The following post from John was sent to me and after reading it, I noticed that it was intended for the list, so I have forwarded it.
Forwarded by Dave Cohen: ---------- > From: JOHN B. CORNS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: SPORRS: Backlit > Date: Thursday, October 02, 1997 4:48 PM > > Oh, backlit shots (not silhouettes) can be a challenge, but are they > GREAT if pulled off well. They really are nice with a diesel that has > silver or other light-colored paint on it. I especially like it when the > sun bombards the roof and side of a backlit diesel, with the rails > reflecting the sun. I had THE perfect backlit location selected (on > purpose) for the 844 Tennesse Pass trip this past summer, with the sun > streaming down through a canyon late in the day and the tracks curving > into the sun for a going-away shot. I illegally parked my car in a > narrow gap between the lanes of the highway and hiked to this remote spot > off the side of the interstate, and waited, and waited, and waited. > Heck, I was only a two miles ahead of the train but it never showed as > the golden sun dropped behind the mountain. The backlighting went away, > and so did I. > > I do not understand everyone's aversion to such backlit photography. Why > don't railfan photo shooters just petition the railroads to operate their > eastbound trains only during sunny mornings and westbound trains only on > sunny afternoons? That way they could get only sunny train photos, and > we would not have to hear any more of their whining. > > Backlit photos are part of the real-world railroad scene, just as are > rainy and overcast days. Must EVERY photo look like it is a candidate > for a railroad calendar or magazine cover? Yawn. > > I'll take one good backlit shot for every 100 sun-on-the-nose shots that > most people shoot. Any monkey with a point-and-shoot camera can get the > sunny shot, so what's the big deal with them? A good backlit shot > requires good timing, skill and luck. > > I'm going out of town for four days, so please feel free to flame away--I > wear asbestos underwear and the weather here is geting chilly. > > John B. Corns "Nothing that is good is easy" --> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects
