Eastern Railroad Discussion > Crop Top Shots, A Not Too Shabby Idea

In central Illinois, the scenery is pretty much the same anywhere you go.... corn, soy, corn, soy, group of trees, soy, corn, tiny town, corn, soy, corn....
While there are a few spots around lakes, rivers, and larger towns that offer something a little different, the vast majority of it can get a little boring after a little while. Being stuck in this area for most of my rail fanning adventures, I've decided to make the most of it and get a little creative. With the corn and soybeans fully grown in August and starting to turn yellow in September signalling the arrival of fall, I thought of a little thing I like to call the "Crop Top Shot". I'm probably not the first one to think of this idea, though I really like it. It's quite simple really and works best while taking video.
Step 1: Get at the height of the top of the crops.
Step 2: Take adjust the focus to blur out the background
Step 3: Take picture of train out of focus
Step 4: Take picture of train in focus.

My first attempt with a northbound Amtrak didn't turn out too great, but the next 3 attempts in August and September with 3 different railroads turned out not too shabby, especially the last one!

1-3. CN M334 south between Tuscola and Arcola on the Mainline of Mid America with a fresh AC44C6M up front.
 

---

---

---

4-6, Attempt #2 came with the very first NS 252 (that wasn't a Roadrailer train, the symbol used to exist as one). This and it's counterpart 251 replaced the last two Roadrailer trains 255 and 256, with the very last 255 running the day prior. Most of the "new" Triple Crown containers were in a TOFC or COFC set up on spine cars, with a few old Triple Crown trailers at the end. Now these trains are straight double stack intermodal trains. As luck would have it, I caught the train at a perfect meet with NS 15Q, just east of Cerro Gordo, IL on August 26th.

---

---

---

7-9, Attempt #3. During a chase of the Decatur and Eastern Illinois Railroad on the rather dreary day of September 23rd, I took the shot with soybeans instead of corn this time, setting the tripod low to the ground instead of high, and was very pleased with the results!

---

---

---

So if you don't like how a particular photo came out, you can crop your Crop shot 😀
Like your Farmland/Crops/Railroad themed series here and before!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Try traveling with 6 foot step ladder, that does wonders when you are track side.
Tom Klnger

That crop top title got me thinking more about attractive young ladies than corn. Guess I need to get my mind out of the gutter.