No, Ian...- it wasn't static. The shutter speed was 1/1600 sec f7. I'm wary of 'low' shutter speeds as a couple of times the loco number on the boiler hasn't been as sharp as I'd like but I don't think that if 1/800 sec. gets a tack sharp photo having a higher shutter speed isn't going to make it look any different. so I'm not sure what could be done about it,as a slow shutter would give a blur.Any suggestions would be appreciated.
There
was smoke, not a lot though, I have to say..I noticed that as it rounded the bend a half mile down the track so I was aware of it but the small amount there was has been visually,in the photo, lost against the white cloud. I don't think the locos need to do a lot of work along this stretch. Nearer home we have hills but it's not often they come through them..Stroud Valley.
Here's a photo posted by SwissToni recently and that also looks static - no blur on the con rods either...apart from the smoke it looks pretty much the same so if it's the apparent lack of smoke I can't disagree. .
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/flying-scotsman.620358/
Re. the buffer beam,I've looked at the my non-edited photos and the red is at that intensity..looks newly-painted to me. I found these photos..it's the same depth
http://www.iconsofsteam.com/locos/royal-scot/
I should be seeing it again tomorrow in Bristol and I'll take particular note of the depth of that red . I've just taken it into edit (Develop in LR4) and toned the 'reds' down in saturation in the HSL/Color/B&W edit box and it seems to take the life out of it. There's a touch of vibrance, I don't use the 'saturation' tool..over the whole image and I reduced that to zero and it made barely any difference so it hasn't been that edit. My editing is always light touch, just the basics. I'll compare tomorrow's photos with these re. that buffer beam so if you could keep an eye out. I won't get back home from seeing it until 8.00pm so if it's a reasonable shot I'll probably post it Thursday morning, see how I feel.
Hi John, didn't think she was static, but if the weather is mild and the regulator closed, it really makes life hell for the photographer. Hence finding a good bank/gradient to get it working, makes a huge difference. Problem with steam specials, someone else will also have had the same idea. Such as 60163 'Tornado' heading up Gamston Bank in 2009.
http://www.mainlinephotography.co.uk/gamston-bank
Whilst I might ramp up the speed for moving diesel and electrics locomotives, for steam this is rarely necessary and probably never take it beyond 1/800th and in many situations much less than that. As long as the smokebox numberplate is sharp, most other things fall into line. A good DoF will capture the rest. Its a bit like the human eyes; as long as they are tack sharp and well focused other things are largely forgivable. Otherwise its not a keeper.
But you probably know all of that
Night shots lose a lot of the crowds which helps:-
http://www.mainlinephotography.co.uk/tornado-awaiting-time-at-sheffield
This one was 70013 'Oliver Cromwell', coasting to a water stop about two miles ahead, with the disinterested look from the fireman, only a little smoke and minor steam emanating from the underside, together with completely flat late afternoon sky, meant this one has sat only on the HDD until now, as it was not worth submitting for publication etc.
http://www.mainlinephotography.co.uk/photo27291386.html
Of course capturing the shot is often more important in a certain location than perhaps the technicalities, and I do not claim to be perfect by any means.
http://www.mainlinephotography.co.uk/heading-into-doncaster
Was the occasion of new build 60163 'Tornado's' first revenue earning run, (well for shareholders only), and the angle I wanted was not just the engine, but the 'Peglars' brick chimney in the background, Alan Peglar obviously purchased 1923 Doncaster built LNER A3, 60103 'Flying Scotsman' from BR back in the early 1960s.
Sometimes other factors such as commercial considerations intervene, such as this one,
http://www.mainlinephotography.co.uk/electricsteam
that was for National Express and getting their logo sharp on the Cl.91 was a greater consideration, even though the electric which was passing at around 115mph, looks static. Could have added PS motion blur, but decided not too on this occasion. At least they liked it and is still on public display. Obviously the A4 in the background was static taking water.
Pictures for publication often need to be different to the gazzilions of ¾ shots submitted to editors and others, and modern traction is often much more difficult to capture a sense of movement and interest.
In museums it becomes even more difficult, but this one grabbed my attention a few years ago:-
http://www.mainlinephotography.co.uk/old-small-boy
.....after all it is the human interest that gives railways their reason d'être.