Took some more photos on Monday, but I didn't like the way they came out... but I did get some video that I am happy with:tb-biggrin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyB7dCdUkQM
Thanks Jerry, here's a photo that I ran across... the original was color and slightly blurred. I was toying with it, took the color out, added an orange filter and sharpened it a little. Kinda looks like a product of an old box camera:tb-err:
Nice runby! Just out of curiosity, how reliable are mid-train helper ops on that layout? Seems pretty gutsy to run 50+ car trains with them, but if you have good speed matching and clean track, I guess it works.
It works good for me. My record has been 78 cars with a mid-train and a pusher. All of the cars I run at the club have body mounted couplers, low profile wheels and extra weight. I usually run the two consists independently so I can fine-tune the draft taken up by the helper.
Yea, the exhaust looks fantastic! I'm going to have to learn how to do that....really makes for a realistic photo!
Thanks guys:tb-biggrin: Jerry, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 4. For the exhaust, I use the brush tool, turn on the "airbrush" function, drop the opacity down to 5-10%... take 2-3 shades of gray and add a little at a time until it looks somewhat "right." I also use the color correction and sharpening tools.
Here's one more. I liked the angle, but a florescent light was real prominent in the photo... Sneaky placement of a lens flare and some filters hides it pretty well. Here is a re-size of the original for comparison...
Here's one from the last set, spent quite a while shopping it:tb-confused: Well, got a Nikon D5000 in the mail today... Still getting used to it. The 11 point auto focus is great for 3/4 roster shots:tb-biggrin:
The "boss" said "Don't even think about running off to the club to take pictures..." So... I cleaned about six feet of track on the remnants of my old home layout:tb-wink: Based on the Southern Pacific's Cascade Subdivision. Still toying with the new camera, so the originals were underexposed(looked good on the LCD display...) and had to make quite a few adjustments...
Looks pretty good to be that dormant. I came across Mark Lestico's Union Pacific Cascade Subdivision not to long ago.
My idea on this is don't mess with a good thing. These are wonderful pictures! :thumbs_up: Don't rush to the additional lights unless you want something different. It will be hard to beat the lighting and composition on these pictures. Of course, get an expert opinion; I just point and shoot. I do always use this same technique of open shutter and room lighting. I'm sure it can be improved, but it looks just great to me as it is.
Thanks for the continued interest. Great link, I ran across it some time ago and have been following Mark's progress. Flash, there are a lot of great angles to shoot on the club layout that I have avoided because they would require additional or replacement light sources due to the positioning of the room lights. I have manipulated the light quite a bit by turning off any unneeded fixtures, but in some cases the shadows are too deep, etc... Even just a quick swipe with a lamp during the exposure would help the contrast issues. I've been toying with low light, small aperture, long exposure conditions. The F unit "action" shots from a few posts ago were lit with a 24" florescent tube approximately three feet from the subject and 90 degrees from the camera. A quick swipe from a 75 watt "reveal" incandescent bulb during the exposure adds some highlights. The locomotive's headlight and MARS light were turned on briefly as well. A few more I shot last night.
A quick post... I like the bridge shot with the SD9 and I am surprised at how well you can see the crew... well at least the hogger, since the fireman has his face buried in the daily news... Working frog eyes... I wish... A little red "paint" in photoshop goes a long way:tb-wink: Yup, Salt Creek on a 12" radius curve... part of my HO to N transition time frame... Fifth crossing of the Tehachapi Creek. Lit with one florescent light located behind and to the left of the photo, 12.3mp, f36, 30 second exposure and ISO rating of 100. A little shopping to compensate for the "cool white" tone of the light and to dull out some of the "model railroad" colors.
