The Weather!

CG_F45 · 10-05-2007, 06:06 AM

As I sit awake, experiencing writer's block while working on an English paper due tomorow, I had a thought pass through my mind and I was hoping to gather some opinions, to get to know the general attitude of rail photogs.

And so I ask... do you prefer the weather to be wet, ie. snowy, rainy, foggy, etc... or do you prefer the weather to be dry, ie. crisp sunny, bone-dry conditions when you are after a good photograph?

Voice your opinion!

Thanks

Wizzo · 10-05-2007, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CG_F45

As I sit awake, experiencing writer's block while working on an English paper due tomorow, I had a thought pass through my mind and I was hoping to gather some opinions, to get to know the general attitude of rail photogs.

And so I ask... do you prefer the weather to be wet, ie. snowy, rainy, foggy, etc... or do you prefer the weather to be dry, ie. crisp sunny, bone-dry conditions when you are after a good photograph?

Voice your opinion!

Thanks

Each has its own merits. Crisp, sunny, dry conditions are usually the ones where you can count on getting good photos. Snow and sun are usually a spectacular combination as well (but rare in this part of the UK). Grey/rainy is probably my least favourite weather condition, but if its a showers/sun sort of day, you can produce some great photos, but its down to luck catching the light correctly just when a train arrives.

JimThias · 10-05-2007, 01:23 PM

Nothing but blue sky and about 75 degrees for me. There's nothing that pisses me off more as when a cloud moves in front of the sun just before I get "the shot." It's happened more times than I can count recently and I always say to myself that I'm not going to waste my time and gas unless it's perfectly clear. I can never hold myself to that, though.

M.L.Gabert · 10-05-2007, 03:23 PM

I usually like clear blue sky's, but the occasional puffy clouded sky is nice to. I think fog with night shot's is always interesting.

PhotoID: 198075
Photograph © M.L.Gabert

PhotoID: 126713
Photograph © M.L.Gabert

Rich K · 10-05-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimThias

. . . . I'm not going to waste my time and gas unless it's perfectly clear. I can never hold myself to that, though.

Yeah, I know the feeling too well. Like right now, when the sky is 90% filled with clouds and the sun is popping in and out of bright blue "sucker holes" between them.

Even the stupid weather channel says it is only partly cloudy, so I must be seeing more clouds than there really are, right?

I know that it will most likely be a waste of time and gas if I go out to photo trains, and I'll just put myself in a bad mood when the sun gets covered by clouds just as a train approaches, but chances are I will give in to the need for a "fix" and head out anyway!

Slopes09 · 10-05-2007, 03:55 PM

It depends. I have noticed RP accepting a few more cloudy and/or rainy day shots, which makes me a little more willing to go out in those conditions...well, that is, if I weren't stuck down in Champaign with only a bike for transportation. Now I'm pretty much limited to sunny days.

However, I will admit a preference for some clouds in the sky, almost any type, mainly because a lot of the lines around here tend to be either slightly elevated or surrounded by nothing, thus meaning an empty sky looks very boring, especially when it's inevitable to get a decent chunk of sky in the shot.

Crusader · 10-05-2007, 06:56 PM

The only weather in which I'm unlikely to be trackside is a steady downpour.

As others have said, each kind of weather has its own merits when photographing trains. A passing shower, for example, can yield some truly fantastic light, or even a rainbow. Snow looks beautiful on film (or even pixels), whether it's a flurry, a blizzard, or a recent snowfall in sunlight or moonlight. And fog can provide some haunting effects.

The biggest drawback to my locale is the high number of hazy/overcast days, when a damp breeze rises from the refineries, and everything smells like a dead pigeon soaked in gasoline. I still go railfanning on such days, but my chances of capturing an exemplary image are slim.

Ween · 10-05-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

There's nothing that pisses me off more as when a cloud moves in front of the sun just before I get "the shot."

The other day I had the 70-200mm lens on and a small cloud blocked the sun starting at 201mm and went away at 69mm. So I got a nice cloudy shot for the entire focal length of the lens, dang it.

I prefer sunny, haze-free skies. That's the kicker. If it's hazy/hot, it's not a joy. I look forward to winter for two reasons:
1) No haze, which makes everything brisk
2) No high sun, so you actually have more hours to shoot even though the days are shorter

JimThias · 10-05-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich K

Yeah, I know the feeling too well. Like right now, when the sky is 90% filled with clouds and the sun is popping in and out of bright blue "sucker holes" between them.

You mean like this?

As the train approached, I waited patiently for the nose to hit that "spotlight from the heavens," or "sucker hole" as you call 'em.

I absolutely love the dramatic lighting, color and moodiness in that shot, but I've hesitated from submitting it here because if it's rejected, it'll just tick me off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slopes09

However, I will admit a preference for some clouds in the sky, almost any type...

Like this?

PhotoID: 168195
Photograph © Jim Thias

Frederick · 10-06-2007, 01:33 AM

Anything except gray, 100% overcast days.

sd9 · 10-06-2007, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimThias

Nothing but blue sky and about 75 degrees for me. There's nothing that pisses me off more as when a cloud moves in front of the sun just before I get "the shot." It's happened more times than I can count recently and I always say to myself that I'm not going to waste my time and gas unless it's perfectly clear. I can never hold myself to that, though.

Funny you say that because just today as I was waiting for a westbound BNSF (on a sunny blue sky day) and as I saw the lights approaching a big cloud blocked the sun (the only one around) as the GP20 passed by me so did the cloud

trainboysd40 · 10-06-2007, 06:54 AM

Chris, you should well know by now that I love snow for any purpose

Mike B. · 10-06-2007, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sd9

Funny you say that because just today as I was waiting for a westbound BNSF (on a sunny blue sky day) and as I saw the lights approaching a big cloud blocked the sun (the only one around) as the GP20 passed by me so did the cloud

The BNSF doesn't have any GP20s...

sd9 · 10-06-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike B.

The BNSF doesn't have any GP20s...

Well how about a GP38-2

Make that a rejected GP38-2 (it is a GP38-2 right?)
http://www.railpictures.net/viewreje...&key=412031322

Mike B. · 10-06-2007, 08:33 AM

Correct. 2000-2039 units are GP38-2s that were recently rebuilt by NRE.

I wish the BNSF still had some GP20s, I'd chase those things.
I see ex-BN GP20s all the time, but they have CAT engines in them.

Lee Baxter · 10-07-2007, 12:11 AM

I shoot in any weather, but do prefer sunny days and fog, i dont mind rain but like it to be a heavy sun shower, i dont really like 100% overcast but if somthing special comes through, i will chase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimThias
As the train approached, I waited patiently for the nose to hit that "spotlight from the heavens," or "sucker hole" as you call 'em. I absolutely love the dramatic lighting, color and moodiness in that shot, but I've hesitated from submitting it here because if it's rejected, it'll just tick me off.

sounds like this shot Jim

Regards Lee

JRMDC · 10-07-2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimThias

As the train approached, I waited patiently for the nose to hit that "spotlight from the heavens," or "sucker hole" as you call 'em.

It wasn't dramatic, but I have shot a bit of the hole, a wide one, like in this going-away shot, where I missed the timing on getting the distant front end in the light also.

But here is the ultimate spotlight shot

Hellacious noise, but a cool shot nonetheless.

bigbassloyd · 10-07-2007, 03:48 AM

Here in Southern WV, you have to make due with lots of fog, lots of clouds, and lots of haze in the Summer.

I didn't pick a camera up until late winter this year, so I'll reserve judgment on snow. I think I'll like it though

Since I haven't seen much of it this year, I'm a big fan of Sunny haze free days!

Loyd L.

Greg P · 10-07-2007, 09:24 PM

Even though rail pictures doesn't like them, I like to shoot on cloudy days and then adjust the colors in photoshop.

I also like snow and of course, a nice cool breezy day.

M.L.Gabert · 10-08-2007, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg P

Even though rail pictures doesn't like them, I like to shoot on cloudy days and then adjust the colors

Another thing I've found that cloudy days make for interesting B&W photos.

NSFan14 · 10-08-2007, 04:14 AM

I like both snowy and cloudy days. Rainy shots just never turn out to go for me

Greg P · 10-08-2007, 05:36 AM

There's not much backlighting when the clouds cause uniform light distribution. Of course on the flip side, there has to be enough light for the camera to take a picture.