train watching

[Anonymous]

My mom said that if I made an A on my math test she would take me trainwatching, and I made an A !!!![:D][:D][:D] I want to go to El Reno, Oklahoma to photograph the old Rock Island shops there. but the main reailroad I wan to watch is the AT&L http://www.trainweb.org/southwestshorts/atlt.html it is a grain hauling shortline. I would like to follow it from it's interchange with the UP in El Reno, through several small towns to it's home base in Watonga, Oklahoma. I would also like to find some BNSF to see. do you have any tips for a first time train watcher ? any photo tips ? I will probably only have a couple of disposable cameras. I will try to post some pics. Thanks !

[Noah Hofrichter]

One thing, never take a picture with a disposable camera with the sun behind what your taking, or in other word with you facing the sun. It will silloutte the object your trying to take pictures of and they don't turn out well unless that's what you wanted. And on top of all have fun while your out and about. Also, you might want to post this in the trains forums and they'll help you wiht the trains part of it.

Noah

[Anonymous]

Alex,

Look up some tips on basic photography before you go, to add to what Noah said. Try to get to the spot ahead of time, and think about what would make a good setting for your pictures. Look for things that would get in the way -like telephone wires, or bushes, etc. Try and have the lighting come from behind or beside you, and think about how it will fall on the train you are shooting.

In addition, with some film developers, you get the option to have your pictures put on CD for $3-5 extra. This is definitely worth it, rather than spending a whole bunch of time at the computer after with prints.

Don't underestimate the amount of film you will need - I recently shot pictures of the CPR Empress, and I had blown 24 shots in the time it took for the train to go past. (That's ok though - it was a sort of once-in-a-lifetime thing).

Good luck with your trip!

Andrew