helped.Equipment
I used a Nikon D7100 with a 28 to 200 mm Nikkor lens. The advantage of this combination is portability, important for this type of photography. The image was hand held with natural light.Inspiration
I have had an interest in railways as well as photography for many years. Both influence my career as I am a tour operator offering hosted railway and wildlife themed tours. This picture was not taken on a tour, but I have visited the Harz with groups. The greatest inspiration for this image was to look out of the window, see the amazing scenery and light and realize that, with some good fortune, this would be an outstanding photographic day. There were issues to overcome. One of the greatest was keeping the equipment warm enough to avoid battery problems and lens condensation. All credit to Nikon, the camera kit worked perfectly although my mobile phone froze to a standstill.Editing
Not much post processing was needed. Some sharpening, exposure correction and adjustments to the white and black levels.In my camera bag
I travel light. Many years ago it was two Nikon F SLR's, nowadays it is a Nikon D750 with a 24mm to 120 mm Nikor zoom. When needed, I add an 80mm to 400 mm zoom, my trusty D7100 as backup, a speedlight and a set of wireless remotes.Feedback
Be there! No amount of good luck helps if you are not in position to look out of the window and make the decision to go get that image. Be prepared! Winter on a mountain in Germany will be cold, and walking off road to a reasonable photo location will take you through soft snow, expect to sink into unseen depressions and ditches as well as fall over hidden rocks and bushes. Put up with it! The results can be tremendous - you may even win a Viewbug challenge. Have fun!
