A few railway shots. C and C welcome

[Davejl]

Taken at Loughborough Station on the (preserved) section of the Great Central Railway, the last main line railway to be constructed in England, right at the end of the C19th. The London terminus was Marylebone, and I went there by steam train just a few years before Dr Beeching axed the line. I hate modern trains, which are too much like aeroplanes. A real train has windows which can be opened, and doors which can be opened by the passenger.




This is quite a "modern" engine (it must be, because it's only a year or so older than me (See:
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railw...tives/78018-2/ )

[Shadowman]

Nicely processed.

[Rainforest]

Big +1 to John's comment. It gives them all such a timeless quality. Super shots I might add :-) I particularly like 1 and 3. You handled some tough light outside really well. If you want to share any tips on your B&W conversions I'm interested.

[Dave Humphries]

Nice Dave, I particularly like the first and third.

[Davejl]

Nice Dave, I particularly like the first and third.

Thank you Dave

[Davejl]

Big +1 to John's comment. It gives them all such a timeless quality. Super shots I might add :-) I particularly like 1 and 3. You handled some tough light outside really well. If you want to share any tips on your B&W conversions I'm interested.

Thank you Susan.

I think that the exposure handling is chiefly thanks to the Fuji X100, which I still love (and not least because I carried it on my 35 mile bike ride to shoot these today, in a bumbag, without being aware of it). I shoot raw files and use the Fuji/Silkpix converter, which has good highlight recovery, and save as TIFFs. I then used Silver Efex Pro. (My version of this is the old one, because I messed up my ability to use the newer version a while back. Though it is now freely available, I can't use it because I've not got a 64 bit computer). I then opened the TIFF in Photoshop Elements 7 and used the SEP filter. There is usually a preset that gives a result which serves as a good starting point. I then added a few control points to do little bit of selective lightening here and there, and used the "out of the tin" sepia toning (number 18)

[Geoff F]

These are all excellent. Going to a sepia tone can be fraught with problems and look unnatural, but you have a rather brownish tone with plenty of contrast which works well.

[Rainforest]

Thank you Susan.

I think that the exposure handling is chiefly thanks to the Fuji X100, which I still love (and not least because I carried it on my 35 mile bike ride to shoot these today, in a bumbag, without being aware of it). I shoot raw files and use the Fuji/Silkpix converter, which has good highlight recovery, and save as TIFFs. I then used Silver Efex Pro. (My version of this is the old one, because I messed up my ability to use the newer version a while back. Though it is now freely available, I can't use it because I've not got a 64 bit computer). I then opened the TIFF in Photoshop Elements 7 and used the SEP filter. There is usually a preset that gives a result which serves as a good starting point. I then added a few control points to do little bit of selective lightening here and there, and used the "out of the tin" sepia toning (number 18)

Wonderful! and thank you for taking the time. Happy riding and shooting.

[Davejl]

These are all excellent. Going to a sepia tone can be fraught with problems and look unnatural, but you have a rather brownish tone with plenty of contrast which works well.

Thank you Geoff. The sepia is essentially a SEP preset. I agree that it is nicer than e.g. some of the rather-too-orange tones that one can sometimes end up with

[John 2]

A great set of shots Dave. The sepia is just right to capture the heritage feel that makes preserved steam railways so interesting. I bought the X70 as my carry all camera but I have been wondering if I should have gone the extra mile and opted for an X100 series. I wish I had.

[Davejl]

A great set of shots Dave. The sepia is just right to capture the heritage feel that makes preserved steam railways so interesting. I bought the X70 as my carry all camera but I have been wondering if I should have gone the extra mile and opted for an X100 series. I wish I had.

Thank you John.

I wanted a camera that was portable but with very good IQ and the (original version) X100 has had a lot of use. If I'd used my Canon 70D for these shots, I'd have had to take my bike panniers or use the car (I've got a dodgy back and find a rucksack a killer on a bike). If I drive to a photoshoot, I tend to worry about my waistline!

I find that the thing I miss most when cycling is the flexibility that a very solid tripod gives when shooting e.g. church interiors. A gorillapod is much more limiting.

I'd definitely go for the X100 again if mine expires (touch wood still good). I wasn't really aware of the X70 'til you mentioned it, but I must say that it looks like a winner for portability

[John 2]

.......................... I wasn't really aware of the X70 'til you mentioned it, but I must say that it looks like a winner for portability

It's pocketable (literally) Dave with the same DX sensor that the X-T1 uses which is why I went for it but I just miss the viewfinder.

[JohnRostron]

A great set of shots Dave. The sepia is just right to capture the heritage feel that makes preserved steam railways so interesting.

My thoughts exactly. It also struck me that most viewers liked #1 and #3. Reminds me of the old first and third-class carriages of trains of that vintage!

John

[bje07]

Nice set, good PP, my preferred # 1 , 4 and 3.

[Davejl]

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It's pocketable (literally) Dave with the same DX sensor that the X-T1 uses which is why I went for it but I just miss the viewfinder.

Thanks John. Yes, lack of viewfinder seems to be the biggest drawback. Just occasionally I've gone back to my old Canon G7, and using the rear screen is a pain. And even when using the 70D, I find myself frustrated by the lack of an EVF to review the odd shot

[Davejl]

Nice set, good PP, my preferred # 1 , 4 and 3.

Thank you Jean

[Davejl]

My thoughts exactly. It also struck me that most viewers liked #1 and #3. Reminds me of the old first and third-class carriages of trains of that vintage!

John

Thank you John. I can't remember much about my travel on the old Great Central, apart from the frightening engine, the view of the track when flushing the loo and the scary concertina bit between the moving carriages (I was aged 4 or 5), but I'd certainly have travelled 3rd class!

[IzzieK]

I am with the fan of 1 and 3 too. The best comments have already been posted so far.