Railway pictures (6)

AudioDoc wrote: Very, very nice photo, Peter! As for the ISO, I was the same way with my A99 until recently. When I purchased the A7 I decided to give auto ISO a try. I found that with most photos, ISOs up to 3200 were not an issue, and now I set both cameras to M, set my shutter speed and aperture where I want and don't worry about the ISO, unless it blinks in the viewfinder. I have high ISO limited to 3200. This way for my railroad photography I can keep the shutter speed no lower than 1/320, usually set to 1/500. In the past I found that with my a99 I had too many blurred images because my shutter speed was too low. In this case, you had no problem with 1/160. Did you have your camera on a tripod for that big lens? I'm envious by the way -- one of those is on my wish list. I'm also envious of all the steam ops that you and Allan have in the UK (Wales, right?). Anyway, I like the focus of the photo on the driver, as it should be. That would be the fireman here in the US on that side of the locomotive. Keep those photos coming, Peter! Regards, Kelly

Thanks Kelly, yes to the tripod but loose so I could pan and yes, I love that lens. There is a story to that, I was in the car showroom about to buy a new car when I had second/third/fourth thoughts and bought the 300/2.8 instead so my car is now rather long in the tooth. Get your priorities right, yes?

I hear what you say about ISO and I'm sure you're right especially when the light is good although underexposed at iso800 and pushed in post may deliver better results. Anyone know where the hard/software point occurs in the a99?

Anyway here's another shot of the Braunton approaching in the gloom and now you can see the Firemen!

BRAUNTON STEAMER Passing through Severn Tunnel Junction

a99 * 300/2.8 SSM * iso800 * f2.8 * 1/400th [+0.3EV]

Well I never, then you guys actually do drive on the wrong side.

At first glance, I thought this guy was making a pot of tea. On reflection, i think he is merely making some kind of adjustment.

Making Tea

Camera Model: SLT-A99V | Lens: 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II | Focal Length: 250 mm | Aperture: f/6.3 | Exposure Time: 0.003 sec (1/400) | ISO: 1250

Thanks     It was at Whipsnade Zoo (just North of London). It's quite a big open zoo with a handful of old steadies pulling open coaches around a large part of the perimiter.   It's quite a pleasant ride but we often give it a miss at this time of year (it's quite windy up at the zoo on the hill!)

UP 8938, SD70ACe, pulls freight eastbound through Salt Lake City's North Yard.


Sony A99, SAL70200G @70mm 1/500 f8 ISO 400

Great shot, Mathieu! love the composition and the snow mist along side the train!

Regards,

Kelly

PS: You should have won "Trackside Shadows"!

CP 6252 East @ Saint-Bathélemy, QC by Mathieu Tremblay, on Flickr

SLT-A77V, Sony 16-50 2.8 SSM, 24 mm, f/9.0, ISO 125, 1/640 s