It is a very nice image. It is sharp and lovely and is very dynamic. It is level and your position allows me to view the train immediately as I my eye enters the frame. My only suggestion is to lighten it a little with shadow reduction. Nothing like an old steam engine. Oh, by the way, what sort of detail can you provide on processing? Is it jpeg out of camera, or post processed with certain software and if so, what software to edit and convert to monochrome and what type of adjustments did you use in your software to get your image the way you presented it. That is helpful to our study group members especially if we are asking questions or making suggestions about the exposure.   Posted: 05/04/2023 14:23:59

I like this too. Steam locos are always dirty, so to me the dark tone is appropriate. The sky also - very dramatic and appropriate. But erhaps a little lighter overall would be better, as John suggests.
I like the composition with the strong diagonal. Perhaps darkening the bottom right triangle would make it even more dramatic?   Posted: 05/09/2023 16:12:35

Conversion to monochrome in Lightroom, with a little sharpening and contrast adjustment.   Posted: 05/12/2023 15:44:48

The low key treatment matches the mass of the locomotive. That said, I would like to see more detail in the engine.   Posted: 05/19/2023 09:14:46

I really like the density and quality in the tones especially the deep blacks. Contrast is strong and diagonal composition works well and your position to place the loco against the trees was a good choice as that background is passive and non distracting. The darkened sky top right I like; could you have done same to the light area above the prominent X-844? Other than that I can't offer any improvements. Plenty of detail evident in a an high impact image.   Posted: 05/22/2023 05:53:39

Excellent details, sharpness and greyscale range on this wonderful, old engine. I think cropping from the left to the second vertical grass would call more attention to the light and numbers. My husband, the train buff, wants to know whether it "lives" in St Louis permanently. A reason to travel.   Posted: 05/22/2023 17:34:44