The B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland is often referred to as the Cathedral of Steam, a name it lives up to and then some.
For those not familiar with the museum, it houses the finest collection of early locomotives and rolling stock in the nation. A roof collapse on Feburary 16, 2003 almost destroyed the collection. Fortunately everything damaged has been restored and returned to display.
Every December on the first Saturday (unless postponed by weather) Antietam National Battlefield holds its annual Memorial Illumination. 23,110 luminaries are placed on the battlefield, one for each of the casualties. I managed to get a photography permit for this year’s illumination and I’m looking forward to photographing it again.
The midway at the Great Frederick Fair during blue hour. All the neon looks great against a deep blue sky.
Note: Due to technical difficulties user error this posted late.
Tomorrow is the 154th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, so I thought a shot I took a couple of years ago of the 20th New York Monument would be appropriate.
Note: Due to technical difficulties user error this posted late.
Domino Sugars is a Baltimore icon. While some of the other famous brands have moved out of town its nice that Domino is still part of the city. All that red neon makes for a good blue hour subject too.
Sorry for the unannounced absence. I decided to take the month of August off. I’ll do a better job of announcing any breaks in the future.
Note: Due to technical difficulties user error this posted late.
Since tomorrow is the 152nd Anniversary of the Battle of Monocacy, I thought I’d share one from the archives – Sunrise at the 14th New Jersey Regiment Monument taken on the morning of the 150th Anniversary, July 9th, 2014.
Note: Due to technical difficulties user error this posted a week late.
This past February I attended a photo charter at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad hosted by Lerro Productions. The charter included a full day of photography on the railroad plus a night session at Cumberland Station. With 734 almost out of operating days before a required major rebuild, the charter sold out quickly as many photographers wanted to spend one more day with one of their favorite locomotives. As it turns out, due to a landslide on the line a couple of weeks after the charter, this would be the last time 734 ran all the way to Frostburg.
After lunch the clouds rolled in, so rather than shoot in poor lighting, a couple of us elected to head back to the caboose and ride with the brakeman for the rest of the afternoon. This turned into a portrait shoot since this particular crew member takes great pride in accurately dressing the part for these photo shoots.
Finally, 734 was parked in front Cumberland Station for one last night session before her rebuild. What made this on unusual is that she was turned facing East when most night sessions had her facing West to take advantage of the water spout at the other end of the station.
It will be a few years before 734 is running again since the railroad is focusing on restoring C&O 1309. Current reports indicate that the WMSR’s “new” steam locomotive will be running next year. As always in the world of steam preservation, “it’ll be done when it’s ready.”
734 simmering at Cumberland Station while waiting for permission to proceed down the line – or more accurately, 734 is parked at the station for a night session during a photo charter hosted by Lerro Productions this past February. Stop back next Tuesday for the trip report.
Light City Baltimore is a new event in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, featuring light based art installations, musical acts and theatrical performances. The event ran for a full week from March 28th – April 3rd. The main feature of the event was the Light Art Walk located around the Inner Harbor which included a number of light based art installations. In between were several stages for musical and theatrical performances. Here’s a few of my favorites from this year:
LightWave – Baltimore’s Beacon:
Antique Baltimore Police Department Patrol Car:
Community Beacons – Making Waves:
Peacock:
Projected Aquaculture:
Theatre of Fire:
Voyage:
The shooting conditions were challenging with brightly lit art outside in the dark, and I found the balance between including the surrounding context and avoiding over exposing the art difficult. Most of my best shots occurred during sunset or blue hour when the balance in exposure between the two could be found. Fortunately the event seemed to be a success, so hopefully I’ll have another chance to shoot it next year.
Light City was a new event in Baltimore this year, featuring light based art installations, musical acts and theatrical performances. Here’s one of my favorites from the week long event, Lightwave – Baltimore’s Beacon which was an installation at the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse on Pier 5. The LED lights were operating like a giant computer screen, and was a challenge to shoot.
Stop by Tuesday for a full “trip report” from the event.