Advice on train light trails

Stardust

Stardust

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Charlie
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Hi all,
I was just wondering if anyone has any advice on how best to capture train light trails from an unlit street/bridge over the tracks location please? I'll be using either a Canon (EOS 100D) or Nikon(D3500).
I've not done this type of photography before but have seen that the Epping Ongar railway have their light event starting soon (steam train?. Has anyone been to it at all please?
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Thank you
 
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I’ve not tried to photograph train light trails before. However based on similar experience here is what I would do:

1. Scout for a good location that will allow a cool composition of the train passing through the scene. Probably do this in advance.
2. On the day arrive early to be sure of getting the spot.
3. Setup camera on the tripod with a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake.
4. Set the aperture and fix focus manually. Probably start with f8 or smaller.
5. Experiment with shutter speed and ISO. Probably start with 2 seconds and ISO 200, you’ll need to test depending on the amount of light and how fast the trains are traveling.
Hope this helps!
 
TimHughes said:
I’ve not tried to photograph train light trails before. However based on similar experience here is what I would do:

1. Scout for a good location that will allow a cool composition of the train passing through the scene. Probably do this in advance.
2. On the day arrive early to be sure of getting the spot.
3. Setup camera on the tripod with a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake.
4. Set the aperture and fix focus manually. Probably start with f8 or smaller.
5. Experiment with shutter speed and ISO. Probably start with 2 seconds and ISO 200, you’ll need to test depending on the amount of light and how fast the trains are traveling.
Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Thank you Tim, that certainly does help, especially the guidance on the ISO and aperture.
 
Stardust said:
Thank you Tim, that certainly does help, especially the guidance on the ISO and aperture.
Click to expand...

The thought behind starting with f8 is that with a wide-angle lens that I'd use for such a pic, it will likely allow you to capture the scene in focus from front to back but without restricting too much light.

The next choice is how long to keep the shutter open - for example do you want the trails to start and stop in the frame, or continuous through the frame? how bright do you want the background? My guess of 2 seconds is based on trains moving quite fast. If they are slow or you want more of the ambient light exposed then increase the time.

ISO is the remaining control to properly expose the image. I'm guessing 200 based on lots of ambient light around. Once you have the composition sharp, the trail as you want then adjust ISO to properly expose the image. If the first tests are too dark, increase the ISO.

Looking forward to seeing the results.
 
I thought that the point of train light events was an interesting light show on the train.

Ergo a ‘light trail’ wouldn’t be how I’d capture it. Surely a light trail shot exists to turn a boring ‘light’ into an interesting pattern. So a complex pattern of lights just becomes a complex bright smudge.

Just to disrupt your thought process.
 
TimHughes said:
The thought behind starting with f8 is that with a wide-angle lens that I'd use for such a pic, it will likely allow you to capture the scene in focus from front to back but without restricting too much light.

The next choice is how long to keep the shutter open - for example do you want the trails to start and stop in the frame, or continuous through the frame? how bright do you want the background? My guess of 2 seconds is based on trains moving quite fast. If they are slow or you want more of the ambient light exposed then increase the time.

ISO is the remaining control to properly expose the image. I'm guessing 200 based on lots of ambient light around. Once you have the composition sharp, the trail as you want then adjust ISO to properly expose the image. If the first tests are too dark, increase the ISO.

Looking forward to seeing the results.
Click to expand...
Thank you again Tim for taking the time to give me some advice, I had not considered the focus from front to back - very new to this :)
I was thinking of a 10 second shutter speed only because the train is steam powered I'm thinking it won't be very fast , or at least, not as fast as the mainline trains. There's also only the 1 train to get the shot with, perhaps not my best choice for practicing this type of photography. The background will be dark, as it's on a country lane with only a few houses behind some trees, unless if I can get permission to stand on the platform without a ticket (waiting for them to come back to me). If I can stand on the platform then there should be a lot of ambient light around for the 200 ISO, but if it's in the dark then I think I'll need a higher ISO. I was thinking of maybe trying to practice with my phone torch when setting up the camera so that when I see the train I can just take the shot. I'm hoping I'll have something to share that isn't just a bright blur haha.
 
Phil V said:
I thought that the point of train light events was an interesting light show on the train.

Ergo a ‘light trail’ wouldn’t be how I’d capture it. Surely a light trail shot exists to turn a boring ‘light’ into an interesting pattern. So a complex pattern of lights just becomes a complex bright smudge.

Just to disrupt your thought process.
Click to expand...
If I'm honest I'm not too sure, looking at the railways video and online photos the train will be wrapped in multi colour lights. I think there will be light up decorations along the route but not too sure how far along they'll be taking them. I thought that a light trail would show the different coloured lights but must admit, I am concerned that I'll fluff this up and just get the complex bright smudge lol
 
In my mind you can experiment thus:
On a white sheet of paper put 2 dots of blue on an almost parallel straight line, then draw parallel lines from those dots to the right hand edge of the paper.

That’s a typical ‘headlights’ streak

If you repeat that experiment with a series of vertical blue dots, then a series of vertical red dots, that’s the pattern you’ll get from 2 carriages draped in fairy lights (as per that video)

Now; consider that shot from above, and including several other colours (your bridge plan). Is that going to be the shot you’d want?

Or would it make more sense to be closer to trackside and focus on the trackside illuminations with an element of train ‘streak’ as a background. Or indeed, with the static train so you can see the detail.

I’m just trying to get you to understand the physics.
 
Phil V said:
In my mind you can experiment thus:
On a white sheet of paper put 2 dots of blue on an almost parallel straight line, then draw parallel lines from those dots to the right hand edge of the paper.

That’s a typical ‘headlights’ streak

If you repeat that experiment with a series of vertical blue dots, then a series of vertical red dots, that’s the pattern you’ll get from 2 carriages draped in fairy lights (as per that video)

Now; consider that shot from above, and including several other colours (your bridge plan). Is that going to be the shot you’d want?

Or would it make more sense to be closer to trackside and focus on the trackside illuminations with an element of train ‘streak’ as a background. Or indeed, with the static train so you can see the detail.

I’m just trying to get you to understand the physics.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I appreciate it, especially the breakdown of how it will look. I agree, trackside would be better ideally but I can't easily get to it. From what I can see on Google it's surrounded by fields and back gardens. I've contacted the railway to see if I can get a platform ticket. Although the train won't be moving very quickly as it pulls away it might give me a better perspective maybe.
 
juggler said:
Here you go.. this is ancient work for me, I wouldn't shoot quite like this any more.. but I do like panning with a fairly wide angle.

View attachment 373855
Click to expand...
I really like this. I did have a look at down low shoot positions but I think it'd mean walking through a field in the dark. Although I won't be on my own it's not something I'd really like to do after all the rain we've had. Looking on the website the top of the train will have lights on it too so I guess shooting down from a bridge may give it an interesting angle especially through the smoke from the engine (or put me off altogether lol)?
 
If you have got some time before, it may be worth practising some light trail shots over a road, so at least you can iron out any issues you may have before your one chance at shooting the train.
 
Craikeybaby said:
If you have got some time before, it may be worth practising some light trail shots over a road, so at least you can iron out any issues you may have before your one chance at shooting the train.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this suggestion, there's a main road near by so can use as practice.
 
As you haven’t tried this type of photography before I’d also suggest having a practice somewhere beforehand.
The effects will vary in different situations but at least it will give you an idea with regard to settings and results.
If it helps I took this shot recently and posted it elsewhere in the forums. The trains were commuter trains travelling relatively slowly as one had recently left the station and the other was heading into the station. The settings were iso 100, aperture f16 and shutter speed of 22 seconds as I wanted to record long light trails through the frame.
0V6A0296 Battersea Power Station by Neil, on Flickr
 
Neil. said:
As you haven’t tried this type of photography before I’d also suggest having a practice somewhere beforehand.
The effects will vary in different situations but at least it will give you an idea with regard to settings and results.
If it helps I took this shot recently and posted it elsewhere in the forums. The trains were commuter trains travelling relatively slowly as one had recently left the station and the other was heading into the station. The settings were iso 100, aperture f16 and shutter speed of 22 seconds as I wanted to record long light trails through the frame.
0V6A0296 Battersea Power Station by Neil, on Flickr
Click to expand...
Thank you Neil. I must admit I saw your photo the other day and loved it. I also must admit I was hoping to go down on Sunday however, having taken onboard all of your advice (thank you again all) I'm going to hold off and try practicing on other vehicles first.
 
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