Amtrak Dual - Variations of a Photo

As I stated in my previous post, HDR Photography Visually Explained, here is a post showcasing an HDR photo which has been processed with different effects. I was trying out different techniques to sharpen my skills and different styles to see what appeals to me.

The original photo, shown below, was taken as a series of 7 exposures and then combined into an HDR photo with HDRsoft’s Photomatix Pro. I like the photo very much. I feel it conveys the scene accurately and it is sufficiently detailed. (You can click on the photos to see a larger version.)

Amtrak Dual 1 - Variations of a photo number 1 - Original HDR photo. AMTK 460 (EMD F59PHI) and AMTK 161 (GE P42DC) are the power for their respective trains sitting idle at Los Angeles Union Station. [11/26/2011 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2011, Joe Perry

As I looked at the photo I thought the clouds lent themselves very well to a monochromatic treatment to I converted the image to a dark sepia version.

Amtrak Dual 2 - Variations of a photo number 2 - Dark sepia overall. [11/26/2011 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2011, Joe Perry

I am really fond of a lighter sepia treatment and some vignetting but I think in this case it doesn’t work well because the image is cropped too close on the right side to make this look work.

Amtrak Dual 3 - Variations of a photo number 3 - Light sepia overall. [11/26/2011 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2011, Joe Perry

Back to the darker image, I wanted to emphasis the trains a little more so I gave them a light colorization - which is one of Deb’s favorite looks.

Amtrak Dual 4 - Variations of a photo number 4 - Dark sepia overall and lightly colorized trains. [11/26/2011 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2011, Joe Perry

Finally, back to the lighter sepia version, I applied a heavy colorizing treatment to the trains without regard for the vignette and even applied a drop shadow to the trains themselves to make them “pop” off the page.
Amtrak Dual 5 - Variations of a photo number 5 - Light sepia overall and colorized trains. [11/26/2011 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2011, Joe Perry

I like photos #1 and #4 the best.  Which photo(s) appeal to you?

Trains at Los Angeles Union Station in HDR: Part 2

Continuing from my previous post, here are four more photos from Los Angeles Union Station:

An Eclectic Consist - An eclectic mix of cars constitute this Amtrak train set awaiting departure at Los Angeles Union Station.
[11/23/2010 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2010, Joe PerryThanksgiving Passengers - Metrolink locomotive SCAX 895 (EMD F59PHI) and Amtrak AMTK 507 (GE P32BWH [Dash 8-32BWH])provide the power for their respective trains at Los Angeles Union Station as passengers detrain from the recently arrived Amtrak’s Southwest Chief just prior to Thanksgiving.
[11/23/2010 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2010, Joe PerryFlocks - A flock of birds fly west as a flock of Metrolink locomotives, SCAX 881 (EMD F59PHI), SCAX 851 (EMD F59PH), and SCAX 853 (EMD F59PH) rest at the end of their morning runs to Los Angeles Union Station.
[11/23/2010 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2010, Joe PerryGold Line Departing - A Metro’s Gold Line train departs from Los Angeles Union Station heading east to Pasadena in early morning light.
[11/23/2010 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2010, Joe Perry

Trains at Los Angeles Union Station in HDR: Part 1

To help alleviate our financial woe I have begun taking on some web and design consulting work leaving me with less time than I would like to create postings for ChasingSteel.com, let alone going out the far reaches of California to take photographs. Hopefully the new year will bring better opportunities!

Over the course of the past week I filled the small holes of opportunity during my daily commutes with post-processing some photos from Los Angeles Union Station and trying my hand at some different creative approaches as well. The following photos are representative of this effort and, if you have the time and are so inclined, I would appreciate you providing a comment and letting me know what you think of them and offering any criticism:

Cab Car Cascade - A cascading line of Metrolink cab cars bask in the morning sun after the morning rush hour.
[10/6/2010 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2010, Joe PerryGold Line Passengers - Metrolink locomotive SCAX 881 (EMD F59PHI) frames passengers waiting to board Metro’s Gold Line at Los Angeles Union Station.[11/23/2010 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2010, Joe Perry

SCAX 872 - Metrolink locomotive SCAX 872 (EMD F59PH) was posed on one of the escape tracks at Los Angeles Union Station without an attached train set - a perfect time to get a builder’s photo.
[11/23/2010 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2010, Joe PerryPacific Surfliner Arrival - An Amtrak California Pacific Surfliner train arrives at Los Angeles Union Station.
[11/23/2010 - River Subdivision] © Copyright 2010, Joe Perry