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Hazy Train
View from the back car of a moving train on a hazy morning.
View from the back car of a moving train on a hazy morning.
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Jul, 2022Views
164
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Awards
Achievement in Originality
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo from the open car of a moving OC&T train.Time
The OC&T usually departs in the morning and takes about 3 hours round trip. I wasn't watching the time, but this was probably 9am-ish.Lighting
I liked the slight haze around the bend that filters the light. Western PA has a lot of streams and trees in he mountains, which frequently combine in spring and fall to create a light fog or mist. The trees exhale at night, which really raises the humidity, and that can create a haze, which if you're lucky, may stick around in the heavily wooded areas where it's cooler due to shade until 7 am or so. If you have a creek neaby, such as Oil Creek, along which the OC&T runs, if it was very foggy the night before, the remnants of that fog might last just a bit longer. On bends in rural county roads -- or in this case, the track-- the sun filtering through the haze of the lifting fog is spectacular. The bend is actually important for that, because it allows the sun to hit at just the right angle though all the trees to achieve a volumetric filter effect. The fog tends to stick around longer in the bends, too, because they are shader, and therefore cooler, than the surrounding forest until the sun finally climbs high enough at the right angle, and then it suddenly gets much warmer, making those molecules that were just hanging out get really excitable. That's actually why the bends on the country roads in this area have the most potholes and the worst winter ice... they are subject to more extreme freeze and thaw than the straight sections. Before the sun hits, it's really gloomy, but once the sun hits, it's a very warm, Zen-like calm wonder that only lasts a few minutes before that bit of mist evaporates that rest of the baby cloud did hours before.Equipment
I took this handheld with a Nikon D300 with an 85mm slightly wide angle Sigma lens.Inspiration
When my son and his cousins were younger, we used take one big family trip on the train each year, because trains are fun and we don'thavea metro out in the country. I really enjoy taking pictures from moving vehicles. It's challenging, because you have to be fast and your camera settings have to be fast, or you miss the scene you want because inevitably, a tree or sign springs up in your way. However, you have access to scenes you would never be able to see on foot.Editing
In post, I selectively sharpened the tracks, because I feel that's where the real star of this photo. I don't mind the rest being a bit out of focus or motion blurred, because it adds to the overall mysteriousness of what's beyond the bend.In my camera bag
I still have my D300 and take it out as a second camera sometimes, but usually I use a Nikon D5600 these days with a dedicated 28mm lens that I swap out for a 70-300mm or a 300-600mm lens if I need something with a longer reach or am after wildlife photography that day. The 28mm goes down to F1.8, which is great because I tend to do a lot of low light photography without a flash, and it also gives nice bokeh. I have a lot of filters and other fun stuff, but I rarely use them. Generally the things I photography, I don't have time to be swapping gear or setting up props and lighting. I have a split second to get the shot, or it's gone forever. If I come back around or come back another day, the conditions won't be the same. The sun doesn't stay still and the fog doesn't last. The light is never the same.Feedback
Get out and explore your world. You never know what you'll find. Just be sure to have a camera handy.
