Railfan and the digital camera.Railfan and the digital camera.

The easy way to take good The easy way to take good railway pictures. railway pictures.

Enjoy !Enjoy !

Railfanning and the associated Railfanning and the associated photography is meant to be fun. photography is meant to be fun.

Taking pictures is one of the most potent Taking pictures is one of the most potent forms of expression that the railfans have. forms of expression that the railfans have.

We capture a slice of time – an event that We capture a slice of time – an event that may never occur again. may never occur again.

Instead of enjoying the process, are we Instead of enjoying the process, are we getting caught up with the Aperture, F getting caught up with the Aperture, F stops, ASA setting, Focus and other stops, ASA setting, Focus and other technical bits ?technical bits ?

Do you Aim and Shoot ?Do you Aim and Shoot ?

While all the terms mentioned before While all the terms mentioned before are important, but do you have to know are important, but do you have to know all before taking a single good picture ?all before taking a single good picture ?

You may have a simple aim and shoot You may have a simple aim and shoot camera – so can you take good pictures camera – so can you take good pictures ? ?

Having a good camera is only a part of Having a good camera is only a part of the story !the story !

The bad news first,The bad news first,

As a railfan photographer you have very few As a railfan photographer you have very few controls on your subject. controls on your subject.

Light may be wrong, Light may be wrong, Time may be wrong,Time may be wrong, The trains that take you to and back to that The trains that take you to and back to that

special place may be at the wrong time, special place may be at the wrong time, Vantage point may not be available, Vantage point may not be available, RPF and other unsympathetic people may RPF and other unsympathetic people may

be around you.be around you.

More bad news….More bad news….

Your camera may be slow. Your camera may be slow. – Slow from off to on, Slow from off to on, – Slow from wide to telephoto and vice-Slow from wide to telephoto and vice-

versa.versa.– Slow from shot to shot, Slow from shot to shot, – Slow for the flash to charge,Slow for the flash to charge,

In any case, flash cannot always be In any case, flash cannot always be used as it may attract the attention. used as it may attract the attention.

Taking good pictures -Taking good pictures - As our parents wanted us to – STUDY !As our parents wanted us to – STUDY ! It is all about good composition.It is all about good composition. It is about relationship of shapes, lines, It is about relationship of shapes, lines,

colours and shades. colours and shades. Study the composition with a “lazy eye”. Study the composition with a “lazy eye”. Let this lazy eye snap the objects that you Let this lazy eye snap the objects that you

want to show and not the unwanted bits. want to show and not the unwanted bits. Be aware of what you like about a picture.Be aware of what you like about a picture. Be aware of what you want to see in a Be aware of what you want to see in a

picture. picture.

Study !Study ! Look at as many pictures as possible. Look at as many pictures as possible. Look at trains pics an say sites such Look at trains pics an say sites such

as www.railpictures.net etc.as www.railpictures.net etc. All the pictures on these sites have All the pictures on these sites have

been filtered by a strict process, so been filtered by a strict process, so they meet a technical standard. they meet a technical standard.

Again – analyze what you like about Again – analyze what you like about a certain picture. a certain picture.

I like Shanky’s pic of the WDG 3A at I like Shanky’s pic of the WDG 3A at Hitec City >Hitec City >

Be prepared - EquipmentBe prepared - Equipment

Know your camera, the controls and the Know your camera, the controls and the response time. response time.

Be prepared – adequate batteries, spare Be prepared – adequate batteries, spare batteries. batteries.

Large memory card – the largest you can Large memory card – the largest you can afford. Make sure that the card is empty afford. Make sure that the card is empty before you come for a railfanning session. before you come for a railfanning session.

A good camera bag – that allows you to A good camera bag – that allows you to flick the camera out from storage without flick the camera out from storage without fumbling. fumbling.

Be prepared – YourselfBe prepared – Yourself

Adequate rest. One tends to lose Adequate rest. One tends to lose enthusiasm when tired. enthusiasm when tired.

Good shoes, clothes, sun protection.Good shoes, clothes, sun protection. Food and water.Food and water. A knowledge of the area – you may have A knowledge of the area – you may have

to ask around – as Ashish says – He who to ask around – as Ashish says – He who has a mouth would find Rome !has a mouth would find Rome !

A knowledge of the timetables. A knowledge of the timetables. Be prepared to take the EFFORTS more Be prepared to take the EFFORTS more

than the RISKS. than the RISKS.

Be prepared – in your mindBe prepared – in your mind Continuously visualize the scene Continuously visualize the scene

against the changing background. against the changing background. Even if you are not with a camera, Even if you are not with a camera,

keep an open eye (and mind) about keep an open eye (and mind) about interesting locations to shoot railways interesting locations to shoot railways against – train your mind to be against – train your mind to be framing images all the time. framing images all the time.

Be aware of the background in a Be aware of the background in a picture – it may be good or it may be picture – it may be good or it may be bad !bad !

Know your camera’s response against the train’s Know your camera’s response against the train’s speed – anticipate how many pictures would be speed – anticipate how many pictures would be possible before the train leaves the frame. possible before the train leaves the frame.

Choose an interesting place off the track – be Choose an interesting place off the track – be ready for that special angle when the train goes ready for that special angle when the train goes past – there would be just one of these past – there would be just one of these opportunities!opportunities!

Ensure that the date stamp in the camera is OFF. Ensure that the date stamp in the camera is OFF. Take as many pictures as possible and shoot Take as many pictures as possible and shoot

continuously!continuously! Shoot in the maximum possible size. This is very Shoot in the maximum possible size. This is very

important. important. Do not shoot in the B&W or Sepia mode – those Do not shoot in the B&W or Sepia mode – those

effects can be added later. You may need the effects can be added later. You may need the colour image.colour image.

Be prepared – Camera tipsBe prepared – Camera tips

The best pictures of trains are from the The best pictures of trains are from the ground – not door or window shots. Be ground – not door or window shots. Be prepared to go out there !prepared to go out there !

Try to capture the train against an Try to capture the train against an interesting background – a wall, flowers, interesting background – a wall, flowers, trees, cutting, mountain, water. trees, cutting, mountain, water.

Do not shoot only the zoom, use wide also. Do not shoot only the zoom, use wide also. Keep in mind the time taken for a camera Keep in mind the time taken for a camera to shift from zoom to wide.to shift from zoom to wide.

Pay attention to the catenary and signal Pay attention to the catenary and signal posts !posts !

Avoid shooting one’s own shadow. Avoid shooting one’s own shadow.

Be prepared – Camera TipsBe prepared – Camera Tips

Keep the camera steady while clicking.Keep the camera steady while clicking. Keep the camera steady till the shutter has re-closed.Keep the camera steady till the shutter has re-closed. Use the flash if required to get rid of shadows in the Use the flash if required to get rid of shadows in the

picture – this may be needed in the bright sun also.picture – this may be needed in the bright sun also. Practice taking night shots without flash by keeping Practice taking night shots without flash by keeping

the camera on a surface. the camera on a surface. Use a small timer to fire the shutter in the night shots. Use a small timer to fire the shutter in the night shots.

This timer (~2 seconds) overcomes the shake caused This timer (~2 seconds) overcomes the shake caused by the operation of the shutter button. by the operation of the shutter button.

You may not be able to use the flash for the macro You may not be able to use the flash for the macro shots – the excess light would washout finer details. shots – the excess light would washout finer details.

Treating the cameraTreating the camera

Anticipate the events - at what point will Anticipate the events - at what point will the driver notch up, or switch on the the driver notch up, or switch on the headlamp or when will the four flags, headlamp or when will the four flags, Crew, Under guard, Guard and SM, show ? Crew, Under guard, Guard and SM, show ?

Build a series of pictures – write a story Build a series of pictures – write a story linking these pictures in your mind. linking these pictures in your mind.

You could take notes using the camera. You could take notes using the camera. Participate in the passage of the train – Participate in the passage of the train –

wave at the crew to thank them for that wave at the crew to thank them for that special pose. Wave at the children in the special pose. Wave at the children in the train too ! train too !

Anticipate/ParticipateAnticipate/Participate

Light sourceLight source

Early morning and late evening light is Early morning and late evening light is the best for shooting pictures. the best for shooting pictures.

Be aware of where the light is coming Be aware of where the light is coming from – maybe take advantage of the from – maybe take advantage of the light and shadow by shooting the train light and shadow by shooting the train as it comes into light.as it comes into light.

Example of an against sun, morning Example of an against sun, morning shot, with train coming into a light shot, with train coming into a light patch. -> patch. ->

As mentioned before – shoot as many As mentioned before – shoot as many images as possible in the largest size. images as possible in the largest size.

The large image then can be “cropped” to The large image then can be “cropped” to make more sense of the composition. make more sense of the composition.

The large image size would allow deletion The large image size would allow deletion of the irrelevant bits in the picture, thus of the irrelevant bits in the picture, thus improving the focus on the primary objects. improving the focus on the primary objects.

Cropping would also improve the Cropping would also improve the composition of the picture – the next image composition of the picture – the next image is the uncropped version of a picture is the uncropped version of a picture followed by the cropped version.followed by the cropped version.

CroppingCropping

After Cropping – “Resample” the After Cropping – “Resample” the image to a smaller size – keeping the image to a smaller size – keeping the Horizontal dimension to 1024 pixels Horizontal dimension to 1024 pixels or the Vertical dimension to 768 or the Vertical dimension to 768 pixels. pixels.

This would reduce the size of the file. This would reduce the size of the file.

Resample Resample

1024

76

8

Unsharpen Unsharpen This technique is used to actually sharpen This technique is used to actually sharpen

the picture. the picture. The JPG image tends to blur after every The JPG image tends to blur after every

manipulation – “unsharpening” brings out manipulation – “unsharpening” brings out the edges, giving that special finish to the the edges, giving that special finish to the picture. picture.

The next picture is the original image The next picture is the original image followed by the “unsharpened” image; followed by the “unsharpened” image; notice the increase in detail in the second notice the increase in detail in the second pic. pic.

Another example of CroppingAnother example of Cropping

The next picture is the uncropped The next picture is the uncropped image opened in Paint Shop Pro.image opened in Paint Shop Pro.

Next is a screenshot showing the Next is a screenshot showing the process of cropping.process of cropping.

Next is the cropped image itself.Next is the cropped image itself. Last is the cropped + unsharpened Last is the cropped + unsharpened

image. image.

Post shootingPost shooting See all the pictures in a slide show on a See all the pictures in a slide show on a

large monitor. large monitor. Expect only 10 % or your pictures to be Expect only 10 % or your pictures to be

good. good. Identify the pictures that should be Identify the pictures that should be

displayed – Every good picture does not displayed – Every good picture does not have to be uploaded. have to be uploaded.

Be very disciplined in the amount of pictures Be very disciplined in the amount of pictures to be uploaded. to be uploaded.

Process the pictures – crop, resample, Process the pictures – crop, resample, unsharpen.unsharpen.

Write the description with the fullest details. Write the description with the fullest details.

Software to be usedSoftware to be used

With a digital camera, knowledge of With a digital camera, knowledge of image editing software is mandatory. image editing software is mandatory.

Learn Photoshop. If that is not Learn Photoshop. If that is not possible use a lighter freeware like possible use a lighter freeware like PaintShop Pro 4 or Ifran View etc. PaintShop Pro 4 or Ifran View etc.

Aim to learn advanced techniques for Aim to learn advanced techniques for removal of unwanted objects and for removal of unwanted objects and for correcting the levels. correcting the levels.

Removal of unwanted objectsRemoval of unwanted objects

The following two images are The following two images are examples of an unwanted objects.examples of an unwanted objects.

The second image is kindly provided The second image is kindly provided by Prakash Tendulkar. by Prakash Tendulkar.

Correcting levelsCorrecting levels

The following two images are The following two images are examples of improving an image that examples of improving an image that is too light.is too light.

The second image has been tweaked The second image has been tweaked in Photoshop to give some level of in Photoshop to give some level of balance. balance.

Thank You for your patience !