Train Coming: I am undertaking a new project that I'll be sharing here for feedback. I've been asked to do up a set of photos for a restaurant. They want local scenes in their small...

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I am undertaking a new project that I'll be sharing here for feedback. I've been asked to do up a set of photos for a restaurant. They want local scenes in their small town. For this one I'd like to know, in addition to critique/suggestions, whether you think a color or monochrome approach may work better.

This is a town that grew up on the railroad, and the train is central to their everyday life so several will be train-connected.
It's only an hour away from where I live, so reshooting is not that hard.

(Download)

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

I certainly do like your monochrome best!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Samuraiz Loc: Central Florida

When I first looked at the image I did not initially see the train. I would suggest that the train is further out of the small tunnel, closer to the camera and brightened a bit..

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

DickC wrote:

I certainly do like your monochrome best!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thank you for that opinion!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Samuraiz wrote:

When I first looked at the image I did not initially see the train. I would suggest that the train is further out of the small tunnel, closer to the camera and brightened a bit..

That's a good idea. I wish they had a regular schedule, but I think I'll just have to go hang around and wait. I believe it would be better that way.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

Color looks best to me. Some parts of the B&W are good but I feel the train gets lost.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

SonyA580 wrote:

Color looks best to me. Some parts of the B&W are good but I feel the train gets lost.

Thanks. If I get one of the train a little further out of the bridge, it might help both versions but possibly the monochrome most.

waltchilds Loc: Central Florida

I like both shots as they are very sharp and tell a story. I also agree with some other post that if the train was further out from the bridge it would have more impact.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

DickC wrote:

I certainly do like your monochrome best!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Better, not best. Comparative, not superlative. You are comparing two things, not more.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Minnie, here is the master of nostalgic, small town, train photos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Winston_Link

The b&w is too warmed tone for my likes. I like sepia but it does not work for me here. Overall, I prefer your color shot.

This can become quite an interesting and big project.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

abc1234 wrote:

Minnie, here is the master of nostalgic, small town, train photos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Winston_Link

The b&w is too warmed tone for my likes. I like sepia but it does not work for me here. Overall, I prefer your color shot.

This can become quite an interesting and big project.

Thanks for the link. That looks interesting. I wish there was a swimming hole by this train! I've done umpteen versions of processing, still at it. I'm also trying to do a version that resembles a movie that was filmed there with very unusual cinematography as to color treatment. If I can hit it, everyone will recognize it. Not there yet tho.

conkerwood

abc1234 wrote:

Better, not best. Comparative, not superlative. You are comparing two things, not more.

There are those who would immediately get stuck into you for being ridiculously pedantic but as an ex teacher i say thank goodness that someone here still has some regard for the language. You are absolutely correct, comparative and not superlative.

But to the pic. I agree with comments about the train being lighter and further out of the tunnel etc but the major problem is where the eye comes to rest. Naturally the human eye is drawn to the brightest area and the thing that immediately grabbed my attention was the white line on the pathway. In fact as soon as I saw it I found that i cannot, not see it. So a little work with whatever cloning tools you have would quickly solve the problem. But I do like the pic a lot particularly for its sharpness but without it looking over sharpened. But if the train is the subject the reality is that it isn't strong enough to grab attention. I like the echo of the arches in the house and the tunnel but in the end its the house that draws my attention and not the train.

Peter.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

conkerwood wrote:

There are those who would immediately get stuck in... (show quote)

Thanks for the feedback. I'll work on the white lines, excellent point and I just missed them. I wasn't trying to make the train stand out but once it was brought up I do think I'll try to get a shot with it further out of the bridge. Maybe I'll get lucky. My aim in this one was to capture a scene that is common to the townspeople, with house, the bridge and the train/track. And I am borrowing aspects from the movie scenes since everyone there is so familiar with it. I'll borrow the color treatment on some version if I can figure out how to do it.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

conkerwood wrote:

There are those who would immediately get stuck into you for being ridiculously pedantic but as an ex teacher i say thank goodness that someone here still has some regard for the language. You are absolutely correct, comparative and not superlative....Peter.

Oh my. I did not know I was talking to another pedantic and one who understands what I said. Can you believe some of the awful writing here? What did you teach?

PS Did I get my ellipsis correct?

MtnMan Loc: ID

Samuraiz wrote:

When I first looked at the image I did not initially see the train. I would suggest that the train is further out of the small tunnel, closer to the camera and brightened a bit..

I too didn't see the train. The walk, bridge, and house draw they eye.

If you want to feature the train it needs to be further out, as some have noted, and brighter. You might also selectively brighten and sharpen it relative to the background.