Mike's been foaming again!! More photos from Aus!

[ASR_Q301]

Went out to my usual spot today in town. In 45 minutes, I saw 6 trains which is pretty busy in my books!

First train of the day was the catch of the day. QRNational (Queensland Rail)'s 343 empty grain train makes a run out to Avon Yard with EMD's DB 2305 + DB1591 + GE P2517. The "DB Class" are based on EMD SD38-2's and the "P Class" are similar to C25Dash8's (2500hp). Narrow gauge. The orange/black/yellow, G&W scheme is going as Queensland Rail has taken us over.
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_DB%27s%20smoking%20it%20up. jpg
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_DB2305%20%2B%20DB1591%20%2B %20P2517.jpg
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_P2517.jpg
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_grain%20train.jpg

P2004 + P2503 (More Dash8's) throttle up on 163 empty MetroGrain to Avon. Sounded fantastic!!!!!
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_P2004%20%2B%20P2503.jpg

Pacific National's NR65 is on a single loco turn on the "wye". This is a GE C40-9
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_NR65%20-%20loco%20turn.jpg

Q4017 leads a QRNational sulphur train into town. The "Q Class" are based on SD70M's and run on Standard Gauge.
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_Q4017.jpg

Signal for Midland Junction. Red/caution/go. The top lights on the angle light up white for when the points are alined to go off into the siding for the platform at Midland.
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_Perth%20approach%20signal%2 0lit.jpg

NR48 arrives with a Sydney bound Indian Pacific as it rolls off the TransPerth track and onto WestNet track.
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_headlight%20looks%20like%20 MSTS.jpg
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_smoke%20up.jpg

The Prospector arrives with a train from Kalgoorlie, some 800km away (650 miles)
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_Prospector.jpg

My old camera, now using it as a video camera.
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_old%20cam.jpg

Various aircraft throughout the day! ;) My other hobby.
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_A330-300.jpg
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_747-400%2C%20again.jpg
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_QANTAS%20747-400%20-%20Perth%20Approach.jpg

Something you dont see every day!! BHP Billiton ore hoppers on the back of a truck down the main highway! Seeing BHP are so far away and isolated by rail, the only way of fixing them up are sending them down here to Perth (16hours drive) and getting rebuilt here. Certainly a supprise when it pulled up next to me in the car!!
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/New%20Folder%20%282%29_HI%20ore%20wagons%20on%20th e%20road%21%21%21.jpg

Thats all, until i get the videos uploaded. Hope you enjoy them all! :D

>Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australia

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/mforster2/Clipboard01.jpg

[sstyrnol]

Great shots mate! Hope you don't mind some constructive criticism to make them even better???

Good!

* Motive selection: Try to keep obstrusive objects out of the way such as telephone poles, fences etc. If you photograph a train going underneath a signal bridge, try to keep the signalbridge complete in the picture and not crop it.

* Image composition: Try to focus on the object you want to show. Such as if your picture is meant to just give a general overview of the area, use a wide-angle shot. If however you want to to show off a certain train, wait until your objective is in good range so that you can shoot it in all its glory. This becomes especially apparent in your first shot. The locos are still partially hidden behind that fence. You should have waited a bit longer so that you can also see the rest of the locos.

* Image cropping: When photographing trains, try not to cut off parts of the locos you are trying to shoot. It is the same as if you tried to make a portrait photo and accidentally cut off the top of the person's head.

* Lighting: Of course you cannot always choose days with perfect light for your foaming excursions as also you cannot change the way the clouds move. But try to exploit the lighting which you have the best way you can to give your shots the best possible contrast and color richness. For example your second shot has way better contrast than the third shot, which looks IMO a bit blurry.

Following please find a list where I pointed out aspects I liked, disliked about your shots in detail:

#1:

Likes
In this shot, I like how the train is framed by the trees. Also the lighting helps to show off the orange livery of the locos.

Dislikes
I think the train is too far away to see details. Also the trucks and frame of the loco is hidden by that wiremesh fence. You should have waited a tad longer till at least the locos would have gone past the fence. Lastly, the signs obstruct the view a wee bit.

#2:

Likes
This is by far my favorite shot. I do like the way the heat signature has come out. You can clearly spot engine-details and trackside aspects.

Dislikes
None

#3:

Likes
The going away shot captures the various liveries nicely and shows the difference.

Dislikes
The shot is a bit blurry, lacks of contrast. You should have zoomed out a bot to show the whole locos.

#4:

Likes
Impressive shot of that grain train. I like how that train snakes into the distance.

Dislikes
Only things I think that could be improved would be the lighting again (that cloud makes the background too dark) and I would have tried to get that signal bridge completely into that image.

#5:

Likes
see #2

Dislikes
see #2

#6:

Likes
Nice rostershot mate! Not much more to say!

Dislikes
I would have preferred to have the sky a bit clearer, but that's not to be helped!

#7:

Likes
The lighting is good in this shot, like the flare of the headlights!

Dislikes
Cropped the signal bridge!

#8:

Likes
Nice detail shot!

Dislikes
Maybe it would have been better to give a more frontal look but that might have been difficult due to the location (?).

#9:

Likes
see #7

Dislikes
A tad dark IMHO, again nothing that can be helped...

#10:

Likes
Honestly, this is my least favorite shot. Engines belching smoke are always "w00t", but...

Dislikes
...it would have IMHO been better if you showed the smoke in context with the rest of the loco, such as you would have let it tower above. This way you cropped off the lower half. Well its smoke, so what?

#11:

Likes
This must be my second favorite shot. Very sharp, good contrast!

Dislikes
Weather...

Airplane shots (just a general note)

These shots could IMHO been a bit sharper. A bit more zoom would have helper also. Again the weather was probably a bit suboptimal to foam planes!

Again, I do hope you don't mind me nitpicking a bit, but maybe it might also help you improve your photos!

Keep up the good work there buddy!

[jovet]

Ummm... I think that all is a bit over-critical, Sebastian. Not all of us are wanna-be professional photographers, looking for pictures to frame. We just want to capture the moment. Of course, I'm just easy to please... But if my pictures I might take can't be appreciated as-is (lest they be blurry or something) then I won't bother posting any, ever.

My opinion on his pictures: Spectacular
Dislikes: None
:)

These are the first pictures from Australia I've come across that have really showed me the way a well-used rail line looks down there. I can imagine being there and standing there and seeing (and hearing) all that. So, I'm impressed, and thanks for the pictures. I welcome more here anytime.

(Nels....I sure like this new forum!)

[smp11512]

WTF, I thought I replied to this but it's not showing up !

Mike, Great shots dude, your really getting a good grasp on how to use that cam. Alot better then I did when I got my DSLR.

I like how you managed to get that locomotive smoking it up as well as the planes, I'm happy to see I'm not the only one who goes out and shoots planes and trains in the same trip. I'm digging the telephoto too :P Good job !!!
Shane
http://shanestrains.socalrails.com
"Some Call it Innovation, we call it KAAAAHHNNN!"

[sstyrnol]

FWIW, when I talked to Mike yesterday, he appreciated it... :P

[Busdriver]

Where are the videos going to be?

Bryce

[ASR_Q301]

Thanks for the comments gentlemen! :D Cant wait to take more shots to show you all!

Video's time!!

DB2305 + DB1591 + P2517 (SD38 + SD38 + C25dash8)
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/DB2305%20%2B%20DB1591%20%2B%20P2517.wmv


P2004 + P2503. (2 x C25dash8's)
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/10599/2004%20%2B%20P2503.wmv

crank up those speakers!!!!!

>Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australia

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/mforster2/Clipboard01.jpg

[sstyrnol]

Nice videos, mate!

Just want to avoid panning that video camera around. That doesn't look very good. Rather make two clips (one coming at you and one going away) and make a nice transition in your video editing program later.

But again, nice videos!

[Busdriver]

Those are cool! What are they hauling?

Bryce

[ASR_Q301]

Thanks Byrce!

First one is 464 empty grain train. (3 units)

654 is an empty "MetroGrain" run from the port, back out to the region we call "The Wheatbelt" which is 90% wheat harvest. (2nd vid, with 2 units)

>Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australia

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/mforster2/Clipboard01.jpg