Tom McCreary, APSA, MPSA
August 2026 - Texas night train
Original
About the Image(s)
Texas Night Train
This was taken a few years ago at a photo workshop at the Texas State Railroad that is in the Piney Woods of East Texas. They had lights set up for us, at the train station. I went to mono as I thought that all of the colors distracted from the train. It also made it easier to darken the freight cars as I could adjust the color sliders in Photoshop. It was taken with a Nikon D7100, and 18-300mm lens at 35mm, 2.0 seconds, f11, and ISO 1600, on a tripod. I also burned in the gravel areas on the left as I thought that they distracted from the train. I know that it is overall dark, but it is a night image.
6 comments posted
This is so interesting with so much darkness. As you know, I am fond of dark images, even with areas of 100% black, so I like this very much. Yet all the important details are clear.
Maybe the steam could have been a bit brighter to echo the headlamp? Posted: 08/02/2026 04:02:29
Maybe the steam could have been a bit brighter to echo the headlamp? Posted: 08/02/2026 04:02:29
My first glance/look was at the RR cars behind the Loc. I said to myself that it is great because he left just enough to recognize the cars and to include them. B&W is such a nice medium and this demonstrates it. Posted: 08/07/2026 20:38:37
Very nicely exposed. It looks like you captured just about the full dynamic range of this scene. I like the starburst pattern of the headlight and the ethereal nature of the venting steam. Posted: 08/08/2026 01:16:41
I agree, Ed. Posted: 08/10/2026 18:41:26
Just to be different, I prefer the colour even though there is a division of interest with the carriages and the station both being the well lit parts. I love the golden glow which is warm and welcoming whereas the train looks cold and dark. i found the 2 highlights in the station distracted from the headlamp of the train which they didn't in the colour version. Posted: 08/17/2026 14:01:49
I agree, that the station lights need to be removed. I did try and revise the color using Hue and Saturation and a mask to make the orange box cars darker, and the station area a bit darker. What do you think? Posted: 08/17/2026 19:21:16