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More Than Just the Train
By: Chris Starnes
August 16, 2006
 | | Chris Starnes |
When I first started railroad photography I was like any other young railfan in the fact that the train meant more to me than the overall photograph. Once I started shooting slide film in 2001 and taking note of other photographers’ work, I gradually progressed into a more serious side of the railroad photography hobby. When I met frequently published railfan and local resident Ron Flanary in the fall of 2001, I quickly took note of his photos and decided I wanted my images to look more like his than an endless album of “train” photos. Slowly over time I developed my own personal style, one which I am very happy with today. For anyone who has browsed through my images on RailPictures.net, you have noticed that I seldom post photos with only the train as the main subject. Several well known railroad photographers have been coined as saying “I know what a train looks like coming down the tracks toward me, show me something different” and I would completely agree with this statement.
There are so many different ways to incorporate railroad subjects into scenes rather than having them as the scene themselves. In this example, a set of Norfolk Southern pusher units pass by a local resident’s house showing the typical early fall scene of various gourds and pumpkins having just been pulled off of their vines. It would have been much easier to stand at the grade crossing (just out of view to the left) and take the standard train photo but what would set that photo apart from the endless other grade crossing wedge type of images we are all so familiar with? In the case of this image and others that I have shot from this location, I have become acquainted with the older gentleman who lives here and I always enjoy going back to visit. He reminds me quite a bit of my grandfather who recently passed away so a relaxing chat with him on his front porch while waiting for the train to show up is often as enjoyable as taking the shot itself.
There are so many positive aspects of this hobby which are lost by not stepping past that standard crossing shot. I challenge each of our younger visitors and photographers to keep these things in mind as you grow into the railroad photography hobby. There are many, many opportunities out there beyond the standard train photo!
Copyright © Chris Starnes. All Rights Reserved.
This article has been viewed 10025 times.
User Comments on this Article:
Posted by Chris Groeling on August 16, 2006:
Great article, Chris! And you give some excelent advise. As a younger railfan photographer, this article has inspired me to try and be more creative, and try not to take the normal picture. Thank you for your inspirational words!
Posted by Adam Weddle on August 17, 2006:
Awsome job man! I'm going to take this into account next time I go to take a pic of a train.
-Adam
Posted by Ron Flanary on August 17, 2006:
Chris--Needless to say, I'm flattered that I inspired you in any manner....particularly since I'm not even sure I could house-break a puppy. In truth, your accomplishments and continued growth in this field are 100 percent of your own doing. I, too, was inspired by great photographers when I was young---and without apology, I mimicked their styles as I tried to develop my own. It's now my hope that other aspiring photographers might, in turn, be inspired by YOUR work, and do something more than add yet another sun-at-your-back droll "wedgie" to the body of all railroad photography. It's an age-old debate of whether a photo is to merely document some artifact of rail transportation, or should make a creative statement of the interaction of the main subject, light, composition and surroundings. My preferences--and yours--fall largely into the latter of the two. I will note, however, that it still takes raw talent, desire, intellect, and the "eye" to be a great photographer. You have it, my friend.
Posted by Michael Richmond on August 17, 2006:
Chris,
You do have very good photos on this website. I am pleased to see a lot of them. That is the same way I do on my pictures, I used to have a HP Photosmart 430 digital camera and say if a train was doing anywhere from 25-45 mph down the track, I would have to get them "far away" shots and not one of them "last second" shots like we photographers submit here. I am overall pleased with the work that you have shared and will share on this site. As your fellow photographer, I know I have improved in my pictures just by looking at others and getting myself prepared for the shot, while the train was still away from me, then SNAP!!! there I have, a good picture waiting to be loaded to some websites that not only am I pleased with to not only put in my collection, but to share them with other photographers who take them classy pics. Excellent shots, keep them coming!!!
Michael Richmond
Posted by Ray Peacock heartlandrails.com on August 18, 2006:
Chris,
Let me add my voice to the chorus. I too like it best when a train is seen as part of a larger environment. Sure, we all take those 'documentary' shots at 3/4 angle in perfect light because, well, you gotta document something that won't last forever when the opportunity exists. BUT---the most pleasing results come when, like you point out, the train is part of a bigger universe. And, yes--I've met some interesting people this way--the best part is when you take a 12 x8 print to them of something you took from their property and they are thrilled and also able to see the 'context' in which the RR is seen in the picture, usually something they never 'saw' before.
Posted by J. E. Landrum - www.cincyrails.com on August 20, 2006:
Fine work Chris. The greatest pleasure I have had as a screener at RP has been watching the artistic development of our contributors. You have been at the forefront of those who have "gotten the eye" to produce magnificent work.
Posted by Stu Levene - www.stulev.com on August 23, 2006:
Chris - and the rest of you at RP. I have been adding my photos to your database for nearly two years now and I do not exaggerate when I say that you have helped me improve my photographic skills during this period. It is not just the work of some very talented photographers that has inspired this but also the photo submission process. Some websites either just accept or reject an image, but the screeners' rejection comments at RP have proved invaluable to me. Whilst some rejection reasons have surprised and perplexed me at times, there is no doubt that the comments have opened my eyes to some inherent flaws that previously existed in my work. Now I am more aware of making sure that all the facets of my shots are in order when in the field and am more concientious about the final image quality. You guys do a great job and it must take a lot of time to sift through all the submissions, comments and messages. Here's hoping Railpictures continues for many more years yet.
Posted by E Garrett on August 23, 2006:
Very appropriate sentiments, Chris, in fact reflecting an approach to railroad photography that can be traced back to the great Phil Hastings in the Fifties, at least. Railroads are much more than close-up portraits of locomotives, however much our attention may be drawn to them, powerful machines with different designs, paint schemes, etc. Trains operate in an environment. Trying to understand a train without an indication of its surroundings is like trying to psych out a person from a head-and-shoulders portrait -- it just doesn't give you enough information. I hope the screeners take this philosophy to heart. Having submitted photos of the genre under consideration, I've frequently been told bad cropping or too much foreground clutter. But that's exactly what one experiences in the railfan environment, not perfect wedgie portraits. Keep up the good work, and let's focus on presenting a real and informative picture of the industry we find so fascinating.
Posted by Jim Dorst on August 27, 2006:
Thanks Chris. I'm a newbie railfan photographer who has yet to have a picture posted. Being naturally drawn to the locomotive detail — which my pictures reflect. I have been trying to "step back" more. Your informative article, and RP screener coments have been invaluable. One day I'll succeed.
Posted by Christopher Sieving on September 1, 2006:
Chris,
What an outstanding article, and so very true. We to often see pictures on railfan web sites, which are very bland, boring, and just down right uninteresting. I have yet to begin posting pictures on RP, as I am still working on purchasing just the right digital camera for the first time. But I can tell you this, seeing great pictures from veteran rail photographers like yourself is what continues to draw me to this site. I look forward to viewing your exceptional rail fan photos on RP for years to come. Thanks for a great article and great pics too!! C.S.
Posted by MISSY on December 29, 2006:
GREAT JOB & KEEP IT UP!! LOVE THAT PIX!!
WHAT IS THAT THING ON THE TREE?
WHERE DID YOU TAKE THE PIX?
Posted by Kyle Jacobs on March 13, 2008:
Very nice article, Chris. I am a young railfan, and I have been taking roster shots ever since my interest in railroads began. Now I look at railroad photography in a whole different way. Thanks.
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