After the shoot at CP Chalendar, I grew concerned, not so much about the distance we needed to travel today, but rather the uncertain condition of the roads and the general accessibility of the area that laid ahead in our travels along BNSF’s Seligman Subdivision. According to my original plans we were due to spend the day shooting the area around Eagle Nest and Double A. Since we were not even near Double A yet, I felt tense because that meant something must give in our schedule. I preferred it to be those areas we had visited before so we headed west on I-40 towards Williams, Arizona to try to get back on schedule…
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 9 - A Few Favorite Locations
After the wonderful visit to the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, and the opportunity to do some night viewing through one of their historic telescopes, the day’s events and excitement had left us with little energy to do much else. So after leaving the observatory we headed west on I-40 in search of a place to park for the night. We opted to just spend the night at the Pilot Travel Center at Bellemont, Arizona. This seemed as good of a place as any as it afforded us a chance to top off the tanks and do some shopping to augment our stores. No time for a traditional dinner tonight so we just grabbed some McDonalds and called it a night…
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 8 - Flagstaff Area
When I set out planning this trip I looked for activities that Deb would enjoy. Next to hanging out with me track side, shooting photographs of passing trains ad nauseam, one of her true passions is astronomy. Fortunately, Flagstaff is home to an historic and working observatory. That observatory, the Lowell Observatory, became one of the surprise side trips that I planned especially for Deb…
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 7 - Chasing From Winslow to Flagstaff
It had been a glorious two days hanging out at the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona but it was time to leave. In part because our reservations expired and, equally important, because we came to see BNSF’s Seligman Subdivision. The last two days were the perfect starter course for this vacation and we now felt calm and relaxed — ready to enjoy what laid ahead…
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 6 - More Chasing at the La Posada Hotel
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 5 - Chasing at the La Posada Hotel
From a railfan’s perspective, the La Posada Hotel is blessed with a plethora of both, mainline trackage and plenty of traffic, that form the southern border of the property. Considering the hotel’s history, a place for weary travelers of the Santa Fe Railway Company to get some rest and good eats, this is by design. As such, the grounds provide a welcome sign of sorts admist the parch and arid landscape in this part of northern Arizona. Butted up against the platforms of the Winslow Amtrak station, a semi-circular brick plaza morphs into a walkway that leads directly to a portico and the lobby of the hotel. Today, as it was then, this area serves as fantastic train watching vantage point complete with wood rocking chairs for the guests to rock their cares away as they watch the parade of trains, from all points east and west, go by…
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 4 - A Railfan Oasis, The La Posada Hotel
There are some, but not many, places that offer a spectacular railroad viewing opportunity coupled with truly refreshing and luxurious accommodations track side. Our favorite, to date, is located in Winslow, Arizona and it is truly an oasis for railfans and travelers alike. It is the La Posada Hotel , a National Historic Landmark, and billed as “Arizona’s grandest estate…”
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 3 - The Run East Continues
The Townsend Winona Road overpass provides a nice vantage point to take in the action of BNSF trains as they transit the area near Winona, Arizona. Looking west, most of the elements that comprise an interesting composition, at least for me, can be found from the overpass — sweeping curves, a discernible grade, a distant view, and a nice, mountainous backdrop. The view from the eastern side of the overpass is less spectacular but similar…
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 2 - The Run East
On Saturday morning, with great anticipation and eagerness, I loaded the final pieces of gear into the truck and the perishables into the camper’s fridge. I have learned over the years that it seems something always comes up at the last minute as we prepare to depart, especially when it involves more that a weekend road trip, so I packed some flex-time into the first day of our trip. Good thing too because we needed it…
Our Best Trip Ever - Part 1 - The Planning
It had been just under five years since Deb and I ventured east to one of our favorite locations in the west, the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona, and BNSF’s Seligman Subdivision. After completing a major project at work, I felt the need to take a respite so, in early April, Deb and I made plans to head east…
Living, Barely - Cima Sub Shots - Part 5 of 5
After the day’s events and considering I was content with the shots I had taken already, I decided to head home. As I left the Ivanpah, California grade crossing, I knew of two trains on the normally sparsely populated Cima Subdivision of the Union Pacific Railroad. One was the eastbound vehicle train that kept me company while we both waited for the westbound manifest train at Ivanpah. The vehicle train was now well on its way to Nipton, California and east towards Las Vegas, Nevada. The manifest train was out in front of me somewhere between Ivanpah and Kelso, California by now…
Living Lucky - Cima Sub Shots - Part 4 of 5
Up until this point my truck was soldiering on, doing it’s climbing the mountain thing when came that point that most, if not all, four-wheelers have felt at some time or another. My truck had lost the forward progress and it started to wiggle and began a worrisome and very discernible slide towards the right side of the road. “Shit, sand,” I exclaimed. Normally I would not want to stop my truck at this point because any forward progress works in my favor to get beyond whatever sand trap I might be in. However, my forward progress had ceased and I worried about the sideways slide that my truck was in. I stomped on the brakes…
Living Large - Cima Sub Shots - Part 3 of 5
Down at the Depot - Cima Sub Shots - Part 2 of 5
After getting my fill of grade crossing shots and as the sun sank below the horizon I turned my attention to the Kelso Depot. It was past closing time so I had the exterior of the depot and it’s grounds all to myself which is nice because it came be a quite busy place during the day considering it’s remote location…
Better Late Than Never - Cima Sub Shots - Part 1 of 5
It was the Sunday before President’s Day and I had hoped to arrive mid-afternoon with plenty of time to find a nice spot to set-up camp. I know that I am getting older because I just don’t do things as fast as I once did - especially when it comes to physical chores such as prepping the camper and the truck for a trip. I left later than I wanted so I had to adapt my plans accordingly. My destination was the Union Pacific’s Cima Subdivision. In particular, I was targetting the area around Cima itself. By my calculations, if I hustled, and drove straight through, I might be able to catch some good light at the Kelso Depot. I headed out in haste…
A Moment Alone - One of My Favorite Photos
Two Trains and Me
…Besides working on “real world” activities, I have been working on enhancing my post-processing and graphic design skills. As an exercise towards that end, I wanted to combine two images into one “if only” image. I decided to merge a shot of a BNSF intermodal with a shot of a Union Pacific vehicle train…
San Timoteo Canyon Steel
A couple of weeks ago I was able to venture out and chase steel for a few hours. After careful consideration, I opted to head towards Union Pacific’s Yuma Subdivision. In particular, I headed for the western edge of the subdivision which traverses the San Timoteo Canyon and constitutes the western slope of the formidable Beaumont Hill. While the traffic levels aren’t as high as one might find on the BNSF’s Cajon Subdivision, the area is extremely accessible and offers some great scenery and sweeping curves…
Amtrak Dual - Variations of a Photo
HDR Photography Visually Explained
I am often asked how I captured the details when I show someone my photography. The comment that their “photos don’t look like that.” I then explain the process of capturing the details, through proper exposure, and the benefits of High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. I though it might help to produce a post that visually details how to capture a scene in HDR an show that everyone can do it…