Has the train track portrait session gone out of style yet?

[aura_jane]

I know everyone has seen them. The done a thousand times a day train track portrait sessions. Is it just because I am

constantly viewing every photographer's work I can find that I am burnt out on this portrait setting, or

is the rest of the world finally over it too? What is your opinion, still in style or WAY overused?

[Norma Desmond]

<p>I don't think any kind of content will ever be over. It's all about the <em>way</em> that content is used. Just when you write off any kind or style of portrait because it's been done before, some creative photographer will come along and do it differently, probably recognizing the cliché and handling it in such a way that it is personal and effective. This photographer will make it her own. For me, it's not so much about the particular setup or content, it's about the vision. The setup of a portrait is just a beginning.</p>

[Spearhead]

<p>I don't know anyone who shoots train track portraits. I think I've seen about three in my whole life. However, I think I may have overdone the painted wall portrait genre, like this one.</p>

<p><center><img src="http://www.spirer.com/fsf2009/357P8598.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /><br>

<i>Folsom Street Portrait, Copyright 2009 Jeff Spirer</i></center></p>

[lex_jenkins]

<p>Doesn't seem overdone to me. If it's done well, the subject or client is happy and you're happy, don't worry about whether it's cliched. I could listen to half a dozen different versions of "Smokestack Lightning" or any other train-theme blues song and enjoy every one of 'em without worrying about whether it was overdone or out of style. There ain't much genuinely original in any creative venture, but there's always room for nuance of expression.</p>

[tony_cooper5]

<p>If for example it is a fashion shoot for a fixed but megre fee and the client's taste are on the conventional side then I suspect we will see many more.<br>

I wonder if it is not a subconcious plea by the photographer. Have you ever looked at the sky and wondered where that jet is going and thought what you life would be like if you were on it. Well maybe its a plea by the photographer, to get me outta here. <br>

I see too that it is frequented in fine art nudes as well but Im unsure if that is just because of my over sized sampling.<br>

..<br>

Jeff that is stunning, what is your secret ...have you got a funny hat on or something?</p>

 

[chris_waller]

<p>I have to say I haven't seen that many - though I have done it myself, but just once, 15 years ago. Derelict factories and steelplants used to be favourite once upon a time, probably becuase there were so many available. The graffiti-covered brick-wall is in vogue at the moment. Guess we'll get back to the hand-painted cloth backdrop with a woodland scene on it pretty soon.</p>

[philipward]

<p>This summer I did an engagment and wedding shoot with train tracks and a vintage steam locomotive.It was all about sastifying the clients wishes, after all they were paying the freight.I worked it hard to keep the "cheese" factor low.The B&G and family were happy with the results and had a good time.This location has a lineup of wedding parties during the summer.So train track shoots will be around forever,despite photographers burnout.</p>

[philipward]

<p>Not a portrait but another one that causes my eyes to glaze over "Old Car Havana".</p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>People who live in rural areas may have train tracks in their community. It's a part of being near their home, just like the ground, the road . . . it's one of the parts that are there.</p>

<p>When are city kids going to stop having asphalt in their photos? It's there. It gets included. It's included in people's perceptions and expectations, also.</p>

<p>Hey, is it socially arrogant of us to think the train tracks are kitchy, but the ugly, crude oil and trash road surfaces of city streets are so unnoticeable that we may not even think twice about it? The graffiti covered brick wall and ugly street surface in the city cool, but the train tracks are tacky? Functionally, what's the difference?</p>

<p>Train tracks, by the way, in some communities, are associated with violent death. People may receive the image of those train tracks differently, on an emotional level, based on their experiences. That person on the tracks is, to some people, a picture of danger. It could be imbued with metaphors about beauty, life and death, just like a picture of a model in the center lane of a busy interstate highway.</p>

<p>Some people would be automatically cringing at the tension the situation creates. Others, would be reminded of being in the country and at home. Depends. </p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Visually, though, I can see why it would get boring. There have probably been so many photos of trains that it might be tough to come up with a new train track photo idea. </p>

[manuel barrera houston,]

<p>Saw two different photographers doing train tracks this past weekend, I guess I will be seeing more.</p>

[Spearhead]

<blockquote>

<p>There have probably been so many photos of trains</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I don't think that's what the question was about. You don't take a portrait of trains or train tracks.</p>

[awahlster]

<p>The local portrait studio on town (Silverton Oregon) is right along the local freight tracks which get at most one 5mph train a week day. And I see him out there with some High school aged kid dragging his RB67 every once and a while so it must still be popular here in town. At least he has a 1910 steel bridge across the creek about 75 yards from his studio to add some variation it's painted silver with a lot of rust spots.</p>

[manuel barrera houston,]

<p>Well Jeff, you do if the people that you are photographing are sitting or standing on the tracks,</p><div></div>

[manuel barrera houston,]

<p>And why am I taking images of photographers, two different assignments from clubs, people at work and photographers doing their stuff</p><div></div>

[michael_dimarzio]

<p><em>"People who live in rural areas may have train tracks in their community. It's a part of being near their home, just like the ground, the road . . . it's one of the parts that are there."</em></p>

<p>John, very wise and learned words. Very few parts of the world that I've lived in didn't have tracks of some sort, they're part of the pulse of where we live.</p>