Sunday Train of Thought

If you listen closely with your eyes an image or series of images will tell you whether black and white or color is best. In this case, with the largest operational steam locomotive in the world, the shots screamed black and white. Nothing captures the strength, the grime and the power of even a motionless machine like the immediately abstract nature of the colorless image. While my Nikon D3 has a setting for B&W only... I prefer to shoot in color and then convert the images in Photoshop. There is just more information to work with when you have the color data too... even if the image is primarily black and gray.

The Challenger 3985 was visiting Union Station this weekend... it leaves Monday morning... and lots of folks went to see it. The engine weighs in at 627 thousand pounds. It can take on 25,000 gallons of water and filling it up at 7-11 would take 6, 445 gallons.

There was a good crowd on hand to see the beast.... the kids, older ones, loved it... but were more interested in the moving diesels that kept coming by horns blasting.....
Top speed is 70 miles per hour and the engine is actually hinged to allow it to go around corners. The 3985 was built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company. During peak operation 105 of these were in use throughout the US. This one was retired in 1962 but lovingly restored by a group of Union Pacific employee volunteers to running condition in 1981.


Originally designed to burn coal it was converted to burn fuel oil in 1990.






All shots taken with the Nikon D3 and either the 105mm lens or the 14-24mm zoom. ASA 200, aperture priority at F11 on the 14-24 or F16 on the 105. All images converted to black in white in Photoshop's Camera Raw.

The name Challenger was given to steam locomotives with a 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement.... four wheels up front to guide it, followed by two sets of "driving" wheels and four "trailing" wheels which support the rear of the engine and its massive firebox.


When the engine did burn coal it pulled a tender with a 32-ton capacity.








There is a gift shop aboard too in one of the old passenger cars.

In Dad's Hands - Erica

Textures... West Bottoms

Seeking the Golden Age Lighting

The Golden Age of Movies was, some believe, also the Golden Age of Portrait Photography... when light and shadow craftily shaped the actors appearance. Extensive retouching was also employed on all the images. In the early days large viewfinder cameras were used many producing negatives that were 8x10 inches. For ease of modification the large negatives were employed... the vast amount of touchups required an 8x10 working space.

I decided that with the New Year I would start exploring that golden world. Flash was not used early on but "hot" lights (so named for the intense heat they put out) provided the light for the portraiture. As many of the images were made on or near sound stages on studio lots... plenty of lighting equipment was available as well as sets and props. Wardrobes were extensive and added to the "feel" of the picture.
These shots were all taken with "hot" lights although they are a good deal more compact than their ancestors... also I'm rather limited for the time being in light modifiers.... but that will change. It's interesting to see how movements in the main light and the attitude of the models head and body alter the image.... I also fooled around with digital makeup.... some are a little too much probably.... but it's best to go too far first and then back off. And, since it's digital, nothing is permanent.
Rachel, the victim du jour, is getting married next July. Since I'm photographing her wedding I thought it opportune to use her for my first test shots.
I converted all to black and white as that lends itself to the most intense expression of light and dark.... however the last two shots on this post are the same... with one in color and one in black and white.
Three lights were used.... the main light was a fresnel lensed spot for the face.... two lights in the rear provided light for the hair and separation from the background. Although for many of these shots only two lights were used.

I will next try some full-length shots..... need a fainting couch if anyone has one for sale :)

And will cool it more on the digital makeup....

Dueling Orbs

A reflective moment outside the Sprint Arena.