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Amtrak ACELA - a 135 mph pan!

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Posted by trainboyH16-44 on Thursday, June 10, 2010 7:07 PM

 I didn't immediately suspect it was you posting this, Mitch, but you were in my mind when I read the thread title!

Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296

Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

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Posted by CopCarSS on Thursday, June 10, 2010 1:25 PM

Wow! Amazing shot! Excellent execution!

-Chris
West Chicago, IL
Christopher May Fine Art Photography

"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams

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Posted by narig01 on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 12:04 PM

 Neat.   Thank You.

Thx IGN

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Posted by Doublestack on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 10:31 PM

Really a very nice shot.  Just really crisp.   Great work.

Thx, Dblstack
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Posted by samfp1943 on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 12:15 PM

Whistling  PHEEEEEEEEWW!Mischief

Paul,

 You might consider backing off the Caffene!  Evil  

                      Such Critical  Punditry!Sign - Dots     What would Eleanor R. think?LaughLaughLaughLaugh 

 

 


 

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 10:16 AM

A critical reviewer of this thread - such as the stereotypical New York City drama critic, who might be riding that same Acela - would probably 'pan' it, esp. Carl's post above . . . Smile,Wink, & Grin

Or, as the 1960's folk-music group "The Mamas and the Papas" might have sung, "Punday, Punday  - can't trust that day . . . ".

- Paul North.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Modelcar on Monday, June 7, 2010 9:33 PM

That really is sharp, and very nice....!

Quentin

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, June 7, 2010 2:41 PM
Transr

Sam -  you do need some rest!  For those who aren't on the same track as Sam, back in the days of steam, a water trough would be installed between the tracks and a device called a scoop was installed under the tender that could be lowered into the trough and the locomotive’s forward motion would force the water up into the tender.  That would make quite an interesting twist on a panned pan shot!

/Mitch

And with a pantograph besides...

It would probably be further panned once you found out that the water splashed your lens.

Signed, deadpanning...

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by Transr on Monday, June 7, 2010 2:14 PM

 Flash and the Pan - one of my favorite 70's rock bands!  A favorite song was "Hey St Peter", anyone remember that one?  THey also had a song "Waiting for a Train".  So, no flash in this pan though I'd be more then happy to give it a shot if you can direct me to a flash that will last 1/50th of a second.  Thanks Carl - you  can do a search, I've posted here before, btw.  So many sites, so little time!

Paul - thanks - critiques always welcome and appreciated.  One issue that pops up shooting on the NEC are all the poles, shacks, signs and odd trees that make finding a suitable opening easy to find.  I believe I have another photo, more of a wedge which allowed some more breathing room and I'll post when I get a chance.

Sam -  you do need some rest!  For those who aren't on the same track as Sam, back in the days of steam, a water trough would be installed between the tracks and a device called a scoop was installed under the tender that could be lowered into the trough and the locomotive’s forward motion would force the water up into the tender.  That would make quite an interesting twist on a panned pan shot!

/Mitch

 


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Posted by samfp1943 on Monday, June 7, 2010 1:56 PM

I gotta get some rest!  WhistlingSilly me, I was thinking that if the engineer would drop the scoop at 135 MPH the water would blow all the windows out!Confused  Too much cafine!Laugh

After about the third read, It was really an interesting picture, 135 mph!  Wow!!

 

 


 

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, June 7, 2010 1:36 PM

Calendar and/ or print ad material - a great example of the technique.. I laughed at the caption comment about trying the 1/6 second exposure . . . Laugh  And thanks for that data, too, to help with our efforts.  Note that 135 MPH is about 200 ft. per second, so during a 1/6 second exposure this Acela moved about 33 feet, whereas during a 1/50 second opening it covers only about 4 feet - hence your 'arc' comment is exactly right, I believe. 

One thought, from a rank amateur who's probably not fit to carry your tripod  Smile,Wink, & Grin  : Next time, maybe a wee bit more space in front of the nose might help with the balance or the impression of speed, not like it's running out of track - but that's just me. 

Thanks again for sharing and giving us something better to aspire for.

- Paul North.   

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, June 7, 2010 1:15 PM
Was that a "flash" in the pan?

Seriously, I've long admired your work over on Trainorders.com, where nobody can post a pan shot without Mitch's name being brought up. Welcome to this Forum!

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Amtrak ACELA - a 135 mph pan!
Posted by Transr on Monday, June 7, 2010 11:54 AM

 Well, I finally found a field wide enough to pan an Acela as it sped by at roughly 135 MPH, just east of North Brunswick, NJ.  Up until this date the close confines of the city risks twisting one's neck trying to pan left to right as it sped by at close range.  After a few failed attempts at 1/6th I thought I lost my touch.  I had gotten used to panning steam on the local tourist steam lines and then it dawned on me just how far through the arc of a pan an Acela goes in 1/6th of a second!  I adjusted accordingly and caught a sharp pan at 1/50th. 

Enjoy!

ACELA at speed

/Mitch


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