Photography tips to record a train journey?

[Ramsden]

Hi folks 

Please see the photos of a book cover and an inside page. For UK train enthusiasts, i guess this is a very interesting record of a journey from London to Edinburgh.

In October this year my son and I are planning to go from London to Aberdeen, in one journey. It takes quite a long time, and goes through some wonderful countryside.

My strategy is to record photographs of the journey from the train window, often at over 100mph, and with not many station stops. I guess I would like to put them on line in, as a photographic record of the scenery and railway infrastructure.

So EOS90D in hand and not a lot of lenses to choose from. At the moment I'm thinking of sticking with my kit lens EFS 18-135, but I'll probably take my 50 and 100mm Primes.

I will do as much research beforehand to know where signals and way markings are along the route, just for a few staging points along the route.

To my question: tips for shooting through probably dirty, wet windows often at speed and autumnal conditions.

Secondly, what camera settings would you recommend, particularly for speed?

Plus of course, interesting ideas for making the photography interesting!

 

I expect that the finished package would be around 1000 pictures. Crazy idea?

Feedback welcome 

Ramsden 

[Ramsden]

Thanks 

Looks good.

I'll see if I can get one in the UK

[shadowsports]

Greetings ,

Two other items you may want to consider are a circular polarizing filter and a monopod.  The CPL will help with reflection and glare off the windows and the monopod will keep you straight, still and level.  

[LeeP]

If I recall from the thread, you have a 10-18mm zoom (?). I would suggest NOT buying a lens just for the trip and using what you have. A spiffy lens won't make better pictures in and of itself.

[Ramsden]

Hi Lee

That's correct. And I agree, I'll hang on to my money for now.

Best

Ramsden 

[Ramsden]

Thanks Rick. More good advise.

Im so pleased with the responses from you guys. I had this wacky idea and you've helped me turn it into a great project. Watch this space at the end of October.

[LeeP]

I'm glad that the positive people here are encouraging of discussions and sometimes just brainstorming. I count you among them.

[JeffXB]

It sounds like it’s going to be a fun trip, I sincerely hope you enjoy it as well as the bonding time with your son. 

As @shadowsports  eluded to, be cognizant of glare and reflections on the train’s windows when you shoot thru them. A CPL will certainly help, but you still need to be careful, especially when it’s brighter inside the train than outside. 

Another technique you might want to try is intentional blurring. Similar to what @SignifDigits suggested, but with an even slower shutter speed; perhaps around 1/5 of a second or so. For example, with your son sitting still capture him and the background whizzing by in the window behind him blurred. At night if you’re going past a spot with a lot of lights in the background, like passing cars or even another train passing in the opposite direction you could catch some more dramatic moments. Below is an example of what I mean, although I was standing still and shooting passing traffic in Tokyo, not a perfect shot, but you’ll get the idea of the effect I mean.

Taken on an R6 M2, RF 24-105mm f2.8 L IS USM Z at 50mm, f8, ISO 800, 1/5s

 

[Ramsden]

Hi Jeff

Thanks for your advice and photograph. Reading all the things to consider has prompted me to have a couple of trial runs. I think the  reflection off the windows worry me most. Plus, what I  can't do is predict the weather and amount of light during an 8hr journey. In fact I'm just wondering whether I'll get good photographs when its light inside the carriage, and dark outside. I guess that will be when the reflection will be most interesting and could lead to some quirky shots. As night falls I plan to be sat looking  East across the North Sea,  because the route follows the coast. So I'll get the moon rising, against a backdrop of the waves, with the odd ship or two! 

Thanks again 

Getting quite excited now.

Just booking my hotels for the trip, and planning some shorter research journies.

Ramsden 

[JeffXB]

“I think the  reflection off the windows worry me most.”

One technique I’ve used at airports shooting thru windows is to hold the lens as close to the window as possible at no more than around a 45 degree angle. The closer to 90 the better. A few times I’ve put a micro fibre clothe over my left hand, rested it against the window (so I don’t smudge it) and rested the edge lens, or lens hood if I have one on, on my hand about a half inch or so away. That has worked quite well, at least on my camera and  I’ve never had issues with auto focus or subject tracking (airplanes taking off / landing). You can also use the cloth to wipe away any smudge marks on the window as well. Hopefully the outside of the window will be clean, lol. 

Also, keep in mind that the windows on the train are likely to be tinted too. At least some appeared to be  when I did a google image search for the LNER trains. Although it might not matter much for exposure purposes, it could throw off your white balance a little, so you may want to set that manually. And the tint could also put a color cast on your pics; both WB and color cast are easy to fix in post, it’s just something to be aware of. 

[Waddizzle]

"I would not suggest pressing the lens to the window to stabilize the camera for most of them."

I totally agree with opinion. I have taken a few long train rides.  Pressing the camera against the glass didn’t work as well as simply putting my smart phone on the glass.  The rubber case sealed out glass reflections very nicely. The rubber case didn’t slide on the glass like a plastic lens hood.  

I only used the camera when the train came to a rest station for a 5-10 minute break.  Got out and stretched my legs.