Favorite photography season

[Bergie]

Which season do you think provides the best railroading photo opportunities? Vote then share your comments and experiences below.

Have a favorite "seasonal" photo on your personal web site? Provide a link in your post for all our users to see.

Interested in doing some railfanning this fall? Find the colors of the season with Trainsmag.com's Fall foliage hotlines and online reports. Click here: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/442nzjix.asp


Polls on Trains.com are not scientific and reflect only the opinions of the users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, the readers of our magazines, nor the public as a whole. Bottom line, our polls are meant for fun and to stimulate conversation amongst our forum users.

[Anonymous]

Gotta be summer, whether its Trains by the bikini beach, trains by the coven of sun worshiping nuns, or trains by the womans reformatory,,,,SUMMER got it goin' ON![:D]

[zardoz]

In Wisconsin:

Can't really narrow it down to a specific season, as there is such a difference in the weather (at least, here in Wisconsin) between the beginning of one season to the end.

1. Late Spring-early Summer. Flowers are blooming, not too many bugs, not too much humidity, long daylight duration, interesting thunderstorms.

2. Early Fall in northern Wisconsin. The colors!! Maine, I understand, is also very nice.

3. Early Winter. Extreme weather. Lots of snow (not tired of it yet). Dramatic railroading.

Worse:
1. Late summer-early fall. Lots of bugs, with bees and hornets attracted to anything warm and/or sweet. Colors drab. Rains alot.

2. Early spring. No colors except brown. Short days. Cold rain.

3. Late winter. Sick of the snow & cold. Rather stay in and watch a movie.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheAntiGates

Gotta be summer, whether its Trains by the bikini beach, trains by the coven of sun worshiping nuns, or trains by the womans reformatory,,,,SUMMER got it goin' ON![:D]

Man you got it all!

Bikini beaches, Covens of Nuns, womens reformatory and TRAINS! All I have up here is a small chemical factory which makes ingredients for sunscreen, a mini steel mill specializing in steel bars, chains and fencing and a plant that manufactures the elastic material for underwear.

I am definitely at the wrong end of the tracks!! Are they selling land around where you live?

Jeff

PS
My favorite season is fall. No bugs, amazing foliage and comfy temperatures (the high is 9 degrees today)

[Anonymous]

Fall, by all means. Between the colors of nature and the colors of the trains you can get some stunning results. Just have to be careful and not get TOO many colors in your shots. Also, it is great to be outdoors in the cool, crisp air of autumn.

[walthuston]

I like the late spring for its colors as the new growth is sprouting all around and the spring flowers are out, yet it's still clean everywhere from the early spring rains. There are lots of opportunities for shots using the low angle of the sun in the morning and late afternoon to dusk. My second choice is early summer. Still has the best of the early spring and is not yet bug season.

Walt

[JoePyland]

You need an additional answer of "any season". It depends on what is being photographed as to what season it will look best in. I mean other then for data, why photograph a snow plow in the summer?

[FrankStratton]

Any season is great for photo shoots. Each season affords its own unique setting, the photographer needs to know what to shoot, when. Like JoePyland says, "why photograph a snow plow in the summer?"

[Anonymous]

I like a cool crisp sunny day in the fall to photograph trains in action. With the leaves turning and a hint of steam in the smoke of a hard working steam locomotive. True rare in these days but still very exciting to see and hopefully not gone forever.

[Anonymous]

Photographing anything outdoors during any season can be a challenge. The warmer the air temperature, the more moisture the air holds, which results in "dirtier air" and in some cases, murky photos. In March 2002, I went to a favorite train watching spot in the Twin Cities when the air temperature was about 5 below and a wind chill of about 15-20 below. At that temperature, the air cannot hold any moisture and (literally) regardless of what film you use, you will get spectacular photos. Of course you have to have a manual camera to do this because the new fancy electronic cameras will freeze up the minute they hit the air. Go figure.
Oh, and in late fall and winter when the leaves are off the trees, you can hear the trains from quite a distance away as they approach. [}:)]

[JoeKoh]

First welcome to the new posters on the forums.I like fall because of the colors that mother nature provides.But have gone out in any weather as long as its not a thunderstorm or blizzard.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

It depends on where you are:
Wisonsin or New England in the fall
The Desert Southwest or Washington DC in the spring
Norhtbound On the Coast Starlight crossing the Cascades in Oregon shortly after
sunrise with a foot of new snow on the pines in winter.
The Mississippi River valley and the deep south in summer (sure, it's hot and buggy,
but also beautiful.
Old rural train stations, any time, any place, any season. They are disappearing all too
fast, especially ones still operating to any degree passenger routes.
Oh, for a return to the early 1950's.

[Anonymous]

Whatever the season, we're all after good photographs. A skillful photographer can take whatever the season or moment gives him (or her), and create an impressive image. But fall, with all of the colors and frequently noteworthy skies, just makes it so much easier!

[Anonymous]

Why is anytime not a choice. Seems to me anytime a train or railroad subject is around, it is the best time for a photo opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Fall is a must. The color of everything from clouds in the sky to leaves on the trees and even water in the lakes, and don't forget the locomotive colors. Pick the right subjects and right locations and you have the best combination that can be had.

[holland]

Fall in great u.p of michigan the colors are great

[Anonymous]

I perfer the Fall as the colors of the surrounding hills and valleys where I shoot in Montana and in the state of Washington for some of the business that print my photos for their promotional material, most of my connections perfer the fall.

[Anonymous]

All seasons really. Every season has its pros

[UpNorthBob]

Fall is awesome because of the cooler air, colors, etc. It's especially nice here in northern lower Michigan. (usually - this year has been all rain.) But I personally like early spring. While it's true that there is not much color, I think this time of year has many positives. First, I'm itching to get outside after a long winter. The humidity and bugs are not around yet. But most of all, the grass has not started growing, and the leaves are not yet on the trees. This makes it easy to spot and photograph the abandoned rights-of-way and old logging roads that I like to include in many of my train pictures. In the summer, they are covered up by the foliage.

[nkp779]

I don't think it matters. Each season provides a uniqice oportunity for some intresting pictures no matter where you live or are railfaning. You just have to brave the elements when it is bad out like in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Any time but I think Fall is best. Lower humidity makes for clear air and sharp pics.Also something to be said for the color.

[Anonymous]

FALL FALL FALL FALL. Ahh [:)]

[Anonymous]

Wow, in all my 500 posts i have never seen a weird post about photography, and also the Timing is questionable. Seems like afew pwople posted how they REALLY felt about trains magazine, and the poll was removed and replaced with a poll that could cause no confrontation whatsoever. Kinda like pulling a "CNN" speacial, only displaying what you want the people to see? Pretty bad. I still got no offical acknowlegement, of accounting of why trains magazine costs 55 Bucks Canadian a year. When i get an acounting, i might subscribe, until then, i'm not a sucker when it comes to spending money... and like someone else said.. "Trying to beocme millionaires overnight?"

Judging by that shirt in your picture, i bet thats at leats 1% of my subscription funds right there!

And for this very bizzare question, (note it's not the question thats weird, it's more the timing) Winter is the best time of RR photography.

[Anonymous]

Maybe just a personal preference but fall does have the colors and sharpness in the air that seem to make a person take a deep breath and enjoy the view, specially if there's a train in the picture

[LehighVic]

I dunno; of course all the seasons are approprite for RR photography. But the snow of winter accentuates all the lines, shapes and forms of a wonderful RR subject. And ya' know? I never feel cold staring through the viewfinder!
Lehigh Vic

[Anonymous]

nothing like the early winter moring, the train pulling out of the yard, the steam rising from the heat, bright sun coming up....

[Trainnut484]

I prefer Spring and Fall as my favorite photo seasons. Spring brings new growth, and refreshes nature from hibernation. Fall, of course, is the most colorful. For Winter shots, Christmas and New Years are my choices. Summer would be my least favorite because of the haziness and humidity. Also, it's too hot to sit at trackside waiting for a picture.

Take care[:)]

Russell

[Anonymous]

Summer is best..! No extra clothing needed...no dew or frost to slip and slid on.
Camera and/or film doesn't need to be kept warm.
Most steam engines are off duty after mid-September.

[Anonymous]

I would have to say it's a close one, but summer comes out on top of my list. I like that all the leaves are on the trees (though they are not as nice as they are in the fall), and the fact that you can go railfanning almost anytime. The days are long, and the sun is usually shining (although this year it wasn't shining enough here in southeastern Pennsylvania). The high sun angle gives good opportunities, and the abundance of leaves always gives a nice background. [8D]

[Anonymous]

Even though I voted for Spring, I think depending upon where you are, any time of year is great for photo opportunities for photographing trains in action.