I'll Take the Train... A little B&W project

[Skippy Sanchez]

Hi all... I just returned from an impromptu rail trip from Kansas to San Bernardino, Cal. & back and took some snaps along the way. I shot raw + jpg(fine). All but a couple of these images are from the jpg files. Again, I am very impressed with the b/w files the M8 produces.

The images are full-frame, with the usual basic tonal adjustments. I am especially impressed with the camera's ability to resolve shadow detail.

As you can see, the light was challenging, to say the least. My lenses were a 21/2.8 asph, a CV 40/1.4 Nokton and an old Noctilux.

Check it out here: Skippy Sanchez Photography

[sm23221]

I like them - nice series. You wouldn't have gotten these shots had you flown. I got the feeling that journey was fairly monotonous. Thanks for sharing.

[dalippe]

There are a lot of nice shots in there.

Inspired in part by what I have seen on the LUF, I have begun taking more photographs of strangers. One striking thing about many of the shots I like in your slideshow is that they were obviously taken in very close proximity to the subjects: for example, railroad worker shuffling papers; the three shots from below head level of the railroad worker (cook?) that end with his mouth open and hands spread out; the woman lighting the cigarette; the blond woman and her three children; and I could give many other examples.

Now most of these people look quite at ease, not self conscious about having their picture taken. How did you manage that? Even if you had struck up conversations before photographing them, I would expect them to be a little bit tense about a stranger taking so many pictures from so close.

Thanks for any information.

[sleeek]

some nice ones. I really like the third from last(i think) which is the shot looking through the empty cabin through the doors to a cabin that is more lit with people in chairs. I have been wondering about a train trip and photography. I am too addicted to the road though.

[Arif]

There are many that I like here. A worthwhile way to make new friends and document a few moments in your own life.

Thank you for sharing,
Arif

[Fotomiguel]

Hello, Skippy.
I like your photography. The train project is very good, but I'm really impressed by the Mexico series. Really good. By the way, I like your combination of blog and Slideshow of picassa. Is easy to set?
Really nice!!!!!
Miguel.

[redfalo]

Originally Posted by Skippy Sanchez

Hi all... I just returned from an impromptu rail trip from Kansas to San Bernardino, Cal. & back and took some snaps along the way. I shot raw + jpg(fine). All but a couple of these images are from the jpg files. Again, I am very impressed with the b/w files the M8 produces.

The images are full-frame, with the usual basic tonal adjustments. I am especially impressed with the camera's ability to resolve shadow detail.

As you can see, the light was challenging, to say the least. My lenses were a 21/2.8 asph, a CV 40/1.4 Nokton and an old Noctilux.

Check it out here: Skippy Sanchez Photography

Great shots! I especially like the first picture of the waitress carrying a tablet and the one of the girl at the window. Nevertheless I´d recommend to sort out 20 to 30% of the pictures. Less is more, from my point of view.
yours
olaf

[cocker]

An excellent series.

[bill]

Originally Posted by redfalo

Great shots! I especially like the first picture of the waitress carrying a tablet and the one of the girl at the window. Nevertheless I´d recommend to sort out 20 to 30% of the pictures. Less is more, from my point of view.

yours
olaf

Skippy, I'm with Olaf on this.

There are some really powerful shots here, that evoke both the romance of a rail journey - the anticipation, the excitement of setting off - and the unavoidable longueurs and eventual ennui of any long trip. Ultimately this feels like a hiatus in your life, your horizons bordered by the steel walls of the train. The slideshow settles into a rhythm of it's own, reminiscent of the metre of the train as it rolls along. In that it captures the experience well.

But...

There are simply too many images, and IMO, they flash past too quickly. I watched the whole thing twice, pausing the second time on those images that I thought merited closer examination. I probably paused no more than 35-40% of the total. That subset would make a much tighter and stronger photo-essay shorn of the other shots.

Like Dalippe, I would also like to know your technique for capturing people at close quarters; I can imagine some very long conversations to make some of these subjects relax - or did you just become "The harmless guy on the train with the camera?"

Regards,

Bill

[Lotw]

Yes you're right, very good tonal scale overall. Not only a good camera though, good photographer too, you can see you make good contact with the people you portray. Girl at the window and the one with the watch are two of my favorites. I too would leave a few out to make the series stronger.

[Skippy Sanchez]

Hi again, everyone, and thanks for the comments.

To sm23221 (the first comment): No, the trip wasn't monotonous at all, for me nor for most of the passengers i visited with. It was long, yes, and, sometimes tedious, but not at all boring. And, you're right, I wouldn't have gotten the photos if I had flown, nor would I have gotten them if I had stayed home or left my cameras in my suitcase.

Re: photographing strangers... I shoot strangers all the time simply because there are more of them than people I actually know. On this project, I struck up conversations with people I was interested in visiting with and early on would tell them I'm working on a project about train travel. Then I take it from there. Most of the time I'd ask, particularly if there are children in my viewfinder. Sometimes, as with the Amish couple, I shoot from the hip, a skill I practice all the time (see this: JPG Magazine: Stories). Believe me, a guy who looks like Col. Sanders with cameras is going to stand out, and for the most part, people would approach me and ask what I was doing. Within about six hours, everyone on the train knew about me and my little project. I think the key components for success is to be confident in my abilities (and social skills), honest in my interactions, and intimately familiar with my cameras. The M8 can be awkward, when changing ISO, for example, but I cannot afford to spend time fumbling with camera settings or chimping incessantly to see if I got my exposure right or whatever. That said, changing ISO or doing anything else on the M8 isn't as awkward or distracting as changing film or whipping out a Sekonic every time the light changes.

Re: Too many pics. Y'all couldn't be more right. These are images culled during my first couple rounds of editing; the purpose of this cluster of images was to give me something to spend some time with so I could recognize the unnecessary ones & toss them. Even after shooting professionally for 27 years, I know I am as fond of all my pictures as a mother is of everything her preschooler brings home. It also gives me an opportunity for feedback. Three things I need to make a decent final presentation are decent equipment, the opportunity to photograph and a good editor. I posted here because I knew the quality of feedback I would get would be honest and forthright, whether I agree with it or not.

Re: Shooting wide. Indeed, I am very comfortable shooting up close and personal. Which, in close quarters like this project, was the only way to shoot. The Noctilux was almost too long; its chief advantage being to clean up distracting backgrounds. I found myself using the Elmarit probably 75%, the Nokton 20% and the Noctilux 5%.

Anyway, again, thanks for the comments and compliments.
-Skippy

[Jager]

Very nice series, Skippy! I very much enjoyed it.

What software did you use to create the slideshow? I like the way it automatically started and was clean and very inobtrusive.

[ChrisC]

Skippy - Wonderful. And an Arlo Guthrie quote from the album my heart always chose when I needed cheering. Arlo would approve - I think his dad would have too.

................... Chris

[Fin]

Marvelous stuff - the choice of B&W for a night time departure and then maintaining the theme to tell the story of the trip was inspiring.

The photo of the Flamenco lady from your Mexican series is as fine a photograph as I've seen anywhere - in any category. Bravo!

[Skippy Sanchez]

Originally Posted by Jager

Very nice series, Skippy! I very much enjoyed it.

What software did you use to create the slideshow? I like the way it automatically started and was clean and very inobtrusive.

thanks- i used google's Picassa: Picasa it took a little time and assistance from my computer geek son to get the hang of it, but it's nice & free.

[pgk]

A fascinating series - I like being able to glimpse anothre countries' familarities (which I'm unlikely to ever see for myself) and I think that you images deliver a very personal view of the journey which both my wife and I enjoyed viewing.

[dalippe]

Originally Posted by Skippy Sanchez

Re: photographing strangers... I shoot strangers all the time simply because there are more of them than people I actually know. On this project, I struck up conversations with people I was interested in visiting with and early on would tell them I'm working on a project about train travel. Then I take it from there. Most of the time I'd ask, particularly if there are children in my viewfinder. Sometimes, as with the Amish couple, I shoot from the hip, a skill I practice all the time (see this: JPG Magazine: Stories). Believe me, a guy who looks like Col. Sanders with cameras is going to stand out, and for the most part, people would approach me and ask what I was doing. Within about six hours, everyone on the train knew about me and my little project. I think the key components for success is to be confident in my abilities (and social skills), honest in my interactions, and intimately familiar with my cameras. The M8 can be awkward, when changing ISO, for example, but I cannot afford to spend time fumbling with camera settings or chimping incessantly to see if I got my exposure right or whatever. That said, changing ISO or doing anything else on the M8 isn't as awkward or distracting as changing film or whipping out a Sekonic every time the light changes.

-Skippy

Hi Skippy,

Thanks for the hints...they are helpful although I must admit I still can't quite imagine putting people at such ease. I think one of these days I'm just going to have to tag along with someone skilled at this kind of photography and see it in action. Who knows, maybe my social skills just aren't up to it!

BTW, I didn't see any articles on "shooting from the hip" on the first few pages of the link you sent. What exactly should I be looking for? Perhaps I have to be a member of the site to see the article to which you were pointing us?

Thanks again.

David

[jlancasterd]

Hi Skippy

What train was this - the South West Chief?

Cheers

John

[Skippy Sanchez]

Originally Posted by dalippe

...
BTW, I didn't see any articles on "shooting from the hip" on the first few pages of the link you sent. What exactly should I be looking for? Perhaps I have to be a member of the site to see the article to which you were pointing us?

Thanks again.

David

Hmmmm... No, you shouldn't have to be a member to see the story. I'll try it again:

JPG Magazine: People: Skippy Sanchez

scroll down and click on "How To: From the Hip" to pull up the story, which should put you here: JPG Magazine: Stories: How To: From the Hip

if neither of these work, just search for skippy sanchez and go to the second page of stuff.

[redfalo]

Originally Posted by Skippy Sanchez

Hmmmm... No, you shouldn't have to be a member to see the story. I'll try it again:

JPG Magazine: People: Skippy Sanchez

scroll down and click on "How To: From the Hip" to pull up the story, which should put you here: JPG Magazine: Stories: How To: From the Hip

if neither of these work, just search for skippy sanchez and go to the second page of stuff.

Skippy, I just read your article - very interesting!