Steam & Excursion > Steamtown Night Shoot (Was I remember when...)

...as if it was last night.

A small group of friends joined Pete Lerro and crew in a
test shoot evaluating some new lights for an upcoming
night shoot in WV. Here's RDG #2124, still awaiting
asbestos removal and painting, as she sat posed on the
Museum's park tracks late Thursday night 5-6-10.

/Mitch



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/10 22:23 by Mgoldman.

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Very evocative shot there of 2124...the old dinosaur looming out of the midnight void where most of her fellow engines wound up. Dramatic!

The hotspot on the tender is pretty jarring, but then again these were just test shots that were taken, right? Regardless, I enjoy the *feel* of the shot. To me, that is its true strength.

Nice shot Mitch.

I like the bright spot on the tender; really pulls your eye right to the engineer standing there.

--Tom

I don't mind the hot spot either. It works for this kind of thing. It's more dramatic. Besides, I'm very into making artistic photographs of steam.

She is the one that needs to be rebuilt to operation.

Sasquatch Wrote:
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> Nice shot Mitch.
>
> I like the bright spot on the tender; really pulls
> your eye right to the engineer standing there.
>
> --Tom


Thanks Antracite, and Tom!

I agree, the hot spot adds in my opinion specifically
in that it brings out the engineer - Owen Hawkins.

Using floods allow everyone to go after their own type
of photo, though generally you will find a prime spot
where the photoline forms. The light placed at the
back of then engine was placed to increase the contrast
of the scene. There were opportunities for light over
your shoulder as well as high contrast and backlit
photo ops. Steamtown was a tough shoot considering
it was set up in a parking lot with less then idea
backgrounds and foregrounds.

While I'm a glutten for praise, I, as well as Lerro
Productions, welcome constructive criticism and advice.

This was a quick test with next to no preparation simply
to test some new lights for coverage and temperature.

We did smoke up a few engines - couldn't resist. GTW,
RDG and again, the Big Boy. Hopefully a few more images
will pop up, or I'll post some more. One issue we stumbled
upon and will attempt to properly address will be the way
in which the smoke flows once set off.


/Mitch

Mitch, here's her sister 2102, at CNJ's Raritan, NJ. facility Pryor to a fan trip back in 1972.
BTW. Nice shot which brought this one to mind.
Ed K. cp Laurel Run

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Getttttingggg warmmmmmmmerrrrr.

nathansixchime Wrote:
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> Getttttingggg warmmmmmmmerrrrr.

Sandberg chose a T-1????

My bets on the N&W #611 AND, MILW #261.
But... who will restore a CB&Q then?

/Mitch

UP #4012 posed under a midnight blue sky - the first shot of the night.

/Mitch

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GTW #6039 "fired up" and simmering...

Due to some wind issues, I've put off editing the bulk
of the "fired up" images - something that we'll be looking
into on future shoots. We will be looking at ways to direct
the smoke, "steam" and plumes on future tests. I did, however,
see several beautiful and dramatic photos from the test shoot
that were managed through the use of fast shutter speeds and
high ISO's. Something to keep in mind!

/Mitch

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Nice Nice... a little photo-shop on The GTW's cylinder jacket might make these last two photos more believable.

My ultimate goal with these new lights is to be able to shoot night runbys. The fluorescent lights worked great and were very power efficient but in order to shoot night runbys, we would need way to many of them. The new lights are professional video quarts light. After extensive testing at home, a full scale test was required to really know for sure. These light tests were done with 3-5 lights, depending on the scene. Overall Im very happy with them and I'm sure they will make their public debut in June.

In terms of the hot spot:

The engine is on a curve and the metal of the engine acts like a curved reflector. Within a 90 degree walking angle, nearly 60 degrees are going to have a hot spot (glare). If the engine was on a straight track, fixing a back lit hot spot would be a lot easier. If you didn't have a back light, the lighting would look flat, in my opinion anyway.


Pete Lerro

Lerro984 Wrote:
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> The new lights are professional
> video quarts light.
>
> Pete Lerro


As they should be! Streamlining your efforts and methods can only mean one thing: quality. Lighting is about control.

Well done, Pete.

KL

Nice shots all !

I think a dim headlight would add a bit more to some of the scenes too :)

Mike

Nice work, you guys. I have always thought that the 6039 was one of the best looking machines at Steamtown. Would love to see her restored to operation.