Bursting Forth (Tornado Steam Loco)

[John 2]

Kaye asked if I was going to see this particular locomotive when it visited this part of the world last week. It was running a scheduled service to celebrate the reopening after repairs, of the Settle to Carlisle line through the Yorkshire Dales. By last Thursday, the conditions were cold, wet and miserable and therefore ideal because the steam is more dense in those sort of conditions and the sun, which would normally have been in my eyes, was hidden by cloud. The first image was a shot that I'd had in my mind's eye for some time so by lunchtime on Thursday I was stood in mud waiting for it to immerge from the tunnel which sits at the top of a long climb from Ribblehead in the next valley. Also ideal because the engine is working hard at that point. It all seemed to come together for a change but as always, comments appreciated. The second shot is just a general capture of the whole train.

Fuji X plus 55-200mm lens.

1. Bursting Forth


2. The Full Set

[Shadowman]

Nice set.

[LePetomane]

Love that B&W!!

[rpcrowe]

Really super captures, the locomotive just breaths power. Perhaps a border (I experimented with a white border) might be appropriate...

[AG64]

Great captures! The first is particularly impressive. Well timed.

[John 2]

Thanks all for the comments.

Richard, I agree with you. I generally "mount" images in some form but recently, my borders have come in for some criticism. Ah, you can't win.

[Wavelength]

Great images, especially the second image

[Saorsa]

It's good when a plan comes together.

[marlunn]

Cracking images - by eck man, tha must have run fast for the 2nd shot !

[Dave Humphries]

Hi John,

I commend your perseverance!

A good pair of captures and no mistake.

If I were processing #1, I'd make two small changes;
a) I'd crop or clone out that bright bit at left edge of frame
b) I'd considerably brighten the steam/smoke - it just looks too grey, but I wasn't there - may be that is what it was like, what with the light being as you describe.

HTH, Dave

[John 2]

Thanks Nandakumar, Brian, Mark and Dave.

Mark, are you kidding. After slipping and sliding my way across a couple of fields up hill with all the gear I didn't use, I couldn't run anywhere. Purely the 55-200mm zoom. The first image is at full stretch. The second is pulled back to 86mm.

Dave, it was a mixture of steam and smoke dragged through the tunnel but your on the nail. In fact lifting the whole centre oval adds punch (see below). The highlight - just didn't spot it and now removed.

[Donald]

Excellent, John. Well done. Worth all the scrambling and the mud covered trousers/pants.

[bnnrcn]

I especially like the first image John

[bje07]

Great captures! The first is particularly impressive. Well timed.

+ 1

[Rita]

I love the first image. The smoke/steam billowing around the engine adds so much to the feel of the image. Well done.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

+ 1

+2

[IzzieK]

Here comes Thomas...

Very nice John...Of course I prefer #1 -- looks strong huffing and puffing!

[John 2]

Thanks to all for the additional comments.

Donald, you've been there, clearly.

Izzie, shame on you. Thomas was a loveable Tank Engine. Not like this beast.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice shots, John. I viewed and commented on your alternative treatment of no.1 before viewing this. I have to say that while the other version is creative it doesn't hold a candle to the more conventional image. Really well done.

[John 2]

Thanks Dan. I'm leaning towards the same conclusion. Sometimes you can take an idea too far when there is no need.