The Hunter
At the cusp of dusk
I hear the train coming a few miles away
Steel wheels turning pushing the steel behemoth Eastward as I start to run to the site....
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At the cusp of dusk
I hear the train coming a few miles away
Steel wheels turning pushing the steel behemoth Eastward as I start to run to the site. Extending my tripods legs realizing I miscalculated how fast the train would come. Would I make it in time to take the shot as the sun set with the train passing an abandoned signal station? It must be now or another day. Off the path and into the uphill shrubs, past the gravel and into the clearing. The tripods legs, like a dance partner, takes its stance and awaits its crown. Focus, compose, focus, compose, focus. Right eye into the viewfinder, left eye squinting then wide open as it sees the headlights coming fast. I am the hunter watching his prey enter the trap and I take the shot. It sees me and it screams, it screams so loud blaring its horn and within seconds it is gone. The fading sounds of tracks being crossed so far away. Thump, thump. Thump, thump like the beat of my heart. The sun fading in gold.
Read less
I hear the train coming a few miles away
Steel wheels turning pushing the steel behemoth Eastward as I start to run to the site. Extending my tripods legs realizing I miscalculated how fast the train would come. Would I make it in time to take the shot as the sun set with the train passing an abandoned signal station? It must be now or another day. Off the path and into the uphill shrubs, past the gravel and into the clearing. The tripods legs, like a dance partner, takes its stance and awaits its crown. Focus, compose, focus, compose, focus. Right eye into the viewfinder, left eye squinting then wide open as it sees the headlights coming fast. I am the hunter watching his prey enter the trap and I take the shot. It sees me and it screams, it screams so loud blaring its horn and within seconds it is gone. The fading sounds of tracks being crossed so far away. Thump, thump. Thump, thump like the beat of my heart. The sun fading in gold.
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Apr, 2018Views
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ellenpocock
December 11, 2018
This is stunning, I love the steel grey of the moving train juxtaposed with the stillness of the abandoned building bought to life with the colours of the street art; all the while showing the relationship of man and his structures to nature presented with the skyline and trees in the background. Love this piece!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I shot this alongside an abandoned switch signal house and the train tracks that bring commuters from Manhattan to Long Island everyday. While I was jogging one day I spotted the small building structure so I went off the running path and explored a bit more.Time
It was late November, all of the trees were bare but it wasn't freezing yet. Dusk came early and I was hoping for an epic sunset but instead I got an interesting cloud composition.Lighting
It was the golden hour of the day but the gold escaped me so I decided to accentuate the clouds, the blue sky and the train wrapped in stainless steel.Equipment
As light was quickly fading I ran to this site with my Nikon D300, Nikon 18-200 mm lens ( i use it for almost everything)and a Vivitar tripod but with a heavy duty Manfrotto ball head.Inspiration
I've been a daily train commuter for over 20 years. I have a love affair with trains and how the tracks dissect the built environment and nature. As an architect by profession, I appreciate these contrasts.Editing
In post processing I spent time cropping the photo to get the best composition and then brightening the area of the house in Lightroom.In my camera bag
My handy dandy Nikon D300, which is heavy!, the Nikon 18-200 lens and a trio of filters.Feedback
Planning is essential. Give yourself enough time to setup, take some shots to measure lighting and then feel the space for creating the mood. The trains shoot by at over 70 mph so you only have seconds to capture the image. Have fun with it
