Suggestions?

[StL-rail]

I get the underexposed, I can fix that (even though I think the dark enhances the feeling of the shot).

They really do not like my composition lately though...

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...72&key=5957728

[MassArt Images]

Do you have any more on the right side to work with? I'd like to see more of that and less of what is to the left of the crossing guard. Maybe a little less foreground too.

[Noct Foamer]

I personally wouldn't have taken the shot as the light is uneven on the train, and overall there doesn't seem to be a place for the eye to focus on. HOWEVER, this would be a really cool night shot. Place about three 4AA flash on the station and maybe four spread about 50 ft. apart to light the engines. You'd need to be further in to line everything up. The elevators could be dramatically lit with just two or three monolights, and that would be cool too. You got me thinking--Red Wing isn't all THAT far from me.


Kent in SD

[StL-rail]

Yeah, its a neat place, I'll definitely be doing this shot again. I plan on working my way South too, I want to get some river/bluff scenery and shoot the street running in Winona.

[JRMDC]

Channeling my internal Mitch ...

composition/balance often means the subject is too centered. RP hates that! Here, the nose of the engine is just a wee bit right of center. The solution is to pick one side of background to feature, left or right, and crop the other side. Here, as both the curve and the elevator suggest keeping more on the left, crop the right side significantly.

[jnohallman]

How about a vertical crop?



Jon

[Mgoldman]

Originally Posted by JRMDC

Channeling my internal Mitch ...

composition/balance often means the subject is too centered. RP hates that! Here, the nose of the engine is just a wee bit right of center. The solution is to pick one side of background to feature, left or right, and crop the other side. Here, as both the curve and the elevator suggest keeping more on the left, crop the right side significantly.

No need to channel - as you state, RP laid it out:

Originally Posted by RP

Composition (Balance): The subject is awkwardly positioned in the frame. RailPictures.Net prefers that images are composed in keeping with the 'Rule of Thirds' meaning that, in most circumstances, the focal point of the image should not be directly in the center of the frame...

I'd go with more of a panoramic /wide shot - chop off the "extra" on the bottom of the shot. RP has been quite accommodating of such shots as of late. Though - if you want or need to stay at a more generic crop - I'd actually crop bottom and LEFT. I think the station is much more interesting then the traffic cones, pole and siren.

As for underexposed - shadows and highlights often fixes "too dark" /dark images. Another tip /suggestion - if you have a program like Photopshop where you can select color range - or simply magic wand the brightest spot - the headlight, and then invert the selection and brighten accordingly. This way, you won't be overexposing what is actually properly exposed as you brighten the rest of the scene.

/Mitch

[SFO777]

What about 3:4 crop from the top right corner down to the crossing gate.

[RobJor]

Originally Posted by SFO777

What about 3:4 crop from the top right corner down to the crossing gate.

That is what I thought but also there is the exposure problem. Maybe he will not have to brighten it up too much and ruin it. I hope he does try it as I would like to see if it makes it with the shadows, nose shadow etc etc.

It is interesting photo as the line is NW but sun is on nose and river side but I found line does almost 130 going SW here, so that is a handy to know. As far as shadows, for me that is the neat part. Anyone can go there tomorrow and probably catch a train like this in full sun but the creeping shadows add suspense and depth. A standard shot is from the parking lot beyond the station portico. A great town, station, great area.

bob jordan

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by jnohallman

How about a vertical crop?

That looks good, but a 4:5 crop works better, as that look a little tall. Also, he should use the shadow tool slightly on the foreground.

[troy12n]

You needed the train to show up about 20 minutes before you shot it too... that's the white elephant in the room

[bigbassloyd]

Originally Posted by troy12n

You needed the train to show up about 20 minutes before you shot it too... that's the white elephant in the room

I agree.

Loyd L.

[Mgoldman]

Here's my go at it:




/Mitch

[Mgoldman]

Or... standard crop (8"x12" / 1024 pix x 683 pix), if you had (or were able to attain) more sky:



/Mitch

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by Mgoldman

Or... standard crop (8"x12" / 1024 pix x 683 pix), if you had (or were able to attain) more sky:

You mean 3:2, aka 1200 x 800? I agree, that looks good too. I think you need a little more on the bottom though (and less on top).

[Noct Foamer]

I can live with either Mitch or Jim's version. Both gets rid of a lot of distractions.


Kent in SD

[StL-rail]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

[RobJor]

Originally Posted by StL-rail

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

And in it is with only a little tweak. Congrats.

Bob

[StL-rail]

Again, thanks for the help!

PhotoID: 522859 Photograph © John Witthaus