AKA The Night Train 2... I like my first shot better but I went in purposefully trying not to overexpose the tender this time. Since you only get about 3-4 shots before the train crew drives her down the track and prime real estate is not exactly easy to come by for these shoots, I'm OK with how this came out. Just wish I had had more time for composition.
The East Broad Top has cemented itself as my favorite tourist railroad. I'm just hoping they can raise the money to open up more of the line (not likely) and restore the other 3 operable engines to the current regulations (at $400,000 per engine, also not likely). Still, hopefully the days of the quadruple header (they did it once!) are not gone forever.
All but a couple of the stars are real. Editing includes curves, color tones, dodging of stars, cloning (stars, removed power lines) Neat Image, resize, unsharp mask. I'm predicting this beats my last one by 0.1 points (6.1807)
Full Exif:
Nikon D200
2008/10/11 20:01:42.24
RAW (12-bit) Lossless
Image Size: 3904 x 2616
Color
Lens: 17-55mm F/2.8 G
Focal Length: 26mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
15 sec - F/7.1
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Manual
AF Mode: Manual
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode III (sRGB)
Tone Comp: Less Contrast
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Normal
Sharpening: Medium high
Image Comment: c.2008 Benjamin Snyder
Noise Reduction: OFF
Statistics
Place: 114 out of 394 Avg (all users): 5.9571 Avg (commenters): 7.5000 Avg (participants): 5.8515 Avg (non-participants): 6.2308 Views since voting: 810 Views during voting: 240 Votes: 140 Comments: 9 Favorites: 1 (view)
Firstly, this was a photo that impressed be during voting for the FS, and I am pleased to be revisiting it to leave a fuller critique than my earlier comment.
Composition: The diagonal placement of the tracks adds a a sense of motion, despite the (apparently) stationary engine and the low viewpoint adds to the sense of it's imposing size, although at the cost of the inclusion of the foreground grasses - that said, whilst I don't feel they add anything positive, I don't find them as distracting as I did when I first viewed the photos. It is a shame that the modern suburban housing is so visible in the background, although reading your photographer's notes, I suspect this is something you cannot avoid.
Exposure: I viewed your photo the Night Train, and could see why you wanted to try a re-shoot - and I am glad you did, because the exposure here is spot on. All of the train is well exposed, with the only burned out areas in the whitest and brightest part of the steam. The detail revealed in the train is really good; I wonder if you could capitalise on this even further with a little selective burning?
Focus and sharpness: Clearly good focus, with just the right amount of post-processing sharpness. The depth of field has allowed the entire train to remain in focus.
Monotone Conversion: There is a good range of tonal values from true black through to white.
Overall impression: A very well considered and taken photograph, with complimentary post-processing - I am surprised it didn't score above 6, as I thought it one of the stronger entries in this months FS.
Takes me back in time to when I was a child riding steam trains in Australia, then again when I lived in China. One of my favourites from this challenge. I look forward to reading more about the location and how you took the photo.
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