Friday, April 15, 2011
A Foggy NJT Early Afternoon
After [finally] getting a chance to sleep in and sending Miranda off to class on Wednesday, I decided to take advantage of the fog resulting from Tuesday's rain/thunderstorms. I got to my truck and checked Departure Vision to see when the next train either direction from Long Branch would be. To Bay Head...at...11:30. *Looks at clock* 11:27!!! I took off for the Cedar Ave. crossing which is less than a mile from the visitor parking lot. I got my camera ready and took some practice shots before hearing horns for the Bath Ave. crossing just west of the station. From Cedar Ave. you can usually see all the way to the bend at Bath Ave. but not today. I didn't get a good view of the PL42 leader until he was almost on top of the Brighton Ave. crossing.
Not completely satisfied, I checked Departure Vision again and saw a northbound would be leaving in about 15 minutes. I drove past the station and saw the engine was on the south end and decided to go north and try to find something blooming. I noticed that a northbound and southbound would almost meet at the Little Silver so that would be my target location especially since I had never shot there before. I only had a few minutes to spare before the northbound would catch up to me when I saw a tree blooming at the south end of the platform. I missed the turn for the station parking lot so I was going to go around the block. I pulled up to the Shrewsbury Ave. light when it was red. Sitting...sitting...finally the "NO LEFT TURN" sign lit up. Crap! I knew what this meant, yup, lights start flashing and the gates go down. Like an idiot, I continued to sit in the left turn lane. Finally, I realized no one was behind me so I backed up to the entrance to the lot and swung into one of the 15 minute parking spots (thank you, NJT, those are really convenient!), grabbed my camera and hurried to the end of the platform. They started rolling just as I got past the engine and only had a few seconds to rattle off a few shots.
I started walking up the platform to find an angle that worked for the southbound due in 3 minutes. I had only gone a few yards when the gates went down again. I was going to just watch but I scrambled for a grab shot. I went for a blur because of the fence with focus on the classy New Jersey Transit Corp. bench.
I called it a day after that needing to get home to pack for a one day blowout on the Magnolia Cutoff the following day!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Branching Out
It's felt good to have the camera in my hands almost every day this week after shooting only 9 times since Florida (February 28, 2011). One thing I want to try if this trend continues is getting out of my comfort zone and shooting other things such as landscapes, wildlife, architecture, etc. on nice days instead of being track side all the time. Of course I will still want to cross things off my railroad to-shoot-list but a decent mix would be nice.
We had a fire going last night to burn some old wood (from a willow tree we cut down more than 10 years ago) since we've had to cut down a few trees around the house this spring. While watching, I got the itch to shoot and attempt to catch the flames (and also learn how to in the process). I ran and got my camera and guessed at the settings for the seemingly bright fire, WRONG! Not only was I too dark but my shutter speed was too slow to stop action. When watching it you don't notice how fast fire actually moves. Dark logs = needs more exposure. Bright flame = less exposure. That means flash was going to be needed. I didn't get the external so I just used the on-camera flash for fill light only for the sake of time. This time a much better result.
Even in the 5 minutes I spent shooting the fireplace I actually learned a lot:
- fire is fast a fast shutter speed is needed to freeze (ha!) it
- an external flash is optimal to shoot faster than the 1/250 the pop-up allows
- a controlled light source is important
- sometimes you should just give up after the first shot (the next dozen shots were all rejects)
- pay attention to settings that work
- what our eyes see isn't always what is captured on 'film' (see photo below)
- fire is HOT
I was seeing a flame like the one in the first photo but I had changed my settings and focal length changing how the camera was catching the flame. It became almost transparent and floating rather than full and engulfing the wood.
Lucky for me there is a nearly endless supply of firewood in the backyard to get more practice.
We had a fire going last night to burn some old wood (from a willow tree we cut down more than 10 years ago) since we've had to cut down a few trees around the house this spring. While watching, I got the itch to shoot and attempt to catch the flames (and also learn how to in the process). I ran and got my camera and guessed at the settings for the seemingly bright fire, WRONG! Not only was I too dark but my shutter speed was too slow to stop action. When watching it you don't notice how fast fire actually moves. Dark logs = needs more exposure. Bright flame = less exposure. That means flash was going to be needed. I didn't get the external so I just used the on-camera flash for fill light only for the sake of time. This time a much better result.
 |
| 1/250 @ f/5, ISO 1600 |
- fire is fast a fast shutter speed is needed to freeze (ha!) it
- an external flash is optimal to shoot faster than the 1/250 the pop-up allows
- a controlled light source is important
- sometimes you should just give up after the first shot (the next dozen shots were all rejects)
- pay attention to settings that work
- what our eyes see isn't always what is captured on 'film' (see photo below)
- fire is HOT
 |
| 1/250 @ f/8, ISO 800 |
Lucky for me there is a nearly endless supply of firewood in the backyard to get more practice.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Route 615/522 Crossing Replacement
After checking Browns Yard and seeing that both usual geeps (NS 5277 and CSXT 4431) were missing, Sean and I decided to follow the line down to Jamesburg and then over to Freehold to see if we could intercept SA31 heading down the Freehold Industrial Track (FIT). As we got to the junction in Jamesburg, I noticed a Conrail truck sitting on the Amboy Sec. as we turned off of Mott Ave. When we got to the stop sign at Route 615, it was pretty clear why. ROAD CLOSED. They had the crossing across the Rte 522/Rte 615 intersection closed to put in new concrete crossing panels and new rail.
They have already replaced the rail leading up to the crossing to the east and put in the new crossing panels and rail up to the west edge of it. As I shot from the end road on the north leg of the wye, a worker informed me that the interesting work would be done tomorrow when they rip out the switch and rest of the north leg and replace it with new rail seen below.
With that information and my obsession with track work, I'll be taking a trip back in the morning to watch the new switch and rail go into place. When I finally get around to doing a photo guide or gallery on the Conrail lines around the area, I can do an entire segment on the track work done on all the lines in the past three years or at least before and after photos of all the crossings and new tie work.
Here are the rest of the photos I took of the crossing/track work. More to come tomorrow hopefully.
They have already replaced the rail leading up to the crossing to the east and put in the new crossing panels and rail up to the west edge of it. As I shot from the end road on the north leg of the wye, a worker informed me that the interesting work would be done tomorrow when they rip out the switch and rest of the north leg and replace it with new rail seen below.
With that information and my obsession with track work, I'll be taking a trip back in the morning to watch the new switch and rail go into place. When I finally get around to doing a photo guide or gallery on the Conrail lines around the area, I can do an entire segment on the track work done on all the lines in the past three years or at least before and after photos of all the crossings and new tie work.
Here are the rest of the photos I took of the crossing/track work. More to come tomorrow hopefully.
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Neat (Read: Nerdy) Observation
Amidst all the hoopla of BNSF 8647 being 'in town' this week, I came across something I find very interesting. I've taken over 400,000 total photos since going digital in 2004 with about 250-300K being of railroad subjects. Because of this, coincidences are bound to happen such as shooting the same locomotive in different places or shooting locomotives with the same number such as BRW 752 and WW 752 (both GP9s) which is exactly what I realized yesterday while going through the shots of 69Qs power. The consist for the trip west (and was for the trip east) would be NS 9581, BNSF 8239 and BNSF 9647. Hmm, NS 9581, just so happens to share the number of my favorite engine, BDRV 9581. I kept thinking about how cool that is and then I thought about it some more. While they were wying the power, I shot NS 9581 on the PRS and CCS diamond. When BDRV 9581 was on the Winchester & Western I had shot that on a diamond as well in Vineland. So, that means I have a shot of two different 9581s going across different diamonds both in New Jersey.
It may not be the most fascinating thing in the world but its just another thing that makes the hobby fun. =)
It may not be the most fascinating thing in the world but its just another thing that makes the hobby fun. =)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
One of a Kind
No, seriously, I promise there will be more posts soon!
I thought of a good one the Tuesday morning but by the time I had gotten photos that went along with my idea, it was on to the next project. That next project just happened to be the arrival of BNSF 9647 in New Jersey on NS 68Q. For those who have no idea what I am taking about. BNSF 9647 is a locomotive in a one-of-a-kind paint scheme. "The unit was decorated in this fashion to celebrate the approval of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe merger by the Interstate Commerce Commission on the 20 July 1995." (from: http://www.qstation.org/9647/) Sean and I caught it trailing in the 3rd spot on its way into North Jersey on Tuesday evening just after the sun had set in Manville, NJ. We both went back to Sewaren, NJ where the ethanol is unloaded at Motiva Enterprises but saw no movement.
Earlier this afternoon, I got a text from Sean (thank you, thank you, thank you!!!) with a heads up that a Conrail crew was pulling the empties out of Motiva. I knew I had at least an hour or two to get up to Port Reading (PR) to watch the run around. Lucky for us here in New Jersey, foreign locomotives cannot lead west of Harrisburg so to save headaches later, the power has to be wyed for the return trip. This is the ONLY time in 68Q/69Qs journey that the trailing locomotives are open or unfrontcoupled. After a quick half-lunch I took off around 2PM for PR and Carteret. As I got to PR, OI16 was just pulling down to PD to work the yard along side the rear (actually front) of an ethanol and I saw a headlight behind the last car which meant the power was already uncoupled. I grabbed a few shots of OI16 and took off for Carteret. Upon arrival I saw two CSX engines under the ramps. I walked to the tracks and looked south...nothing...looked north...and :-D. The unobstructed nose of BNSF 9647 sitting just south of the drawbridge at RH. I ran back to the truck to get my camera knowing the sun would only give me a few seconds of opportunity when it did appear. By the time I got back no more than 30 seconds later, the conductor was already on the front and they were starting south. Electrical line poles line the right of way here limiting the openings to shoot it. Just as they got close to the edge of the opening before ducking under the Turnpike ramps...SUN!!! Too good to be true.
The 'chase' was on as they slowly made their way down the Chemical Coast Secondary towards Port Reading. They made it end of their train and put a EOTD on and waited until OI16 was out of the way. I made sure I got to the crossing north of PD before they did. The sun was in and out as the conductor lined the switches but when it needed to be out it was...again!
While they took the east leg of the wye, I got back into the truck and headed to the stairway that leads up to the CR 604 bridges over the Port Reading Secondary (PRS) entrance to the yard and Chemical Coast Secondary (CCS). Having been removed from the bridge in a cop car once before, I prepared myself this time by bringing along a Railpace with two of my photos in it. I got into position looking down the CCS at PD (the diamond crossing of the PRS and CCS) and crossed my fingers that they would get permission across quickly. They did and the welcome sound of NS 9581's bell could be heard as they started west. The sun was muted this time but I didn't even care at this point. The only two trains (light power) that I have shot from that location have been a KCS Retro Belle and the one-of-a-kind BNSF 9647. Crazy.
I made it back down to the crossing to get a few last shots of the would-be NS leader and headed home. There was no way I could top what I just shot the passed two hours!
I thought of a good one the Tuesday morning but by the time I had gotten photos that went along with my idea, it was on to the next project. That next project just happened to be the arrival of BNSF 9647 in New Jersey on NS 68Q. For those who have no idea what I am taking about. BNSF 9647 is a locomotive in a one-of-a-kind paint scheme. "The unit was decorated in this fashion to celebrate the approval of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe merger by the Interstate Commerce Commission on the 20 July 1995." (from: http://www.qstation.org/9647/) Sean and I caught it trailing in the 3rd spot on its way into North Jersey on Tuesday evening just after the sun had set in Manville, NJ. We both went back to Sewaren, NJ where the ethanol is unloaded at Motiva Enterprises but saw no movement.
Earlier this afternoon, I got a text from Sean (thank you, thank you, thank you!!!) with a heads up that a Conrail crew was pulling the empties out of Motiva. I knew I had at least an hour or two to get up to Port Reading (PR) to watch the run around. Lucky for us here in New Jersey, foreign locomotives cannot lead west of Harrisburg so to save headaches later, the power has to be wyed for the return trip. This is the ONLY time in 68Q/69Qs journey that the trailing locomotives are open or unfrontcoupled. After a quick half-lunch I took off around 2PM for PR and Carteret. As I got to PR, OI16 was just pulling down to PD to work the yard along side the rear (actually front) of an ethanol and I saw a headlight behind the last car which meant the power was already uncoupled. I grabbed a few shots of OI16 and took off for Carteret. Upon arrival I saw two CSX engines under the ramps. I walked to the tracks and looked south...nothing...looked north...and :-D. The unobstructed nose of BNSF 9647 sitting just south of the drawbridge at RH. I ran back to the truck to get my camera knowing the sun would only give me a few seconds of opportunity when it did appear. By the time I got back no more than 30 seconds later, the conductor was already on the front and they were starting south. Electrical line poles line the right of way here limiting the openings to shoot it. Just as they got close to the edge of the opening before ducking under the Turnpike ramps...SUN!!! Too good to be true.
The 'chase' was on as they slowly made their way down the Chemical Coast Secondary towards Port Reading. They made it end of their train and put a EOTD on and waited until OI16 was out of the way. I made sure I got to the crossing north of PD before they did. The sun was in and out as the conductor lined the switches but when it needed to be out it was...again!
While they took the east leg of the wye, I got back into the truck and headed to the stairway that leads up to the CR 604 bridges over the Port Reading Secondary (PRS) entrance to the yard and Chemical Coast Secondary (CCS). Having been removed from the bridge in a cop car once before, I prepared myself this time by bringing along a Railpace with two of my photos in it. I got into position looking down the CCS at PD (the diamond crossing of the PRS and CCS) and crossed my fingers that they would get permission across quickly. They did and the welcome sound of NS 9581's bell could be heard as they started west. The sun was muted this time but I didn't even care at this point. The only two trains (light power) that I have shot from that location have been a KCS Retro Belle and the one-of-a-kind BNSF 9647. Crazy.
I made it back down to the crossing to get a few last shots of the would-be NS leader and headed home. There was no way I could top what I just shot the passed two hours!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Is this thing on? Test, test. Check 1, 2...
Oh geez. My last post was 11/26/10 and it is now 1/25/11. Almost two months since I've shared any wisdom (HA!) or photos but the good news is I am working on changing that. I've been saying that for the past few months...okay...since 2007 but I really mean it this time. As I type, I am backing everything up on DVDs since I only have one backup EHD (external hard drive) for the moment. After I get to the point where they are backed up on two EHDs, which is mid-2010, I will import everything new into Lightroom and begin organizing once again.
In the meantime, here is some info about last year:
2010 - Year in Review on RailPictures:
http://forums.railpictures.net/showthread.php?t=13425
For those who don't care about that, this is what I have posted at the end of that thread:
I took approximately 35,546 photos in 365 days. That averages out to taking 97 pictures a day or 4 pictures every hour on every single day of the year. I really like the next set of numbers though. I took pictures 160 (actually its like 167 including work) out of 365 days in 2010. That's 43.8% of the year. Man is getting a full-time job going to suck when I actually get one. I don't have many 'accomplishments' from 2010 in terms of photography. I was in Railpace a few times (only one back cover), I got second runner-up in Railfan & Railroad's center spread contest, and I got the cover of McMillan Publications' 2011 NS calendar. Not terrible but I need to get myself a little more publicity in 2011.
How do I plan on doing that? Well, here's a little wish list for myself:
In the meantime, here is some info about last year:
2010 - Year in Review on RailPictures:
http://forums.railpictures.net/showthread.php?t=13425
For those who don't care about that, this is what I have posted at the end of that thread:
"I had 71 total photos (all years) uploaded in 2010.I lost interest in uploading to RP for a variety of reasons in 2010. The main reason being lack of time as you can tell by my oh-so-timely posts here. My upload numbers went from 215 in 2009 down to 71. Ouch. That got me just one Screener's Choice and one People's Choice award for the entire year. Of course, looking at the next numbers you would think that 71 could be a little higher.
I had 64 photos taken in 2010 uploaded in 2010.
I took 35,546 photos in 2010 of all subjects including work.
I was on vacation and/or track-side approximately 160 out of 365 days."
I took approximately 35,546 photos in 365 days. That averages out to taking 97 pictures a day or 4 pictures every hour on every single day of the year. I really like the next set of numbers though. I took pictures 160 (actually its like 167 including work) out of 365 days in 2010. That's 43.8% of the year. Man is getting a full-time job going to suck when I actually get one. I don't have many 'accomplishments' from 2010 in terms of photography. I was in Railpace a few times (only one back cover), I got second runner-up in Railfan & Railroad's center spread contest, and I got the cover of McMillan Publications' 2011 NS calendar. Not terrible but I need to get myself a little more publicity in 2011.
How do I plan on doing that? Well, here's a little wish list for myself:
- get my AB2Photography galleries filled
- start and finish my slideshow for "Spring TRAINing" (April 2nd in Scranton, PA)
- work on an article about the Conrail lines in Central Jersey
- work on other projects such as books and prints
- attempt to get a table at some train shows later this year to sell the items above
Friday, November 26, 2010
Still behind but here's an appetizer from the VMT
Well, I gave fair warning back in September when I said, "if I can get in the habit!" of posting. Unfortunately, time, motivation, work and life has gotten me way behind on my normal trip reports. I've barely looked at the photos I've taken since the Florida trip, the last entry I attempted on my phone, which was a complete failure. Just to cover what I haven't posted:
- Florida trip
- a HUGE spider found outside my garage
- Lerro Productions night photo session at the Virginia Museum of Transportation (included in this entry)
- two GSE rallies for the Anti-Bullying Bill
- day and a half trip to the Middle Division and Trenton Line
I'm not making any promises that I will get to these anytime soon but I really hope so or at least put up links to the photos by the end of the year.
For the second year in a row, Lerro Productions and the Virginia Museum of Transportation teamed up to put on a night photo session for two nights in early November featuring Norfolk & Western's J-Class 4-8-4 #611 and A-Class 2-6-6-4 #1218 as well as numerous actors. The four-hour long sessions include a handful of various scenes both including and excluding actors portraying railroad crew and the steam locomotives. Smoke effects are used to create the illusion that the locomotives are under steam and operable.
Here are just a few I've posted so far:
http://smugmug.ab2photography.com/Railroads/Steam/VMT/14819758_7eGt4#1105609660_xTnty
- Florida trip
- a HUGE spider found outside my garage
- Lerro Productions night photo session at the Virginia Museum of Transportation (included in this entry)
- two GSE rallies for the Anti-Bullying Bill
- day and a half trip to the Middle Division and Trenton Line
I'm not making any promises that I will get to these anytime soon but I really hope so or at least put up links to the photos by the end of the year.
For the second year in a row, Lerro Productions and the Virginia Museum of Transportation teamed up to put on a night photo session for two nights in early November featuring Norfolk & Western's J-Class 4-8-4 #611 and A-Class 2-6-6-4 #1218 as well as numerous actors. The four-hour long sessions include a handful of various scenes both including and excluding actors portraying railroad crew and the steam locomotives. Smoke effects are used to create the illusion that the locomotives are under steam and operable.
Here are just a few I've posted so far:
http://smugmug.ab2photography.com/Railroads/Steam/VMT/14819758_7eGt4#1105609660_xTnty
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