I wanna get into taking some good shots on out club layout, of trains... just wondering if anyone has any good tricks. what lens, film, lighting tips etc.... Im using a SLR camera so I can change things... thanks, ------------------ RR: K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer. Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that runs, SP, NS, and some CSX.. Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming! Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today.
I don't always follow what I tell others or my pictures on the M.A.T. would be much better. I use an slr. Lighting is most important. Get as many lamps lighting the scene as possible. Use flash as a fill in. Try shots with and without the flash. Mostly I use a 200 film. To get as much depth of the scene in focus, use the smallest aperture possible. This may mean a slow speed so use a tripod to keep the camera steady. At times I have used a long lens to get the shot I want but mostly use the lens that came with the camera. I hope this is of some help. ------------------ Robin Maberly and Tayside
Definately a tripod, this should be a must. The slow speed films are good for quality, as far as the grain is concerned. However, the higher speed films are also useful to allow a higher aperture (f stop). You want to use the highest setting you can in order to get a good depth of field (ie, not have stuff in back all blurry). One thing to consider: go to a garden or home store and get some of the portable light fixtures. These look like a silver cone, have a standard light bulb socket and a spring clamp so they can be attached almost anywhere. Also try for indirect (reflected) light so that you don't end up with annoyingly obvious shadows. And no, I rarely follow my own advice, either. ------------------ Jenks - the REAL Big Blue
As Robin and Jenks have suggested - lighting. That was the main problem I had there. Additional lighting will go a long way to helping get good shots. As Robin has suggested, 200ASA film is a good choice, though 400 will help in increasing the depth of field whilst keeping a reasonable shutter speed but will give a grainier picture, as Jenks has mentioned. Use of a tripod and remote release would be essential. Lens. A wide angle lens would be the go here. A 24mm would be best but they are specialised. If you haven't got one, or access to one, a 28mm would be fine. A 35-70mm focal length will be good for 'portrait' shots of certain scenes. Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page N to the Nth degree!
Lighting is certainly very important - which is why I take photos outside where possible But I really must get some decent lighting for shots of the layout. I use a tripod, a 35mm SLR st to f32 for depth-of-field shots, and a remote release. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
