help with a few night shots

[gbrozny]

This is my first attempt to shoot at night, other then some test shots, however I cannot seem to get the processing right on these, I tried this one a few times, here is my first try:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...d=513828&key=0

so I adjusted the contrast, and then I guess I got that correct, but now it is overexposed:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...&key=906210993

so I messed with it a bit more, and I then got bad motive:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...key=1252027418

I then played with the white balance, and tried it again, getting bad color and over processed:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...&key=258036165


On this one light was provided by a mercury vapor light, so the caboose came out green, I seem to be able get the caboose back to yellow, however the sky does kind of look odd:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...key=1294332681

Any ideas on how to compensate for mercury vapor lights?


I then tried a glint shot, got bad color and bad contrast on my first try:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...&key=287956057

Bad contrast, and over processed on my 2nd try:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...&key=110451237

I'm at a loss on how to get this one right as well. Any help would be appreciated.

[ken45]

First shot is a neat idea getting the two trains in it, but the NS is just a horrific blob of light.

The caboose colors look almost like it was colored with crayons. This is fixable by processing it differently, but I would honestly just go back and take a daylight shot if possible.

Last shot lacks effective light, and you're trying to force making it look better with some extreme processing. The muted light and shadows hurt this shot, and it looks like there may be the smallest amount of blur on the NS unit. Wait a month or two, then go for the same shot, and you should get much better results. Oh, and include the codeline in your composition, that would improve the shot quite a bit also.

[gbrozny]

Originally Posted by ken45

First shot is a neat idea getting the two trains in it, but the NS is just a horrific blob of light.

Do you think it will work without the NS train, or do you think I will end up getting bad motive on it then? I grabbed at least one more shot of the CSX train after the NS one passed.

Originally Posted by ken45

The caboose colors look almost like it was colored with crayons. This is fixable by processing it differently, but I would honestly just go back and take a daylight shot if possible.

The caboose sites at an odd angle, and they added a metal stair case to the other side, so in the morning it ends up with shadows on it, then after the shadows clear, it has high sun, then the steps on the other side are foreground clutter, already tried it.. The problem is the mercury vapor lights, it is almost pure green in the original shot.

Originally Posted by ken45

Last shot lacks effective light, and you're trying to force making it look better with some extreme processing. The muted light and shadows hurt this shot, and it looks like there may be the smallest amount of blur on the NS unit. Wait a month or two, then go for the same shot, and you should get much better results. Oh, and include the codeline in your composition, that would improve the shot quite a bit also.

Ok, I'll let that one go then, I took multiple shots of it while it was parked there, but it was a bit too far back to get anything but a head on angle.

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by gbrozny

Ok, I'll let that one go then, I took multiple shots of it while it was parked there, but it was a bit too far back to get anything but a head on angle.

Why are the trucks and a few other things a screaming color of blue?? It looks like they were painted some hot blue color intentionally. Is that the case?

[gbrozny]

Originally Posted by JimThias

Why are the trucks and a few other things a screaming color of blue?? It looks like they were painted some hot blue color intentionally. Is that the case?

Yes, they are painted blue, that is about the true color of them, they were not really effected by the mercury vapor light.

[TAMR159]

Originally Posted by ken45

First shot is a neat idea getting the two trains in it, but the NS is just a horrific blob of light.

Hence why I don't like shooting trains head-on on overcast days...looks like three supernovas on the front of the unit!

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by gbrozny

Yes, they are painted blue, that is about the true color of them...

The only response I have to that is....WHY?

[gbrozny]

Originally Posted by JimThias

The only response I have to that is....WHY?

For the same reason they put those stairs on the other side..