Driving Matilda
Car #369 in the Dallas Trolley service in uptown is known as Matilda. I spent the evening
Car #369 in the Dallas Trolley service in uptown is known as Matilda. I spent the evening
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Jul, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken in Dallas's uptown region on the M-Line trolley on car #369, Matilda. The McKinney Ave Transit Authority that operates the trolley provide free rides operating on a donation basis. Matilda is one of several restored trolleys in service. She was built in 1925 by James Moore, Ltd., serving Melbourne Australia for 60 decades before purchase and restoration by MATA in 1986. She has some of the prettiest woodwork of all of the trolleys in their service.Time
I took this after getting on and riding the M-Line Trolley in Dallas at 9:08 PM. We worked all day on our project until about 5, then we kind of did our own thing at dinner time. I broke off from the group and went to get my Trolley pictures into the night. I think I got back to the hotel about 10, but during that month, I went out several times like this. I love to shoot at night because it provides a different feel to the light than during the day. The colors are often able to pop more in post-production.Lighting
I don't usually shoot with external lighting. I prefer to do my shots with the ambient light, though I will occasionally use flash or other lights for effect.Equipment
This was shot with a Nikon D7100 and 10.5mm DX Fisheye. I used my tripod as a base and took multiple images during this trip. I swapped lenses several times, but the way the fisheye came out, the image was the most captivating.Inspiration
I was in Dallas for work for the better part of November that year, going up from my home each week. By 2015, I was traveling with my camera on a regular basis. We were in Dallas for a project, working downtown near the Trolley route, and it was an easy way to get to some better restaurants. The people that were there for several months before raved about the Trolleys, and how Matilda was their favorite. Matilda does have a certain charm. I wanted to ride her while there were fewer people, and I went for the full circle. Mid-way they turn the lights out and she spins on the turntable to reverse direction. It is a neat ride if you ever get the chance.Editing
The image was shot as a five frame bracket, then processed for HDR. It provides better range and a neater effect than most single-frame shots. Camera HDR doesn't get nearly the quality.In my camera bag
It depends on what I'm shooting. Now I'm carrying a Nikon D850, and my 28-300 mm lens. I usually have my 50mm f/1.4, and my 8-15mm fisheye. Depending what the subject is, I may carry a 200-500mm, or a 105mm macro. I often carry my Lytro with me, more for play, but the 3d effect can be fun. I pretty much always have my tripod with me (sometimes 2). I may have a flash, but rarely use it. I make sure to carry 3 batteries for my main camera, a garbage bag (as a bailout if it rains) and an assortment of other tools, to include a stubby flathead screwdriver to help with l-bracket mounts..Feedback
Be patient. Take lots of images. I have many that are similar, but it's the post-processing that I understand what I have. I try to shoot when there are fewer people, as many don't want their picture taken anyway. Have fun. Keep an ear and eye open for something new to shoot and have fun with it. I've got shots from other Trolleys that don't have the character of this one, with mixed results. This is among my favorites for sure.- Ryan Deis @the.deis on IG/FB
