Ok, we'll set the scene: you're trackside, with wonderful morning or evening light, few clouds in the sky to spoil it and every train in the area is going against the light. What do you do? Shoot the glint shot! Aim your camera for the train, and attempt to shoot when the glint--the reflection of the sun--is at its greatest. Leaves a strongly-shadowed composition and brilliant highlights. Here's an example of what I mean. Milepost 14.X, BNSF Glasgow Sub, Des Lacs, ND at sunset, and of course, 2 eastbounds plus Amtrak bearing down on my position. Here, a Seattle or Portland to Chicago Z-train is barreling eastbound at all of track speed out of a strong sunset.
Very nice, ya' make do with what ya' got to work with!! A nice oil train would be cool too, especially the newer, shiny ones!
This is far from my own thread--I love to see what ya'll come up with trackside when trains are inevitably going the wrong way for the light you have... Moments behind that above train was this second Zipper, really carrying the mail:
