Ticket To Ride

Train Photography 101

Early morning near Beiseker AB, as this CN train makes its way north on the Three Hills sub.
Arriving ahead of the train, I parked and after surveying the situation, I entered this pasture that had a slight rise to the west, giving me this vantage point view as the train arrived and continued on its way while I shot a series of photos.

As you may or may not know, train photography has its challenges, as the train waits for no one in its relentless march forward. You only have one chance to get it right in regards to composition, the lighting, shutter speed and aperture selected keeping the train sharply focused as it speeds by.
Its also important as to where you will focus in on the train, depending whether or not the train is running parallel to your shooting position, or angling towards or away, or coming straight on or running away from you, as the photo is headed for the trash bin if you don't get it right.
In composition of the train, its a lot like wildlife photography in regards to allowing the train space to move. In other words, leave space in front of the train or in front of wildlife, as boxing them in makes for an undesirable photograph.
If allowing vehicles in your photograph as I did with my truck, I made the decision to park it where you see it with the winding road in front of it, so that both the train and my truck would appear to have the same destination going forward.
To add to the challenge of it all, and while you're making hard decisions as to how you will shoot it, all the while you can hear the sound of the train growing louder in its approach while you sweat the details!

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