My Favorite "Gal" all 850,000 Pounds of Her!

[Ben]

Nickle Plate Railroad # 765 a Berkshire steam locomotive built in 1943. She recently went through a one and three quarter million dollar restoration!

Ben

[Gods Servant]

Did you photograph "her"?  Beautiful!!!  I'm talking, stunning.  That could be in a magazine.

[Ben]

Did you photograph "her"?  Beautiful!!!  I'm talking, stunning.  That could be in a magazine.

Yes, she "lives" about 25 miles north of me and every August the owners of her have a weekend where they put her on display and allow the public to run her a couple of hundred feet down the track then back her up.  I took this shot at the exact instant they stopped her to shift her into reverse and it just happened that at that same time they cleared the cylinders which is why there is steam coming out of them.  The steam and the smoke really "make" this image.  A couple of side notes. I was standing on a 10 foot step ladder so I could shoot straight in on this engine rather than shooting at ground level where I would have to tilt the camera up to get the top of the engine in the photograph.  When you tilt the camera up, whatever you are shooting will appear to be leaning backward, and a leaning backward engine looks awful IMHO.  Also it was an overcast day, which is perfect for locomotive photography as the light comes from everywhere!

Ben

Ben

[Gods Servant]

Ben, I am impressed.  That picture could be framed and hung with pride.  It truly is amazing.  My brother-in-law is into trains so the next time he is here, I am going to show him your photograph. 

All I can do is shake my head at your gift.  Simply amazing!

[Ben]

Ben, I am impressed.  That picture could be framed and hung with pride.  It truly is amazing.  My brother-in-law is into trains so the next time he is here, I am going to show him your photograph. 

All I can do is shake my head at your gift.  Simply amazing!

Thanks. I guess I never looked at being able to take a good photograph as a gift from God so much as something I learned in photography school!!!  I'm going to have to chew on this one awhile.

Ben

[Gods Servant]

Our talents come for our Father.  He made you.  It might not be a spiritual gift but a gift all the same.  You are talented!

[WileyClarkson]

Ben,

this is a great shot!  I'm a steam engine buff from way back.  You really were lucky on that photo to be in the right place at the right time for the cylinders to be cleared! It really adds alot to the photo.  The step ladder was a wonderful bit of planning and anticipation!  There's alot of history to the 2-8-4 Berkshire.

[Ben]

Ben,

this is a great shot!  I'm a steam engine buff from way back.  You really were lucky on that photo to be in the right place at the right time for the cylinders to be cleared! It really adds alot to the photo.  The step ladder was a wonderful bit of planning and anticipation!  There's alot of history to the 2-8-4 Berkshire.

The first time I photographed this old girl I stood at ground level and I didn't like the leaning back perspective, and since I am a firm believer in "getting it right in the camera" I took a step ladder with me the following year and got this shot.  

I watched them run the engine forward then backward a couple of times and noticed that they cleared the cylinders when they shifted in reverse, and they did it at nearly the exact same spot on the track so I quickly set up my ladder in the appropriate place and waited for the engine to enter the scene!

Ben

[fennel]

That's a fantastic photo!  I love trains, too.

[wgooden]

Great job Ben ... any PS work on this ... or is it all 'real' ... I ask because of the smoke ... it looks great either way.

[Ben]

The smoke is real and it was from this engine, but it was about 15 minutes earlier when the wind was blowing the "correct" way, so I stole it from the that image and put it into this one.

Ben

[wgooden]

ah, nice touch ... very well done.