train – Jacques le Roux photography

As Halloween will be here shortly we went hunting for the elusive ghost train.

A bit of long exposure light play at the trains station at South Queensferry. It’s a learning curve and we went out experimenting on Friday night.

So we stood at the end of platform 2 facing the Forth rail bridge and as trains went past tried to get the light trails working. After a struggle we eventually got some good shots.

Then it was onto trying to shoot the end of the train as it’s stationary and moving away. The only problem with this is the delay between trains arriving at the platforms. 15-20min wait and then a single photo. I have eventually decided to get my 2nd (my back up camera, I replaced the Canon 1D MKIII with another 7D) Canon 7D involved to increase the possibilities of some good shots. I had to use a camera backpack as a make shift tripod but will invest in another tripod for the future, I might even need another lens as the wide angle is a bit to short at times.

Here’s the results of us facing the Forth railway bridge:

And then moving to the back of each train working out how long to start the exposure before the train moves away to get
the illusion of transparency while having enough detail to see that it is a train.

Thanks you for having a look
Jacques le Roux

I went to take photos at the Forth train bridge of fireworks going off next to the bridge while the passenger on a steam train look on. Here’s a post with things I learnt from this night.

DO NOT stand down wind from the fireworks
DO NOT shoot camera in hand
DO NOT stand behind a structure if the fireworks are being shot in front of it (it doesn’t always get the height to get over the structure)
DO NOT come late and unprepared
DO NOT stand with other photographers if you can help it, find a unique position (unless they know the place and know what results they will get)

DO talk to other photographers and gather as much info as possible
DO a recce before the fireworks starts
DO find out where the fireworks are being shot from
DO check the wind direction if possible
DO use a tripod for long exposure
DO bring multiple cameras if possible
DO remember your remote trigger
DO always have a thick coat and beanie available

Photos were taken with my Canon 1D MK III and Canon 7D MK I with wide angle lens. As you can see at the end of each series the smoke has effected the results and are very much in the way. If I stood on the other side I would have had better photos and no smoke in the way.

LIVE and LEARN I say. So here’s the results.
While waiting a train went through the centre of the bridges.

Puff of smoke from the steam train. It parked in the middle of the right hand side structure. These are from the Canon 1D MK III After it was all done we went to the other side to see what shots we could have had. Live and learn.