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Railway Photography Pros and Cons

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Peter Mugridge

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Railway photography is a very popular hobby.

Everything in life has its good points and bad points.

Please have a read about the
railway photography pros and cons.

You state this about the weather:


Weather Conditions
Mother nature can also be a disadvantage! Photography in heavy rain can be very hard and something that many would rather avoid, and then there is snow! Likewise, when the heat is at its peak a, photography session can quickly become uncomfortable. Also, different weather conditions could ruin the consistency of the shots, including the way it’ll affect lighting conditions.

However, I would contend that the weather is not a con but a pro. Snow, unless it is at a very disruptive level, can result in photography which is far better than that obtained in "normal" conditions.

Regarding changing weather conditions and lighting levels, that is good - most of us don't want all our pictures being carbon copies of each other and making use of different lighting conditions is a key part of that.

You are correct that it is unpleasant in rain, but if you can avoid getting soaked then showery conditions are often ones in which some truly stunning pictures can be produced - as, indeed, is the case for mist and fog ( which you haven't mentioned, but they are an important part of the mix ).

I offer some examples from various conditions below:
 

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1369

Member
Joined
25 Jun 2019
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126
Location
South Devon
You state this about the weather:





However, I would contend that the weather is not a con but a pro. Snow, unless it is at a very disruptive level, can result in photography which is far better than that obtained in "normal" conditions.

Regarding changing weather conditions and lighting levels, that is good - most of us don't want all our pictures being carbon copies of each other and making use of different lighting conditions is a key part of that.

You are correct that it is unpleasant in rain, but if you can avoid getting soaked then showery conditions are often ones in which some truly stunning pictures can be produced - as, indeed, is the case for mist and fog ( which you haven't mentioned, but they are an important part of the mix ).

I offer some examples from various conditions below:
Thank you for your reply.

Sorry that you do not agree with some of what I wrote in the article.

Everyone is usually different, just because I do not like something does not mean that everyone has to agree.

If you love going out in the snow etc to photograph trains then well done.
 

Peter Mugridge

Veteran Member
Joined
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Messages
14,751
Location
Epsom
Everyone is usually different, just because I do not like something does not mean that everyone has to agree.
That is very true, and indeed if everyone liked exactly the same things this planet would be rather a boring place, would it not? :)

I am certainly not against the use of sunny weather for the purpose - at a guess the vast majority of my own pictures are from sunny days. My point was that you shouldn't stick to just sunny weather otherwise you'll be missing out on some quite dramatic photo opportunities, so I would certainly encourage you to try in less favourable conditions and see how you get on with it.

Have you ever tried night photography, for example?

This is, of course, a discussion forum so putting different points of view into the mix is part of the whole experience and helps us all to learn off each other. :)
 

Class360/1

Member
Joined
10 Feb 2021
Messages
652
Location
Essex
You state this about the weather:





However, I would contend that the weather is not a con but a pro. Snow, unless it is at a very disruptive level, can result in photography which is far better than that obtained in "normal" conditions.

Regarding changing weather conditions and lighting levels, that is good - most of us don't want all our pictures being carbon copies of each other and making use of different lighting conditions is a key part of that.

You are correct that it is unpleasant in rain, but if you can avoid getting soaked then showery conditions are often ones in which some truly stunning pictures can be produced - as, indeed, is the case for mist and fog ( which you haven't mentioned, but they are an important part of the mix ).

I offer some examples from various conditions below:
I agree, you can get some stunning shots in rainy conditions, so long as you don’t get wet.4DD682BA-640C-4DDA-B79A-EC2EB278107C.jpegC7D6C8BE-12C3-4405-82EA-077313BFB862.jpeg

i also like your pictures! :)
 

1369

Member
Joined
25 Jun 2019
Messages
126
Location
South Devon
That is very true, and indeed if everyone liked exactly the same things this planet would be rather a boring place, would it not? :)

I am certainly not against the use of sunny weather for the purpose - at a guess the vast majority of my own pictures are from sunny days. My point was that you shouldn't stick to just sunny weather otherwise you'll be missing out on some quite dramatic photo opportunities, so I would certainly encourage you to try in less favourable conditions and see how you get on with it.

Have you ever tried night photography, for example?

This is, of course, a discussion forum so putting different points of view into the mix is part of the whole experience and helps us all to learn off each other. :)
Have you ever tried night photography, for example?

I have but only at Christmas when the “Train of Lights” run on my local Heritage Railway.

I must admit, I am not that good at it. The few photos I have look OK from a distance but when you zoom in on them you can see that they are not very sharp.

Do you know of an article or something similar on how to photograph trains at night?
 

Peter Mugridge

Veteran Member
Joined
8 Apr 2010
Messages
14,751
Location
Epsom
Have you ever tried night photography, for example?

I have but only at Christmas when the “Train of Lights” run on my local Heritage Railway.

I must admit, I am not that good at it. The few photos I have look OK from a distance but when you zoom in on them you can see that they are not very sharp.

Do you know of an article or something similar on how to photograph trains at night?
I have, yes - and this is something which again needs practice, practice, practice. There's been a few threads in here in recent years on the subject and it'll be worth your while searching for them. There's not a lot of opportunity at this time of year to partake in night photography, so use the time to read up on it and then give it a go.

Here's a few examples of mine. I don't bother with a tripod, if I suspect the exposure is going to be too long even at ISO 1600 to hand hold it, I'll just jam the camera up against a wall or fence or something.
 

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