Western Railroad Discussion > Hard Work Pays Off

I spent about a hour trying to open up this shot of the bridge over the Flathead River at Coram, MT. Had to bushwhack, and then remove dead branches from trees using a rope and a tree branch made into a grappling hook. There was a steep drop to the river below, so I had to use the rope and branch to reach those dead branches hanging out into space. Once I got a branch locked onto a branch, a quick yank on the rope broke off the branches at the tree trunk. Finished in time to catch a westbound Z train in perfect light on October 6th, 2020.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

---

Sterling effort, Ted, lovely shot.

I sometimes find myself waging war on vegetation to allow that shot that I want... Sweating, exhausted and panting heavily, I stand there thinking, 'I must be mad'...! Glad i'm not the only one!!
It never stops growing.... ;-)

Thanks!  I haven't shot there in years, due to its getting grown in. 

That's a great photo Ted.

Rope can come in handy. I once had to photograph a tombstone for a book I'm working on. But the problem was that branches from a tree near the tombstone were hanging over the tombstone. I had some rope in the car trunk, so I tied up the branches so that they were pulled away from the tombstone long enough to take the photo. A few years later I had to take the photo again because a burglar stole my computer and this was one of the images that I hadn't backed up. Fortunately, this time the cemetary had got their act together and had cleaned up the cemetary overgrowth. The tombstone was that of a railroader who was killed in a link-and-pin accident.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Really nice.
JB

Your pictures have always been interesting and good.  Now I know how dedicated you are to get "that shot".

Very NICE result from your hard work.

Larry

Superb photo Ted.  Thanks for sharing.

Kent in CArmel Valley

There's a spot I know of that I've always figured would make a great picture if it weren't for some trees in the way. Now you've got me thinking...

As always excellent work.Thanks.Bill Webb

Worth all the work. Nice shot.

Robert Morris
Dunsmuir, CA
Robert Morris Photography

Awesome story, have never thought of that before...

Great pic!!