This is the bonus print that we're including for anyone who buys a full suite of prints in the Print Sale that's now in its last day. It was taken while trying out equipment (are you sensing a theme in my life?)—in this case a Nikkor 58mm ƒ/1.4 lens, on the Nikon D800 (which I've just sold to help with the raising of funds). Yes, I was probably standing too close to the tracks when I took this, given what we've subsequently learned about staying off of railroad tracks.
That's not the only thing I was doing wrong. I was without gloves in seriously cold, windy weather, and that was not wise at all—my hands hurt a lot after I returned to the car and continued to hurt for many days after this experience. The D800, on the other hand, worked just fine.
The picture shows the old Soo Line Station here in Waukesha (now operated by Canadian National). It was taken at that nice moment that sometimes happens near sunset on overcast days, when the sun briefly appears near the horizon under the cloud cover. I hadn't meant to photograph the tracks or the train station—that's just what I happened to be driving by when the sun came out. That light doesn't last long, so you get what you can get.
This picture is only available as a free premium for those who buy the full set of prints, and I won't be printing this one again. The prints will be signed and numbered.
Mike
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I do enjoy this picture quite a bit, but... is it just me or does it always look a little bit tilted? An illusion from the clouds providing a non-level horizon, maybe?
Posted by: Jayson Merryfield | Monday, 07 April 2014 at 10:59 AM
That's the one I would have bought, if available.
I used the "Donate" button instead.
Posted by: Marc Gibeault | Tuesday, 08 April 2014 at 08:38 AM
Mike,
Have you considered cropping off about the top sixth of the image, just about the point the clouds shade off into an average level of grey? Suddenly, the buildings assume more importance, and the composition feels more balanced (in my opinion, which is probably garbage). Of course, I'm doing this cropping on-screen on an iPad Mini, sliding a piece of card down over the photo, so I'm probably oblivious to detail, and can only see overall impact.
Best regards,
Alun
Posted by: Alun J. Carr | Tuesday, 08 April 2014 at 06:01 PM