Night Train

Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 2 September 2008 in Transportation.

A southbound Amtrak train rolling in the darkness through the small bay side town of Pinole, California. The tracks here hug the banks of San Pablo Bay. Pinole is about 30 km northeast of San Francisco.

This train is part of the cooperative 'Amtrak/California' service which runs between the California State Capitol in Sacramento -
and the San Francisco Bay Area.

[notebook]: Canon 5D w/ 16-35mm f/2.8 lens - ISO 200 - 23mm - 30.0 sec @ f/7.1

© copyright 2009 by Stephen Phillips Photography / San Francisco / www.joyoflight.com
please respect these rights - do not copy or use these images without permission

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Comments (27)

m.monsef from TEHRAN, Iran

VERY WELL DONE.EXCELLENT SHARPNESS.SUCCESS

2 Sep 2008 5:22am

Zygene from morlaix, France

Une jolie composition pas toujours facile à faire la nuit. Bravo.

2 Sep 2008 5:33am

Ted from South Wales, United Kingdom

Excellent capture.

2 Sep 2008 6:20am

Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia

This is MAD, a fantastic image, the lines and colour are superb, a very creative and interesting image Stephen.

2 Sep 2008 6:25am

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Nice night shot. Like how the train become just light lines.
PS : sorry i was very busy last days, a marriage.... and i have to do photographs...

2 Sep 2008 6:28am

@Evelyne Dubos: It looks like you were putting your busy time to good use. (I love your post today) - - - Please don't apologize for such schedule encounters. One of the downsides to on-line communities such as AM3 is that they might seduce us into more time at the computer than is healthy. - - - I say - go out - live - shoot! We'll still be here when you get back - thrilled with all of the new inspirations you've discovered.

Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany

These kind of shots are some of my favourites on your blog. It's really cool how you catch those night trains!

2 Sep 2008 7:22am

@Mirko Herzner: Thanks. I'd been shooting these from sunset through dusk. This was my first attempt into actual nightfall.

Rui from Leiria, Portugal

Wonderful. I love night shots. And this one in particular is awesome. The train's speed transformed in just a coloured lines, gives it a special dinamism. The sharpness is excellent.

2 Sep 2008 9:14am

narcís from Catalunya, Spain

Molt bonica imatge nocturna!!

2 Sep 2008 9:51am

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Oh wow, it's wonderful, a train with pizzaz :)

2 Sep 2008 9:53am

yz from Budapest, Hungary

Mystery train. Great shot, simply great.

2 Sep 2008 11:18am

dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States

Terrific shot. I especially like the capture of the crosswalk lights going up and down.

2 Sep 2008 12:46pm

Lorena from Fort Myers, United States

Very well done! I love shots like this!

2 Sep 2008 12:49pm

Thomas Griffioen from Rotterdam, Netherlands

Just fantastic! The colorful lines in the dark, stunning!

2 Sep 2008 1:23pm

Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France

30 seconds ! Congratulations for this night train shot…

2 Sep 2008 4:02pm

@Calusarus: Thanks. One of the good things about coming from a pre-digital perspective (i.e., film) - is that I carry a good light meter with me. Had I managed to include the cable release when I left the car (required for any exposure over 30 seconds) - I would have made this exposure even longer. I want to shoot a similar take at maybe twice as long - to bring out more detail in the trees and sky.

paulski from Muncie, IN, United States

whoa! that is one impressive shot! i love the red light-trails left by the crossing arms. great shot!

2 Sep 2008 5:29pm

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

Stephen, this is one amazing shot...full of energy and the life that is the night.
Plus...it satifies my train obsession :)

2 Sep 2008 7:25pm

Marcie from United States

WOW! Love the streams of colored light.

2 Sep 2008 7:28pm

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

Spectacular, no train, only its lights. Beautifully executed work. I like the red arc of the barrier lights.

2 Sep 2008 10:03pm

Benoit Darrieux from Clermont Ferrand, France

But, where is the train ??! Joke... very good job. Looks like a train in the futur, going so fast from a planet to an other one !

2 Sep 2008 10:59pm

John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States

You nailed this one Stephen, perfect exposure and composition. Love the light trails and great clarity.

3 Sep 2008 1:03am

Walter from Watkinsville, United States

Another fantastic shot. I love how you captured the crossing guard lights and the movement into the shot. It makes me with I had a train nearby to photograph. Perhaps a venture into the city of Atlanta, GA to get a shot of the rapid transit tram, MARTA, is in store in the future.

3 Sep 2008 1:25am

@Walter: Walter - Suggestion - find an interesting place to use the headlights and taillights of passing cars and trucks - you'd be amazed at what they'll do in an interesting setting. Good luck.