Jumping Into the Fire

[SantaFebuff]

Hello all, I recently was basically gifted with a Nikon D5100. Well, the problem is although I have taken pictures of trains with my Nikon Coolpix S3300 beforehand... I have little to no real experience with DSLR photography. In fact there are many times the camera's auto-mode is smarter than me!

Either way, I have come a long way since I first turned it on. I started out with searching online the basics as to what F-Stop, ISO, Shutter Speed, and more all do and mean. I even looked up tips and ideas and tips on photography. However, I have a few pictures I have snapped that I would like honest opinions on and suggestions. Basically, as the title suggests, I am jumping into the fire of photography. Keep in mind a lot of tips I have recently learned are not reflected in the images. I still welcome all constructive critism.

I have recently submitted a photo of an Amtrak train to RP, I don't expect it to get past screeners, but I do this so that I can get feedback from the screeners. Additionally I wanted to share it and the previously mentioned samples with you guys. Here's an album of pictures I took yesterday. Half of the day was spent messing around with the camera at night. Don't mind the roster shots as those were intended for RRPictures and generally for motive power reference:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/santaf...7644523244110/

I have the 18-55mm Nikkor DX lens.

[SantaFebuff]

Okay, so I decided to upload some of my work to see what screeners could fire back with.

I got these two to work with. Originals are linked below. I'm not surprised they got rejected, but wondering what would correct these images if at all.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...25&key=6499650

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...53&key=3128376

Originals:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/santaf...6/14310289694/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/santaf...n/photostream/

Any help appreciated.

[Mberry]

Originally Posted by SantaFebuff

Okay, so I decided to upload some of my work to see what screeners could fire back with.

I got these two to work with. Originals are linked below. I'm not surprised they got rejected, but wondering what would correct these images if at all.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...25&key=6499650

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...53&key=3128376

Originals:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/santaf...6/14310289694/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/santaf...n/photostream/

Any help appreciated.

Looks like the first needs more contrast. The rear looks kind of fuzzy though, so you might get a poor image quality rejection next.

The second one, the engines need to be WAY more on the left. The train should also not be cut off on the right. Not sure why it got a backlit rejection, that aspect looks fine to me. Normally that is a killer rejection.

[SantaFebuff]

Ah thanks. That BNSF picture is probably a throw away since I could always shove the train to the edge more but I simply don't have anymore train to work with.

I think it'll be another wait until I can get back out to the tracks before I have something a little more up to par since I kept lining my pictures up by the middle dot on the viewfinder, lol.

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by Mberry

Not sure why it got a backlit rejection, that aspect looks fine to me. Normally that is a killer rejection.

Horrible high sun lighting, that's why. Regardless of the crop, composition or whatever, it won't be accepted due to the harsh light.

As for that Amtrak shot, it won't get in due to the foreground clutter. Also, the original looked fine in as far as exposure/processing, but the reject is absolutely fried. It's WAY overexposed. What happened?

[coborn35]

Originally Posted by JimThias

Horrible high sun lighting, that's why. Regardless of the crop, composition or whatever, it won't be accepted due to the harsh light.

As for that Amtrak shot, it won't get in due to the foreground clutter. Also, the original looked fine in as far as exposure/processing, but the reject is absolutely fried. It's WAY overexposed. What happened?

Might be time for a new monitor Jim. Not WAY overexposed by any means.

[SantaFebuff]

Originally Posted by JimThias

Horrible high sun lighting, that's why. Regardless of the crop, composition or whatever, it won't be accepted due to the harsh light.

As for that Amtrak shot, it won't get in due to the foreground clutter. Also, the original looked fine in as far as exposure/processing, but the reject is absolutely fried. It's WAY overexposed. What happened?

I just clicked auto on Photoshop for contrast and color adjustments. My first rejection (I submitted both images only twice, the originals first and edited versions second) was for bad contrast. I agree it's bright especially in contrast to the foreground. I wonder if PS just thought it was compensating for the shadowed foreground? Either way I never had high hopes but was interested to hear back from the screeners.

I need to watch the clock now, I usually don't mind high sun, but forget that's a tad distasteful.

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by coborn35

Might be time for a new monitor Jim. Not WAY overexposed by any means.

Relatively speaking, compared to the same shot on flickr it is. And my monitor is perfectly fine, thank you.

Originally Posted by SantaFebuff

I need to watch the clock now, I usually don't mind high sun, but forget that's a tad distasteful.

Check out suncalc.net. It will help in determining where the best sun angle is at a particular location and time of day.

[bigbassloyd]

Originally Posted by JimThias

Relatively speaking, compared to the same shot on flickr it is. And my monitor is perfectly fine, thank you.

I agree with Jim. There's a big difference between the two shots. The RP rejection is washed out, and while not clipped, it is overexposed.

Loyd L.