Credit Valley Train

It is a beautiful curve, it looks that the train is  arriving from nowhere....! somehow seeing it as a thumbnail it reminded me the chinese wall...( I told you I have a cazy imagination?....;-))The vegetation around is enhancing the trucks details, very nice execution and point of camera.

BTW, I may come to Canada!my women org,has a world wide convention in Montreal 10-14 July. Our Israeli union, and my photographic work has recieved first Prize for our Mesila project   ( center for refugees and work seekers, the exhibition I open tomorrow!....;-))

Actually the train is going away around the bend.  It's a tourist train that had slowed and actually stopped for a short time to allow the tourists to view the river (to the left) and old mill (only partially visible here) .  My shooting partner for the day and I were photographing at the mill when the train very quietly crept up beside us.  I thought I could get a shot of the whole train from a nearby bridge but by the time I got my body mass up the hill and on to the bridge it had started up again.  More out of spite than artistic intent, I took one frame as it disappeared around the bend.  This shot & some heavy breathing is all I got for my troubles.  Oh, yeh, shortly after this shot I lost the battery holder for my Bronica SQ Ai.  Cost me $75 CDN to get a new one.  But that's a whole other story.  Best, LM.

Len,

I enjoyed the stories; photographical and literal... I must say I enjoyed the latter more; your rush for a photographical "potential". That, in itself, is almost a sacred journey; whatever the result might be...

Finally, your photograph reminded me of a recent train trip to a mountainous region of my country... I wish was in your train, too :)

I was not to be denied!  Thanks for weighing in on this one.  Your visits are most appreciated.  Yes, often the story behind the photo is more interesting than the photo itself.  I seem to have a lot of shots in that category.  :-(  Short 'touring' train trips can be very rewarding but due to scheduling you have to be quick & hopefully have clean windows (or better yet, ones that open)  It also helps if you know what to expect.  I  didn't know the train was going to do what it did.  Best, LM.

Hi Len

I like the effect of lines on composition and the time of its capturing.

I didn't get the shot I wanted but I did manage the requisite 'S' curve.  Not a total loss you see.  As for timing, well, a few seconds later & it would have been just a photo of the railway tracks & surrounding vegetation.  Thanks for your visit.  Best, LM.

Len, the S- curve (with train!) is very attractive, and I think that you can be proud and happy with your efforts in taking this photo..! The B&W looks great and you composed it nicely too, imo; with the emphasis on the horizontal receding lines of the tracks and with just a slight part of sky visible beyond the contours of the trees.   I'm sorry that you lost your battery holder & hope that you have a replacement for it by now... Best regards to you, Marjolein

Thanks for the bail out Marjolein.  It's called 'making lemonade from a lemon'.  Wasn't what I previsualized but a somewhat satisfying image nonetheless.  I did get a new battery holder thanks to the kind people at KEH Cameras who couldn't provide one but kindly suggested that perhaps Tamron USA could help, which the fine & pleasant people there did.  I'm again armed & dangerous.  :-)  Best, LM.

Len, you might not have got the desired result , but I am admiring the image for its composition & tonal qualities. The credit goes to Len, for making best use of the moment.

Thank you!  It's called the serendipity factor.  Not what the photographer expected but unpredictable circumstances and simply being there produces an entirely different (& OK)  image.  Not always a bad thing.  Best, LM.

Funny how circumstances contrive to change plans, and photography is perhaps one of the most common catalysts of illustrating change, without the image it would just be a passing comment, or to cap that oft used phrase "a picture speaks a thousand words" The slow S  with the train poised to dissapear round that bend says it all, a consolation shot that may just prove to be better than the perceived first prize. Great B & W tones as usual.

Best Regards

Alf

Thanks for the kind words.  You might be right, the shot I was after might have been a bust.  Had I not carried an extra 30 lbs on my frame I might have got to the bridge in time & got an inferior image.  Woulda, coulda, shoulda!  We'll never know.  :-)  Guess I'll have to settle for this one.  Hold on while I dig for another donut.   Best,  LM.

Nice to see you back though you needn't have removed all of your old work.  There's space for it all on PN. :-)  Yah, this one says a mouthful; 'if you snooze, you lose', 'missed the boat (or train or whatever)', 'gone around the bend', etc.  Thanks for stopping by.  Always a pleasure.  Best, LM.

Your constructive comments\critiques will be gratefully received.

Best, LM.

seems like something from  the wild west.

And if you could have heard my heavy breathing after running to catch this one you'd have thought you were standing beside sidekick Andy Devine.  Best, LM.

Len...  Really superb b/w work and the detail is phenomenal, but from first seeing this I keep thinking of "Petticoat Junction" even though that dates me somewhat ;-)...  Excellent work... Mike 

Good of you to weigh in on this one.  One of those shots that exceed one's expectations. (which were very low I must admit). This one is indeed a good trigger for  'Petticoat Junction'.   Dating yourself?  I remember listening to the radio shows 'The  Shadow' & 'Boston Blackie'.  :-) So, not to worry.  Best, LM.

Len, this is an excellently composed shot with great detail, texture, nicely toned, and with an air of nostalgia and idyllic times. You have done a great job on a relatively common motif.

Thanks for your kind appraisal and for taking the time to dig through my folder to get at it.  If you've read all of the critiques and responses above you'll understand why I feel in presenting this one I've made 'Lemonade out of a Lemon'.  :-)  Best, LM.

Len, this is really good.  That curve was just sitting there waiting for you and the train.

--Lannie

Good to hear from you again.  Could have got the whole train in if I wasn't carrying around an extra 40 Lbs.  (not talking gear here).  Best, LM.