Drew's Fantastic Train Photo Adventure: Catching up!

July 22

A Union Pacific distributed power unit pushes the rear of a westbound coal train on the Adams line in Merton, Wis. Canon EOS 30D, 7/8/2011, 1/1250 sec, f/8, ISO 250, 141mm. Drew Halverson photo

What I like:

The black-and-white treatment. This motif isolates the gleaming rails, the locomotive's silhouette, and its exhaust.

What I don't like: 

Those "lovely" high tension wires adjacent to the Adams line for miles.

What I learned: 

When the train rolls past, photograph the DPUs, as they're an important part of modern-day railroading.

July 23

Spewing smoke as it crosses Pittsburgh Street in downtown Milwaukee, Canadian Pacific No. 9671 moves south toward Chicago. Canon EOS 30D, 7/23/2011, f/7.1, ISO 160, 124mm. Drew Halverson photo

What I like: 

This photo is my favorite from the weekend. This location is ideal to photograph with relatively little street traffic, yet it provides a great cityscape.

What I don't like: 

At first, I wasn't happy with the cars at the intersection, but now they've grown on me. They help bring the scene together I think.

What I learned: 

Downtown Milwaukee has a lot to offer photographers. Be adventuresome and try new locations.

July 24

Amtrak Empire Builder leaves Milwaukee and heads west with train No. 7. Canon EOS 30D, 7/23/2011, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 125, 161mm. Drew Halverson photo

What I like: 

Another new perspective. Believe me, I'm finding it difficult to find new locations, but this one has potential.

What I don't like: 

Inadequate lighting. However, I'll come back another time.

What I learned: 

This view is from the top of a dirt pile near Canal Street, just outside of Falk. This prime spot would offer nice side lighting in late winter.

July 25

Two zebra-striped, wide-nosed Canadian National SD40s roll north at Sussex, Wis. Canon EOS 30D, 7/24/11, 1/640 sec/ f/7.1, ISO 200, 18mm. Drew Halverson photo

What I like: 

The rare lashup. Getting two of these classic pieces of power on a road freight these days is hard to come by. I owe my buddy Kenny O. for the heads up!

What I don't like: 

My vantage point and lens choice. I should have used my telephoto lens and zoomed in on the spot where the sun crosses the tracks (two cars back from locomotives). Then, I would've had the two "zebras" lit up nicely, as apposed to being buried in shadow.

What I learned: 

Sometimes I make mistakes. Next time, I'll be better prepared and ready for anything. Overall, this photo is still a cool catch.

Galleries: 

Flickr: "Drew's Fantastic Train Photo Adventure, 2011"
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