Tracks

[ionian]

For C&C. I feel it's missing something; I thought about how I could make it better as the base of a composite, but I wonder if it stands up on its own.

There is some dodgy post production work around the edge of the tree on the right as it blends with the sky - I will sort this out when I'm next near photoshop.

Track by Simon Grimes, on Flickr

[Inkanyezi]

It's the second time lately that a dodgy image on railway tracks is published here. The only dodgy thing I see in it is taking an image in this position, in the middle of a railway track.

Maybe I am environmentally challenged, as I have been working eleven years in a railway company, where people actually died or were mutilated when they were on the tracks at the wrong time, but nevertheless, publishing this kind of images entices others to do something similar, which is a Very Bad Thing.

[Shadowman]

When I look intently at this composition the background rushes forward while the foreground railroad ties recede, I'm sure this isn't what you want. Your foliage background skies are too strong; at least in my opinion.

[DickyOZ]

I like the image Simon, but I think I would have liked it better if the track ran along the centerline of the image; as it is the top right quadrant becomes a bit 'heavy'.

[Rob Ekins]

Simon,
I think there is a very strong image in the middle of this one, crops are your friend here.

Urban Domeij,
Not every one is an idiot, a quick search of Google returns 46 million images of railway tracks, I am guessing most of the photographers made it home to upload to the web?

[Inkanyezi]

Urban Domeij,
Not every one is an idiot, a quick search of Google returns 46 million i...

Perhaps not everyone, but scaringly many.

[ionian]

Perhaps not everyone, but scaringly many.

I am sure this is true - but to explain, in the rural UK, there are various pedestrian crossing points over the railway network. Crossing tracks is a part of life. This image was snapped quickly on one of those, and as you can see, visibility (in both directions) was good, with a friend keeping a watchful eye for the 5 secs or so that I dallied on the track.

However, venturing onto railway lines for ANY reason is of course a terrible idea, and if the mods feel that I should take it down I will happily do so - I'm not looking to encourage death and mutilation on the railways!

I'll have a look at crops of the image later, see if I can tease something more interesting out of it.

[Sergio M.]

Simon, very nice leading lines and vanishing point. Well done.

I personally don't think you're encouraging death and mutilation on the railways. How many times have we not read on this very forum of folks being hurt on their way to get a particular landscape photo. We have to be aware (as you were) and use common sense no mater where we photograph.

Sergio

[Manfred M]

It's the second time lately that a dodgy image on railway tracks is published here. The only dodgy thing I see in it is taking an image in this position, in the middle of a railway track.

Maybe I am environmentally challenged, as I have been working eleven years in a railway company, where people actually died or were mutilated when they were on the tracks at the wrong time, but nevertheless, publishing this kind of images entices others to do something similar, which is a Very Bad Thing.

Urban - I understand where you are coming from. I have had to deal with issues where accident investigation (with an eye to prevention) as well as design work to remove accident risks from machinery, equipment and processes. So I fully understand your concerns.

Crossing a street can be safe, if done correctly or dangerous, if done incorrectly. There are streets I would have no issues standing in the middle of to take pictures at certain times of the day or after specific events occur (like a major snow storm), that I would never consider doing at other times. There are railway tracks not far from my house I could sleep on all weekend, as I know there are only two trains a week, and never on weekends.

As long as a taking a photograph (or anything else) can be done safely, I don't get concerned. On the other hand, if this were a main line during a period of traffic, I would have a different opinion. The issue of course is often local knowledge, and that does factor in to these photo situations.

[Manfred M]

Simon - I agree with Rob, a strong crop of the top will help this image enormously. There is too much sky in the shot, and the sky is light coloured. Our eyes are drawn to these bright areas of the image, and in this case, right out of the image.

I suspect that if you remove the top 10% or so (down to where the trees start closing in), you will find that you have a much stronger composition.

[MrB]

There is nothing wrong with taking pictures of this type. It is possible to find many places here where it is safe to do so, either because trains are so few and far between, or because there is a safe level-crossing with pedestrian walkway, plus bells and flashing lights to warn of a train's approach. If someone is daft enough to lack safety awareness in such a scenario, perhaps it is simply an example of Darwin's principles in action.

Cheers.
Philip

[ionian]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Three crops below for comment - although I think the third has reduced the image size too far, and the softness of the distant detail becomes more apparent. I've also darkened the sky and lost the cloud detail, and sharpened with a HP filter.

Incidentally, I find it frustrating that I can often see crops in other people's images at first glance, but often when looking at my own, I can't see them for looking. I guess you can look at an image too long. I took this last May and it has sat in the "maybe" pile since then, so I should probably just leave it be and go take some fresh images that actually excite me!

1. Just a crop at the top


2. Cropped top and bottom


3. Cropped severely top and bottom

[John 2]

Simon, I very much like the idea of the leads provided by the rails giving a strong feeling of perspective. Difficult to know what might be missing - if anything. Just a thought though. Maybe a lower viewpoint and a wider lens might be worth a try. This is artificially produced but it sort of gives you what I am trying to describe. Mind your back though

[ionian]

Yeah, that's the look I wanted John - that's exactly it. It's not a shot I'll get to repeat soon , plus I need a uwa really (currently no.2 on my lens roadmap), so we'll put this in the experiment category and learn for next time. Thanks for everyone's help.

[IzzieK]

Sorry I missed this conversation. The edit of John (2) is the best edit that best described what Sergio said. 'Nuf said.

[FootLoose]

I also think John has nailed teh crop. When I open the original image at max size in Lytebox the element that stands out for me is the repeating pattern of dogs. I think we all get the leading lines receding into the distance, but to be effective this kind of image needs more now, and I think the pattern provides that.

[Wavelength]

Very nice image... and John's idea of widening at the entry point has really improved an already fine image