Gallery and Discussion: Shadows

[JRMDC]

In another thread Troy objects to a shot that has shadows on the trailing cars but has lit power. How do you feel about those shots, and about shadows in general?

I have two shots, same location, where the power is completely or generally lit and shadows appear on the side of the train. As it happens, in both cases the power was pushing. I won't claim these as my better work, just simple wedgies, accepted a long time ago. I like the one in particular because one can see the train approaching its signal. Or, maybe only I can see it, having the memory of the situation, as the signals are hardly prominent:

PhotoID: 168995 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

PhotoID: 168983 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

I wonder if they would be accepted today.

The third shot has irregular nose shadows, which reflect the nature of a good bit of the CSX Metropolitan sub.

PhotoID: 176685 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

It was accepted only upon appeal then, if I remember correctly, and I wonder how it would do now.

Personally I am fine with the lighting in these shots, again, not my better work, and I think it is especially appropriate for the CSX nose shot. I do understand that RP and each of you may have differing tastes for shadows.

What I am really hoping for is that some of you post those shadow shots I love, those where the power is lit, the rest of the train is in shadow, and so the power really stands out in the frame. My shots are hardly good exemplars around which to build a discussion.

[coborn35]

PhotoID: 296049 Photograph © Max Medlin

PhotoID: 309328 Photograph © Max Medlin

My personal favorite:

PhotoID: 318052 Photograph © Max Medlin

[asis80]

The cars aren't even part of the train! haha

Classic Rook shot, power pops even with all the nice elements surrounding the scene

PhotoID: 326428 Photograph © Ben Sutton

One of the reasons why I went to Harpers Ferry, to catch the rock train. Barely made it in time, shadows everywhere but the lead is in great light, really extenuates the power

PhotoID: 322604 Photograph © Ben Sutton

The whole shot is a shadow, which can work in your advantage.

PhotoID: 319214 Photograph © Ben Sutton

Probably my most favorite "shadow" shot

PhotoID: 318911 Photograph © Ben Sutton

Shadows, either big (3/4 or the whole scene) or small (on the nose, side, etc) aren't necessarily a bad thing. Working around them can be a pain, or can be easy. Make the most of the annoyance and it shouldn't be a problem.

Ben

[mark woody]

I think i only have three that fit the thread,

this shot the whole train is in shadow but the clean paint stands out.

PhotoID: 328678 Photograph © mark woody

in this shot train hits a break in the hills at around the same time as the sun but the train remains in shadow.

PhotoID: 327455 Photograph © mark woody

in this shot the low angle at sunrise causes the train behind the locos to be in shadow.

PhotoID: 323989 Photograph © mark woody

[troy12n]

Most of the pictures posted so far are not wedgies like the one I commented on

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by troy12n

Most of the pictures posted so far are not wedgies like the one I commented on

True enough. And I gave you guff in that thread not for your opinion but for your timing in expressing it. And this thread isn't about that thread or your opinion expressed there anyway, just inspired by them.

But how do you justify a) accepting a looser standard on nose light such as a half-lit nose (what I infer from your posts in the yet other thread) and at the same time b) not accepting some shadow on the sides of cars trailing well-lit power?

BTW, if I have your position on a) correct, I agree with you there!

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by mark woody

That's what I am thinking of! Nice.

[Chris Z]

I've got some with bad shadows.

PhotoID: 307045 Photograph © Chris Zygmunt

PhotoID: 319362 Photograph © Chris Zygmunt

PhotoID: 299160 Photograph © Chris Zygmunt

PhotoID: 293133 Photograph © Chris Zygmunt

PhotoID: 286928 Photograph © Chris Zygmunt

Chris Z

[troy12n]

Originally Posted by JRMDC

But how do you justify a) accepting a looser standard on nose light such as a half-lit nose (what I infer from your posts in the yet other thread) and at the same time b) not accepting some shadow on the sides of cars trailing well-lit power?

There is no right answer there, I find an entirely lit TRAIN, with half nose light, or partially lit NOSE to be more aesthetically pleasing.

Using that other picture as an example, for all intents and purposes, the entire train was in the shadows except the locomotive, in some scenarios or scenes, that would be fine, sometimes spectacular. But in that one, (IMHO) it was poor.

And lets get real, it wasnt SOME shadows on the cars, 90% of the viewable cars were in the shadow. And if you want to split hairs, the nose wasnt 100% lit, some shadows on it too.

You got me on the timing of my comment. In posts like this, I dont take the time to read all the comments most of the time because they are mostly irrelevant to what I am going to say.

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by troy12n

There is no right answer there

True dat ...

[troy12n]

Originally Posted by Chris Z

I've got some with bad shadows.

Bad example, I think you were lucky to get that on

[JimThias]

Shadows on the nose...

PhotoID: 272021 Photograph © Jim Thias

[MDH]

Shadows aren't always bad and certainly not always a killer:

PhotoID: 333714 Photograph © Michael Harding

Regards,
Michael

[Northern Limits]

I think shadows can help highlight the subject and add to the depth.
Here are my shadow shots. Or was that shots with shadows?
Only The Shadow knows ....

A Troy peeve here

PhotoID: 319916 Photograph © Jim Dorst

Even mentioned shadows here

PhotoID: 297325 Photograph © Jim Dorst

Big shadow

PhotoID: 295766 Photograph © Jim Dorst

Shadows for effect. One of my favourites.

PhotoID: 282129 Photograph © Jim Dorst

Shadows to separate the new from the old.

PhotoID: 222913 Photograph © Jim Dorst

[DWHonan]

Hmm... Giant foreground shadows aren't always problems.

PhotoID: 332683 Photograph © David Honan

PhotoID: 298702 Photograph © David Honan

What Janusz is looking for:

PhotoID: 272397 Photograph © David Honan

PhotoID: 296505 Photograph © David Honan

Shadows can really help set the scene by clearly indicating the time of day:

PhotoID: 331013 Photograph © David Honan

PhotoID: 327944 Photograph © David Honan

Sometimes the entire train is in shadow, but the shot still works:

PhotoID: 300536 Photograph © David Honan

PhotoID: 269323 Photograph © David Honan

[milwman]

PhotoID: 327725 Photograph © Scott Marsh

Here is my bad light photo. Sun is a bit high but over all I liked it as it is. It's the overall scene that is the shot not just the power.
Others will think its bad and don't belong on here and some I know will think its fine and thats ok. The line runs NW at this point and all most never has good light on the front. Trash it if you like GRIN 8*} I have 1 shadowed shot on RP so this will have to do as I never post them, Soon to be deleted.

[FAdams]

PhotoID: 295920 Photograph © Franklin Adams

all shadow, little bit of light

PhotoID: 309587 Photograph © Franklin Adams

PhotoID: 250556 Photograph © B.F. Adams

a photograph of a shadow

[troy12n]

Alot of the pictures posted are great, but they are not wedgies for the most part.

[Joe the Photog]

A lot of the shots being posted aren't really shadows, but rather "intereting" lighting. If I read what Janusz wrote that way he intended, he means shadows falling onto the train whereas some guys are lining shadows falling off the train.

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by Joe the Photog

A lot of the shots being posted aren't really shadows, but rather "intereting" lighting. If I read what Janusz wrote that way he intended, he means shadows falling onto the train whereas some guys are lining shadows falling off the train.

Correct, but no thread on any internet forum goes in the direction originally intended.

[Joe the Photog]

Not falling onto the train, but I wondered if there was too much shadow in the shot.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

Shadow of cut of cars on second unit back.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

Probably helps that the entire train is in shadow, not to mention the power.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

Would not be accepted now

PhotoID: Photograph ©

PhotoID: Photograph ©

[coborn35]

I really enjoy Tim Stevens work with the shadows. With the sweet light he gets, it really pops the power and looks great.

PhotoID: 333493 Photograph © Tim Stevens

PhotoID: 329580 Photograph © Tim Stevens

PhotoID: 298403 Photograph © Tim Stevens

[WisconsinCentral]

Some of mine.

PhotoID: 284144 Photograph © Alec Holmes

PhotoID: 196071 Photograph © Alec Holmes

PhotoID: 194298 Photograph © Alec Holmes

[Christopher Muller]

I love shadows as long as they are clear of the subject - train. I don't mind shadows on cars or trailing locomotives, but in my opinion the lead unit needs to be well lit with no shadows.

This shot below is one of my most recent favorites with shadows:


This shot is probably my all-time favorite with cloud shadows and shadows from the mountain I'm standing on and the perfect sucker hole opening for the power:

PhotoID: 255400 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

[cassfan3]

This was just rejected for shadows yesterday...but apparently it was accepted today on appeal. No fancy use of shadows, just them laying across the loco

PhotoID: 333739 Photograph © Nick McLean