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I have taken photos, mostly from the train, on several trips along the California Zephyr route since 1987. A selection of the better ones may be viewed on the Flickr site. The URLs are shown below if any of you would like to look them over.
For those unfamiliar with the site, the procedure is to click on the first photo in the array of small ones. A larger one will appear with a description below. Be sure you see where the description is located. Then proceed by clicking on "next", and so on.
Let me know if you spot any errors in the descriptions and I'll correct them. Hope you enjoy them.
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Bob, This is a great collection of photos. From 1992 to present, I think? Which means the earlier ones weren't digital and had to be scanned somehow? I'd love to know which method you used to be able to share them with us. That's an aside...I'm eager for more. Many of us here have taken that route many times and can relive them through your photographic efforts, but you're not done. Gotta get us from Donner Lake to East Bay!
Thanks for your contribution,
TB
RussM Member # 3627
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Nice photos. What is your secret for eliminating reflections on the train windows ?
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Russ, there are a couple of ways to eliminate reflections when shooting through train windows.
One is to use a circular polarizing filter on the lens, but this sometimes does not work all that well. The angle of the sun to the subject is important.
A quick and dirty but often very effective method is to hold the camera up to the window as close as possible, with the lens almost touching the glass, and to cup the lens with your free hand. If you have a rubber lens hood on your camera, this often helps.
Bob from MA Member # 4686
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The earlier photos, back to 1987 actually, were colored slides. I have a slide scanner (Nikon Coolscan V) with which I transfer the slides, one at a time, to my computer. As to eliminating reflections, I try, as Henry said, to hold the camera as close to the window as possible. Some of the pictures are taken from the back of the train. That window is not tinted, like the others, but is usually dirty. My son, a professional photographer, can eliminated reflections and any unwanted spots using Photoshop, but I am not that skilled. I have pictures that I didn't use because of bad reflections. I have "enhanced" some of the photos using photoshop.
Eventually I will post my photos from the Southwest Chief route.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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I have rarely had good luck with circular polarizers to eliminate reflections, no matter what side of the train I am on and no matter what the sun angle is -- it is definitely easier to eliminate reflections if you film around mid-day, but of course then you'll miss some of the spectacular early morning or late evening light that makes good RR photos. As far as holding the camera close to the window, that sometimes works, but if the window is dirty (as they often are), what you see is dirt particles and not scenery.
Mike Smith Member # 447
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RRRICH, do what everyone else does... open the lower door window and take your pictures.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Mike -- don't you mean the upper door window (in the vestibules between cars)? I believe that is illegal............
notelvis Member # 3071
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I believe Mike is referring to the window in the door downstairs in the Superliner cars.
yukon11 Member # 2997
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Maybe Amtrak needs an open-air car, similar to the one on the Rocky Mountaineer, for picture taking. It would be great for some of the more scenic trains, such as the Zephyr and Empire Builder. There, however, would probably be insurance issues that would keep Amtrak from considering such a thing.
Richard
Mike Smith Member # 447
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Right, Notelvis. And it helps if your car attendant is absent, a lot!
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