NE Texas Trip

[wclavey]

A friend of mine came down from Baltimore and we took a long weekend camping in a part of TX that I have not had much chance to explore before. We camped in Rusk and traveled all around, as far north as Marshall. We visited the T&P Depot, the Tx State RR, Mission Tejas, and Washington on the Brazos (on the way home).

Here are a few images from various places - - the remainder are on my gallery.

Wheat field, Washington on the Brazos


Valves on Engine 400, T&P Depot


Drivers, Engine 400, T&P Depot

[greg194799]

Nice photos Wes. I like #2 and #3 photos the best.

[wclavey]

Thanks, Greg. I am always partial to detailed pictures of steam locomotives... my wife wanted me to include the wheat picture.

[Bear]

Love the B&W. I must agree with the wife that the wheat is the best IMO.

[TXFZ1]

I like them all and want to see the steam loco in a larger scale.

David

[wclavey]

David & Jayson, thanks for looking...

Jayson, I'm not much good with "stuff that grows" - - I have folders full of trees, vines, flowers, moss, etc. that looked good when I pressed the shutter release but looked like crap when I printed the picture. I think my wife is just encouraged, at this point, when I get something like that looking decent.

David, I have more from that weekend, but I left to go to London right after that trip and haven't post processed more than just a few. Perhaps I have more of old Engine 400 to post. I'll need to get back to the folders and look. Thanks.

[KJ Smith]

Wow Wes,

I also like the wheat. Maybe you should listen to her every now and then.

The valve on the lower right that was cut off is a little distracting.
Great exposure. Right on the money.

I am a little unsure of the third one.

[jeffkohn]

I also like the wheat. There's a shimmering quality to the way the highlights reflect off the what that's really nice.

I'm not sure what exactly Kevin is talking about in the lower right of #2, to me it's on the left that it feels cutoff although I like the shot otherwise. The soft light provides nice modeling and shows the texture to good effect.

On the last shot I like the way the gear (or whatever it's called) stands out tonally, but the rest of the image seems kind of busy/cluttered.

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

I'm not sure what exactly Kevin is talking about in the lower right of #2, to me it's on the left that it feels cutoff although I like the shot otherwise.

Right, Left...Jeff, Geof.... Whatever....



Yes it is on the left.

[Valerie]

The wheat gets an A+ from me too. I do like #3 as well... lovely contrast.

[wclavey]

Kevin, the valve on the lower left that looks like it is cut off actually had no handle on it - - it was broken off at the stem, so I simply cropped the broken stem out of the picture... I suppose it now makes you think that there was a handle on it like the others, which I didn't include in the picture. I think that might be my favorite picture of the whole trip - - or, at least, of the ones I have done so far.

The driver wheels always look like that only the pistons and push rods are not usually painted white like that, so it often looks like a jumble of dark metal parts. I liked the way the white stood out, too. It was very overcast by the time we got to Marshall that day, even though it had started out bright, and while were were there climbing all over the engine taking pictures, a thunderstorm came up. But that's what created the soft light inside the cab. Unfortunately, I think the soft light also contributes to the cluttered look of the wheels. If there had been a bit more light then I think there would have been a little more distinguishing of the engine parts around and behind the wheels.

The wheat was just something I shot on a whim. The sunlight on it was very bright and it was windy and the motion of the wheat in the wind made it shimmer. I had no idea how it would turn out. Now that I see, I should try that more often. It is a little different from my usual subjects.

Thanks for looking.

[wclavey]

Thanks, Valerie! I guess Kevin's right - - I need to listen to my wife more often!