Tag Archives: Trip Report

Trip Report – Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 734

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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.”

Trip Report – Light City Baltimore

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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.

Trip Report – Reading & Northern 2016

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As I mentioned last week, Lerro Productions hosted a two day photo charter in February on the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern featuring their steam locomotive, Reading & Northern 425.  This was the railroad’s first real photo charter and by all accounts, it was a very successful trip.  The first day featured snowy weather and took us from Port Clinton to the Lehigh Gorge and then back to Jim Thorpe for a night session.  The second day started in Lehigh Gorge and then back to Port Clinton.  While it rained almost the entire second day, the rain hitting the snow created an awesome ground fog which made for some interesting photos.  Here’s a few of my favorites:

Glen Onoko Rock Cut

Independence Bridge

Tamaqua Tunnel

Independence Signals
Lehigh Gorge - Independence Signals

Jim Thorpe Station

Hunter Street Tunnel

King Coal

As always, the Lerro Productions crew put on a great event and the railroad put on a great show. Hopefully this is the first of many charters on the Reading & Northern.