Sunday, October 26, 2008

Did Someone Hear A Train Whistle?






I awoke early Sunday, grabbed my camera, and headed out to capture images of early morning fog. I found a GREAT spot to take a picture of a train, coming around a corner, literally cutting through the fog as it approached my position. I had a great puddle of water, reflecting a bright yellow speed limit sign. I was so excited! Trish had commented, on another image of mine, that there needed to be a train in the fog to add interest. By golly Trish, you were going to get a train! So I was happy to wait the ten minutes for a train. And I was content to wait 20 minutes for a train. And I was 'ok' to wait the half hour, though I was getting chilly. At the half hour, a CSX truck, on the track, drove past me! That wasn't a nice image because I wanted a train! By the 45th minute I got a little irritated. Then I heard a whistle. I was so excited! I waited and waited and waited. I knew the whistle was coming from the west, just as I wanted. I got all set up- I focused the camera, I exhaled on the lens to add more fog (a tip I had just read) and I anchored myself so that I wouldn't be shaky with the tripod. The train? Yeah, so at that very moment I heard a train coming from the opposite direction! It wasn't coming from the direction with the corner and the yellow sign. Well, I had to turn around and snap a picture regardless. Not the image I wanted. Then I turned to catch the train going past my yellow sign; however, the wind from the train stirred up my puddle and eliminated my reflections. UGH! 45 minutes wasted! Funny ending?? The train heading from the west? It passed 2 seconds later but completely blocked out by the east bound train! So, Trish, that is my train story! I tried!

3 comments:

Linda said...

Aahhh, the price we photographers pay in order to get the image we want. Good job, both the photos and the patience. I like the middle image best...

trishalyn said...

Oh, Steve, I laughed so hard at your story! Not AT you, of course, but WITH you!!! It reminded me of the time when Linda & I tried to photograph an oncoming train. We were all set up...tripods...pre-focused, etc. All we needed was the train. We waited, and waited, and WAITED. Alas, the train never came. But yours did, and I'm so glad! Thank you for giving me my train...and I loved your images!!! P.S. Your photos imitated life. If you focus in only one direction, what you're looking for in life can go whizzing by the other way and you miss it.

Bridget said...

steve,
loved the train pictures,especially the first.