Need some help on this

Greg P · 06-05-2011, 07:52 AM

The West Chester Railroad ran from West Chester to Lansdale today to celebrate Lansdale Day.

I did a chase, and I caught the train at Levite Road in Ashton PA. This is a rare mileage area only used by Amtrak to service the quary.

The sun was horrendous the whole day, and it finally came together for this shot.

The first shot was hit as underexposed. I am working on my laptop which tends to over brighten things. (I've tried to fix it several times)

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...d=937375&key=0

I boosted the exposure and raised the blacks a little.

Then I got Back lite rejection.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...d=937397&key=0

Now I did the shadow test and the shadow was pointing at the train.

How should I approach fixing it? Move the train back in the frame, more or less exposure control? Or should I appeal since it was a rare mileage move.

It's the only decent picture I got from a trip that began at 6am and ended at 3am. I am hoping to have something to show for it.

BrandonT · 06-05-2011, 07:58 AM

It looks like the sun was high and straight down the track, which makes it appear backlit, too. Unfortunately, you can't really fix that.

Peider · 06-05-2011, 02:01 PM

Hi Greg,
I think there is no way to improve, next rejection may be too high sun ...
Wish you more luck another time
Peider

Greg P · 06-05-2011, 02:54 PM

I might appeal it just because passenger trains haven't run on that section of track for years, and may not run again for a long time unless SEPTA approves another fan trip. That's the only reason I feel like it's worth persueing. It's not exactly possible for me to go back and retake it.

It was approx 11am when it was taken.

Greg P · 06-05-2011, 05:42 PM

I tried moving the train and got bad cropping.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...&key=767635020

I think I'm going to try to appeal the original, or should I go to B/W?

Holloran Grade · 06-05-2011, 06:44 PM

The sun is pretty high, but from the shadows I can see your on the wrong side to get any light on the sides of the unit.

Also assuming you could have got the sides lit, you would probably get these nasty shadows from the sun being too high.

For instance:

See the long shadows on the car body below the radiator vents and the review mirror?

Also look at the shadow on the wheels and the front plow,

This is how it ought to look to get accepted.

Unfortunately, I don't think your image is fixable for RP.Net but this is not the only place where people look.

Greg P · 06-05-2011, 07:00 PM

I think in order to to the sides I would have had to stand in the ROW.

That said, I've frequently seen RP use lower standards for shots that are not reproduce able. I am not questioning any of the other images from the hunt because the WCRR does run to Glenn Mills.

It will be years before another passenger rain comes through this part of the line.

DWHonan · 06-05-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg P

It will be years before another passenger rain comes through this part of the line.

Sometimes the weather gods don't cooperate to create the "ideal" photo. Take pride that you were at least about to get out and shoot the excursion, and maybe submit some of your stuff to that New Jersey foamer mag; they've demonstrated over the years that they're willing to overlook utter perfection in a shot to publish something newsworthy.

Greg P · 06-06-2011, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWHonan

Sometimes the weather gods don't cooperate to create the "ideal" photo. Take pride that you were at least about to get out and shoot the excursion, and maybe submit some of your stuff to that New Jersey foamer mag; they've demonstrated over the years that they're willing to overlook utter perfection in a shot to publish something newsworthy.

I think they've declared war on me.

Edit: This is a comment meant about the weather.

JimThias · 06-06-2011, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWHonan

...and maybe submit some of your stuff to that New Jersey foamer mag; they've demonstrated over the years that they're willing to overlook utter perfection in a shot to publish something newsworthy.

Like most publications?

milwman · 06-06-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg P

I think they've declared war on me.

Not likely but may feel like it. So why is that your best shot?

Greg P · 06-06-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milwman

Not likely but may feel like it. So why is that your best shot?

I followed the train from West Chester to Center City and that was the only area where the sun came out.

I went to about 5 different places on the line, all cloudy. Then I found this shot, it was sunny, it was rare mileage.

After the train got to Elwyn, it opened up to 60mph and that was pretty much impossible to follow.

Joe the Photog · 06-06-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg P

That said, I've frequently seen RP use lower standards for shots that are not reproduce able.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg P

It will be years before another passenger rain comes through this part of the line.

Oh, so it is reproducecable? Just maybe not in the time frame would would care for?

Joe the Photog · 06-06-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg P

I think they've declared war on me.

Frankly, that's an asinine statement. They're rejecting these shots for perfectly legitimate reasons. Note that no oe is giving you any kind of advice about pursuing these shots for RP. The sun was working against you. It sucks. We get that. FWIW, the third shot with the train over the road is the best of the batch, but still not RP worthy. Get a Flickr account and put it that. Don't appeal them.

viper · 06-06-2011, 07:16 PM

I think he's saying the weather gods have declared war on him, not the screeners. I could be wrong though, but that's the way I interpreted his comment.

Greg P · 06-07-2011, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper

I think he's saying the weather gods have declared war on him, not the screeners. I could be wrong though, but that's the way I interpreted his comment.

Yes, I meant the weather gods. I've been having terrible luck with the weather lately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe the Photog

Oh, so it is reproducecable? Just maybe not in the time frame would would care for?

It is reproduceable if or when SEPTA approves another WCRR trip through Center City. I can only hope they will do it again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe the Photog

Frankly, that's an asinine statement. They're rejecting these shots for perfectly legitimate reasons. Note that no oe is giving you any kind of advice about pursuing these shots for RP. The sun was working against you. It sucks. We get that. FWIW, the third shot with the train over the road is the best of the batch, but still not RP worthy. Get a Flickr account and put it that. Don't appeal them.

As I said, that was a comment about my luck with the weather, not at the site. I typically only submit to this site because it does push for quality.

I will let it go and hope for better weather if there is a next time.