Action Shots

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Action Shots

The action shot provides a whole new dimension to night photography. It also requires a lot more work! Multiple strobes are used and a means to fire them all at the same time is necessary. As a result, night action photography requires a significant investment in equipment.

I believe the results are worth the effort and expense.

We’re at a Rural crossing, south of Garretson, South Dakota on the BNSF Twin Cities Division’s Marshall Subdivision. A blizzard warning is in effect, but that didn’t stop Stephen Kent from getting these stunning and chilling photos! Stephen explains the details…

Note how the blowing snow is coming off the drift on the left nearly horizontally. I only used one light (Alien Bees B1600) because I was afraid the lights could be damaged. The wind knocked me down three times. I chiseled three holes into the frozen road with a railroad spike and sledge hammer to set tripod legs into so it wouldn't blow away. Wind was sustained 40 mph, temp was +20. Things went downhill from there. I almost didn't make it home even though I was driving a 4WD truck. The interstate highways were closed by the highway patrol! Equipment - Nikon D300. Lens - Nikon 17-55mm. Exposure - f2.8, ISO 800, f5.6. . Both photos - Kent Staubus

A D&I (Dakota & Iowa) train rolls past grain bins at Baltic, SD during an unusual early evening run.

Four White Lightning X3200 monolights @ full power were used for overall lighting and one SB-28 at full power was used to light the nose of the train. Camera – Nikon D300, Nikon 17-55mm. Exposure – f2.8. ISO 800. Kent Staubus

D&I rolling past Big Sioux River near Baltic, SD.

Four X3200 monolights used at full power. Camera - Nikon D300, Nikon 17-55mm. Exposure - f2.8, ISO 800. Kent Staubus

D&I train waits at the diamond in Sioux City, IA for a UP northbound to clear.

One SB-28 flash was used and I had to literally chase this train down on foot! Kent Staubus

Editor's note... I had some difficulty deciding whether this photo should be on the "Paint With Light" page, or the "Action Shots" page. I think you'll agree that this incredible photo qualifies as action! Be sure to read photographer Dennis Livesey's description of the photo. R.R. Conway

The friendly competition to "get something" different amongst railfans, inspired me to try this.

49 years ago I received this Hiram L. Piper lantern from a Canadian Pacific engineer. It is such a great railroad object that, I brought it with me to Train Festival 2009 in Owosso in hope that I might add a dash of interest to a photo. The first night of photography I attended I attempted to incorporate the turntable operator's house and the results were so-so.

The second night, I brought the lantern, tried the operator house shot again and viola! Inspiration struck! So there I was in this little building and to get the angle, I had to shove the tripod as far away as possible from the door, but to see the frame, I had to twist my head like a pretzel to see. I doing so, my head went out the window and pressed against the screen to the point of breaking. I had only a few minutes because they were going to move the table. But I had a winner. The photo is definitely "Something different!"

Exposure ISO 100, f11, 30.0 seconds, 17mm Canon 40D.

Copyright 2009 Dennis A. Livesey-liveseyimages.com

As Metra's Southwest Service train #839 heads for Orland Park, UP1989 lingers in Amtrak's Chicago engine facility after being used as the rescue engine for Amtrak train #6, The California Zephyr earlier in the day. Equipment - Canon 40D on Bogen tripod. Exposure - 1sec. @ F4.5, ISO 250. Marshall Beecher

We're on CSXT's Monon Sub, MP 133.2 at Romney, Indiana. Amtrak train #850 splits the semaphores at 11:11 pm on November 21, 2008 in a spectacular action shot. The semaphores are history, but this image will allow them to live forever. Rob Schreiner

Former LMS C40-8W #2463 is now lettered for Illinois Central as she climbs the hill toward the CP/Metra diamond at Grayslake, Illinois on July 26, 2009. The train is northbound on CN's Waukesha subdivision and is about to cross the CP's Fox Lake subdivision. The image reminds me of an article entitled "Nightmare Creatures" as it is a dramatic and somewhat startling example of night photography. Equipment - Nikon D200, six Metz 402 strobes. Exposure - 125th second, f5, ISO 800. R.R. Conway

As SP 4449 slumbers at Minneapolis Junction on July 18, 2009, a westbound stack train rolls past on the mainline. Equipment - Nikon D200, four Metz 402 strobes. Exposure - 125th second, f56, ISO 800. R.R. Conway

Garretson SD, Trestle. D300, Nikon 17-55mm f2.8, x2 WL X3200 monolights at quarter power. Kent Staubus

The old and the new pass at Decatur, Arkansas at 11:00pm on April 21, 2009. The similarity of "Southern Belle" paint schemes compliment each other very well as F7A #73D watches yet another southbound KCS train crawl upgrade past her beautiful display in downtown Decatur. Equipment - Nikon D200 at 125th @ f 5.6, ISO 800. Six Metz 402 strobes. Photographers - R.R. Conway, Phil Dohmen.

Amtrak's "Acela" #2007 at Stamford, Connecticut on January 19, 2009. The photo was taken with a Canon 40D with noise reduction on, ISO 200, one half second exposure at f 7.1. Mitch Goldman

The American bicentennial of 1976 provided a large variety of specially painted locomotives to honor the occasion. The Elgin Joliet and Eastern added a unique component to SD38-2 #668 in the form of Scotch-lite stars and stripes. This made for some interesting photographic possibilities as evidenced by this shot of #668 at Rondout, Illinois in 1977. The shot is a scan of a Kodachrome 64 slide, shot with a Nikkormat FTN and illuminated by a single Metz 402 strobe. The exact exposure details are unknown. R.R. Conway

Metra F40C #611 at Rondout, Illinois. December 31, 2008. Photo was taken with a Nikon D200, 125th at f 5.6, ISO 800. Six Metz 402 strobes illuminated the scene. The train was moving at 25 miles per hour. This photograph appeared in the April, 2009 issue of Trains Magazine. Photographers - R.R. Conway, Ken Caflisch

Incredible night action at Starrucca Viaduct in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania. September, 1995. This is a scan of a Kodachrome slide and flashbulbs were used to illuminate the scene. Karl Samson

Southbound Arkansas and Missouri train at Fayetteville, Arkansas. October 27, 2008. A Nikon D200 was used for this shot with a 125th second exposure at f 5.6, ISO 800. Seven Metz 402 strobes were used to illuminate the scene. Photographers - Tom Lambrecht, Phil Dohmen, R.R. Conway

It is 2:26 am on June 1, 2008. The Elgin Joliet and Eastern is soon to join the ranks of Fallen Flag railroads. This train used to run all the way to Waukegan, but tonight will turn back for Joliet here at Rondout, Illinois. The future of Rondout tower is uncertain and it was necessary to incorporate it into the shot. Equipment - Nikon D200 at 125th second @ f5.6, ISO 800. Six Metz 402 strobes. Photographers - Ken Caflisch, R.R. Conway