First Railroad Shot---your thoughts?

[swmdrayfan]

Ok, ideally this set of tracks would be heading around a bend to add a sense of undetermined destination. The shot being what it is though, and it is my first attempt, any recommendations for future shots of this nature, other than finding some that go around a bend? I tried to avoid a straight down the middle shot, so I took a little off the left side. Any ideas?
John

[echoback]

i know exactly what you mean, it's hard to find anything new to do with these type of shots. i posted an example of one shot that I took a while ago during my trip to death valley, where I tried to do the "bend" idea. i dunno if it worked too well, plus it was a road and not train tracks, but I set the road a little off to the right so as to get a bit more of the background. not sure if this was effective, but it's an idea. Of course, I like B&W, especially for railroad tracks, you could try that.

[ChowChi-Ching]

I agree, B/W is the way to go with railroad tracks. I posted one a while back.

[Asylum Steve]

Any ideas?...

I think many many photogs have been in your position. There's something about RR tracks heading off into the distance (or heading in from the distance) that's very compelling and almost begs to be photographed.

Yet, when we actually look at the image, it's immediately obvious that we've captured something that's been captured countless times before to the point of being a cliche and not really very interesting by itself.

So, self-discovery aside, the only thing I would suggest is to use this type of scene as sort of the "canvas" for another subject, a visual background if you will, for a smaller and more interesting subject that becomes the real focus of the shot.

For example, your shot as it is would instantly become stronger with, say a small jackrabbit or other animal near the tracks in the foreground, or perhaps a "man of leisure" with a lot of character sitting or doing something nearby, or maybe some kids playfully skipping quickly across the tracks (when no train is coming, of course).

Get what I mean?

[swmdrayfan]

I think many many photogs have been in your position. There's something about RR tracks heading off into the distance (or heading in from the distance) that's very compelling and almost begs to be photographed.

Yet, when we actually look at the image, it's immediately obvious that we've captured something that's been captured countless times before to the point of being a cliche and not really very interesting by itself.

So, self-discovery aside, the only thing I would suggest is to use this type of scene as sort of the "canvas" for another subject, a visual background if you will, for a smaller and more interesting subject that becomes the real focus of the shot.

For example, your shot as it is would instantly become stronger with, say a small jackrabbit or other animal near the tracks in the foreground, or perhaps a "man of leisure" with a lot of character sitting or doing something nearby, or maybe some kids playfully skipping quickly across the tracks (when no train is coming, of course).

Get what I mean?

Exactly Steve. That's what I was looking for. Chow and echo, I like your input as well. I'm definately going to think about that.
John

[CLKunst]

Here's an idea for you John, what about a penny on the tracks? If you got down almost level to it so you get real sharp detail that it is a penny but just high enough that you could see the perspective. That might look neat. Even better an already flattened penny still on the tracks same perspective.
I will be interested to see what you come up with regardless, just keep pushing that rock!:thumbsup:

[Greg McCary]

I have always wanted to do a track that splits into two directions. I posted one simalar to yours a while back.