Awhile back I decided to try some train photography on a somewhat foggy day.
Cased out the tracks, set up as close as possible while being sure I was in
no danger, and chose the 21/3.5 for dramatic perspective on the train. Set
up tripod, focus, aperture, shutter.
After a long wait I hear a whistle. Put my eye to the viewfinder and wait
for the moment. Instead of a freight train, the Via Rail Montreal-Toronto
express comes into view. At about 150 km/hr or better. OK, I take a firm
grip on the camera. I press the shutter and then take my eye away from the
viewfinder.
Instantly the train is 2.5 times as big and moving unbelievably fast! I
realize that I am flesh, this is 1000 tons of steel flying by about a metre
or so away, and it could squash me like a bug. My location has been well
chosen but at this moment I don't believe it. I feel tiny and squishable.
Now it turns out that the sign I had positioned myself near was marked 'W'.
I know the sign doesn't get hit, so this is part of my calculation. I know
the railways have a thing for alphabetic names and signs, so I think little
of it. Well, it seems it stands for 'whistle'. As in, 'whistle here'. Just
at the point I am taking in the dramatically enlarged train, it is
unbelievably loud, and unexpected. Holy s--t.
I still shoot this way, but now I expect all this. Still feel like a bug
beside a train though.
Andrew
> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 17:56:25 -0700
> From: "R. Jackson" <jackson.robert.r@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> All I know is that I'm quite happy with the 18/3.5 (with step-up filter
> adapter) that I bought from Tom. I suspect I may eventually step off a
> cliff using it, as I tend to not have a clue how close I'm getting to
> things while looking through the viewfinder, but I won't hold Tom
> responsible. ;-)
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