Steam Trains - Opinions Please....

[350wedge]

I've got a photo comp to enter a little later in the year and I'm just narrowing down possibles to enter...

I'd like peoples opinions on the following photo's and which one you think is the best. I've still got loads of time to get more shots but these are some of the current shortlist....

[UKBob]

I like the first and last ones best. The first one is my favourite.

[olf]

I think all of these are very good, one of the main things you have managed to achieve in the composition is to keep anything obviously contemporary out of the picture. Either that or you're good with photo shop.

Like them.

[V6GTO]

#1 for me.

M.

[350wedge]

Cheers for the comments so far. I must admit the first one is one of my favourite photo's that i've taken this year..

By the way it was nice to meet you at the weekend Martin, at the dunstable hoon. I took the plunge and bought a sensor cleaning kit we were talking about. Used it last night and now have a nice clean sensor....

[350wedge]

olf said:

I think all of these are very good, one of the main things you have managed to achieve in the composition is to keep anything obviously contemporary out of the picture. Either that or you're good with photo shop.

Like them.

Several of the shots, i.e. the first, second and third are straight from the camera, no crops at all. The other three have only had minor crops to remove edge distractions. Other than that they are straight from camera. All shots taken on an EOS 1D MkI with either the 17-40L or 100-400L IS lenses.... I love that camera, it may only have 4.1m pixels but the quality is astounding

[te51cle]

Nos. 1 and 3 for me. Think I'd rotate no. 1 clockwise a touch. Have you tried desaturating/tinting no. 3 ? It might look even better in a monochrome/sepia tone. Or dare I suggest a spot colour with the brass & copper metals ?

Edited by te51cle on Thursday 31st August 20:36

[Balmoral Green]

1 & 3

[UKBob]

Balmoral Green said:

1 & 3

I also liked 3, and whilst im no steamboiler-head, I thought the composition was too traditional and didnt offer a fresh composition of an interesting and timeless subject. Good though it may be, 3 is most likely to fall by the wayside in a competition, in my humble opinion of course.

[V6GTO]

350wedge said:

it may only have 4.1m pixels but the quality is astounding

Like I said on Sunday...there's something about photos taken on a 1D(4.1Mp) that I can't quite put my finger on, but they have a certain feel about them that I really like...I don't have it with my 1DmarkIIN(8.2Mp). Matts photos were the same before he got his "s" with 16Mp.

Martin.

PS - nice to meet you too mate. Allways great to meet folks with the same passions
Maybe when I'm back in the UK in a few weeks we could hook up and do a shoot with the Noble?

Edited by V6GTO on Thursday 31st August 21:17

[Andy M]

Number 3 would look excellent if the wheels were made to look like they were spinning in motion.

[joust]

3 with some contrast and saturation adjustment could work really well.

Perhaps something like



Bit hard without the original, but it makes it more dramatic.

J

Edited by joust on Friday 1st September 00:17

[Wacky Racer]

I prefer the first two, imo they are more "atmospheric" and capture the steam era better....

[richb]

Pic #3 simply because of the Castle's name! A winner every time. p.s. where they taken, didn't know there was a King in BR experimental blue? Rich...

[joust]

Could well be over the top, but again pushing the dramatic angle...





J

[UKBob]

Andy M said:

Number 3 would look excellent if the wheels were made to look like they were spinning in motion.

That would look fantastic.

[350wedge]

Thanks for all the input, it is much appreciated... I had a quick play on PS last night and tried the mono and sepia versions of No 3, not sure if the sepia works, just used the std PS photo filter....

[350wedge]

V6GTO said:

PS - nice to meet you too mate. Allways great to meet folks with the same passions
Maybe when I'm back in the UK in a few weeks we could hook up and do a shoot with the Noble?

Edited by V6GTO on Thursday 31st August 21:17

Sounds like a plan to me, I should have my Griffith back in the next week with fresh shiny new paint... Drop me an e mail through here or my website and we can sort something out...

[Podie]

I like the first picture best...

Where were these taken BTW??

[Mr Beckerman]

richb said:

...p.s. where they taken, didn't know there was a King in BR experimental blue? Rich...

Probably Didcot Railway Centre. The Great Western Society are restoring King Edward II there.