"A Holiday Train Moment"
While chasing special trains, it's not uncommon for unexpected circumstances to disrupt your carefully planned shot. However, sometimes these challenges present unexpected opportunities that can turn a potential setback into something truly special.
Such was the case with this night photograph of the CPKC Holiday Train, captured on December 7th near Caledonia, Wisconsin. After nearly 20 minutes of meticulous setup and planning with flash lighting, my carefully composed shot seemed almost ruined when a group of people unexpectedly walked into the frame, just moments before the train’s arrival.
What could have been a lost opportunity instead became my favorite shot of the evening. A quick wave to the engineer aboard the brightly illuminated GP20-ECO, combined with a burst of light from my strobes, transformed the scene into a perfect moment. The unexpected presence of the people, now part of the frame, captured the true spirit of the Holiday Train and reminded me of the joy and unity it represents.
This photo serves as a holiday greeting that, to me, feels like a Christmas card come to life. It’s a reminder of the magic of the season—where even the most unplanned moments can bring the greatest joy.
Happy Holidays to everyone!
==>Be Sure to check out my Holiday Montage of this spectacular train:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQcfDTd_cVI
A recent spike in a personal interest of the skill and work it takes to create and ultimately nail a shot in the dark using flash technology, leads to this album.
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)
