At 08:44 10/18/97 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >We have discussed how a little elevation generally is a good element to >add to any railroad photo. > >Check out http://www.ternstyle.com > >Has anyone tried this stuff for their rail photography?
Haven't tried this but talked to either these same folks or their competion at a photo trade show a few years ago. A few points that their advertising and Web page don't tell you: -- Neither tethered blimp nor pylon photography works well in any kind of wind, which you are likely to encounter on the open spaces of the West. (On my recent trip around Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado, virtually every day was windy.) -- Operating a remote camera, either on a blimp or pylon takes considerable practice and skill. Composing one of these shots isn't going to be easy with a moving subject. (It may work fine with completely fixed subjects, such as a building -- if you have plenty of time.) -- This gear runs to big bucks, as noted on their Web site. -- There are many situations where you can't use either a tethered blimp or pylon because of overhead wires or other obstructions. On my recent trip out West, there were occasions where even the small 5-foot ladder that I normally carry in my own car -- obviously I was driving a rental on the trip -- would have been useful. Over-all I think an investment in a roof-top platform for a utility vehicle or van would prove more useful -- though these platforms also aren't cheap -- than the blimp or pylon rigs. Or, you can always rent a small aircraft. A small fixed-wing aircraft with pilot flying out of a smaller airport will cost you about $70-80 per hour. (Costs in urban areas or for helicopters will be substantially higher.) -- Ernest -- Ernest H. Robl, Durham,NC,USA Stock photography; photojournalism; writing Specializing in travel and transportation subjects for more than 25 years. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone +1 (919) 286-3845 Fax +1 (919) 286-1696 http://www.robl.w1.com "I'd rather be on the train." Intermodal Container FAQ: http://www.robl.w1.com/Transport/intermod.htm --> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects
