New To Night Photography

[ConrailForever]

Hey everyone,
Since I recently got my new DSLR, I've been experimenting with some night shots. Being new to this aspect of photography, I'm not really sure what makes a good night photo. I tried this shot the other night and got a PEQ on RP, and was wondering if anyone could point out what makes it PEQ so I know better in the future. Any other tips on how to approach night photography are greatly appreciated as well.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreject. ... 3861&key=0

Thanks in advance!

[Mr. Tops]

I'm not sure if railpix are fans of the streaking light shots. I personally find them boring as it's just lights and there's really no telling it's a train. I will show you what I like to do, dig up some shots and share. Although, you did a good job incorporating Berea Tower in the background. Maybe if the light pole and vehicle was not in the foreground it would have a better shot. You seem to have the basics down of night shooting though.

[AARR]

I'm not sure if railpix are fans of the streaking light shots. I personally find them boring as it's just lights and there's really no telling it's a train.

I thought I was the only one who didn't care for streaking light shots. I suppose I can appreicate the hassle-factor the photographer goes through to get them but as Tops says the finished result is a bore.

[Mr. Tops]

Here are a few ideas for you, from my personal experience.

Learn how to use existing lighting and auxiliary lighting, such as flashes, headlights, flash lights, etc.

Headlights:




When I use my hot shoe flash (I do not actually attatch it to the hot shoe, it operates on batteries), I will fire it midway through the exposure to freeze-frame the train. It is a guessing game as to when what you want to freeze is in the viewfinder, but that's half the fun...landing that perfect shot.

Hot shoe flash:




Use stationary railroad-related subjects in the foreground/background to make the shot a little more interesting than just a streaking headlight. You've already got this down!




Or you can choose to shoot a stationary train with other items of interesting in the foreground/background.


These are just some ideas for you being new to night photography. It's an entirely new world at night and best of all, you don't have to worry about the SUN being on the right side of the tracks! or CLOUDS! Clouds can actually make for a pretty cool shot at night:


Most importantly, make it your own! And have fun!

[J T]

I'm not sure if railpix are fans of the streaking light shots.

Bob, there are thousands of time exposure streak shots on RP.

Here's one of mine submitted in the last few months:



RP accepts them, they are just very particular about them.

[MDH]

RP accepts them, they are just very particular about them.

Yes. They do. And that's a nice one of yours. However, I think the reason they're pretty particular is because they are pretty boring unless you have something else about it that makes it interesting or compelling. A good set of signals, beautiful landscape, something that makes it more than just a streak of light (and even then they're pretty picky).

I've played around a little with night signal shots but I doubt I'll ever pursue it like Chase does - it just doesn't interest me that much. I like my night shots with a train that you can actually see - but that requires either a stopped train (staged night photo or otherwise) or a bunch of expensive flash equipment which I don't have the inclination to spend the money on (even a pretty basic setup with a couple Alien Bees will run you $2-3K).

What little I have on rp.net reflects that. Here's some examples...

Staged:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=330705

Not Staged:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=304331

Train-blur:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=241922

What I would encourage is to experiment and try different things with night photography if you have the interest. It's a fairly small subset/specialty of railroad photography and there's plenty of room for development there...

Regards,
Michael

[A No.1]

Im new the night scine also. I had a chance to mess with a blur shot. I like the way this turned out.
I guess I learned something from Tops with the stationary object in the front.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 960&nseq=4

And also these two:

In this shot I like the light effect on the pole, Top Left.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 128&nseq=3


This one I like the lighting on the Fall Protection System.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 257&nseq=1


This was static lighting, Over Kill from what I have since leared.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 422&nseq=0

[mlmphotography]

A boring scene during the day, will generally be a boring scene at night. You have to have something else in the shot besides some streaking lights. My favorite objects to shoot at night are signals, bridges, and tunnels.

Here's a handful of my streakers:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=331664
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=256479
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=310418
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=328706

Loyd L

[B-Town]

My favorite time to take pictures is at night, so I thought I should say something!
Something to watch out for when doing long exposures is different color light sources. In Marion, there are a lot of different colored spot lights around the depot. This messed up my 20 minute exposure because the light reflecting off the autoracks looked orange and the depot looked green!
Sometimes it's good to "think outside the box" when adding foreground clutter to these pictures.
...Or just put a foamer (Geoff Brozny) in front of the train!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 59&nseq=12

P.S.
I could let you borrow my strobes if I ever make it up to your area, but I got the police called on me the first time I used them!!!

[J T]

Sometimes it's good to "think outside the box" when adding foreground clutter to these pictures.
...Or just put a foamer (Geoff Brozny) in front of the train!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 59&nseq=12

Wow, look at all those sensor dust spots. Don't know how the screener missed those. How did YOU miss them when processing??

[mlmphotography]

Sometimes it's good to "think outside the box" when adding foreground clutter to these pictures.
...Or just put a foamer (Geoff Brozny) in front of the train!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 59&nseq=12

Wow, look at all those sensor dust spots. Don't know how the screener missed those. How did YOU miss them when processing??

There's 20 that are plain as day, then there's another 15 or so that's harder to see. I'd fix that one and resubmit it.

Loyd L.

[A No.1]

Sometimes it's good to "think outside the box" when adding foreground clutter to these pictures.
...Or just put a foamer (Geoff Brozny) in front of the train!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 59&nseq=12

Wow, look at all those sensor dust spots. Don't know how the screener missed those. How did YOU miss them when processing??

There's 20 that are plain as day, then there's another 15 or so that's harder to see. I'd fix that one and resubmit it.

Loyd L.

LoL, Your right. Man, That's alot of dust.

[B-Town]

LoL, Your right. Man, That's alot of dust.

It was actually dust trapped on the front of the lens, not the sensor. Over the eight years I used the lens, the UV filter had fused to plastic threads making it impossible to remove and clean.
Coincidentally, this lens just "kicked the bucket" tonight while I was watching trains!
...And if it makes you guys feel better, I re-submitted the photo without dust!!!

[J T]

Looks MUCH better, Brandon. Nice job!

[GLC 392]

I may not take a lot of night shots but when i get a chance i take as many as i can since you never know if they will turn out very well or not and i love taking night shots. This shot i got on RP today took me 4 trains to get it right.

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=352010&nseq=1

Took me 6 shots to get this one right and its still not to my liking 100% though.

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=348807&nseq=28
All i can say is keep practicing as many night shots as you can at many different locations as well.

[ConrailForever]

Thanks for all the input and examples everyone. I'll definitely practice a lot more during the summer, or at least when the winter temperatures subside. It get's to be pretty cold out there, especially at night as I'm sure many of you know

I'd also like to get a remote trigger for night photos. They seem to run pretty cheap, and seem to be a worthy investment.

[Mr. Tops]

Cold temperatures suck the life out of camera betteries too. I have a remote shutter release and it is a good idea. You can put your camera on "bulb" mode and take as long of an exposure as you want. You also dont have to touch the camera to start the exposure so you dont risk bumping/blurring the shot. I got mine a few years ago for $25 (Canon name brand).

[B-Town]

I'd also like to get a remote trigger for night photos. They seem to run pretty cheap, and seem to be a worthy investment.

My remote trigger only cost $8!

[conrailmike]

This is the one I bought, can be used wired or wireless. Bulb mode can be used in wireless also.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 ... eless.html

[mlmphotography]

A wired / wireless release is a must for night photography, if you're going to stray into bulb land.

I have a cheapie wired job, that's done fine for almost 1000 night shots.

Loyd L.