Photos from Llanmynach

[90733]

Your layout is certainly an impsiration, great photos, thanks for sharing :)
Jack

[Tigger]

Many thanks Jack.  I'm presently looking for another one among my collection here at work!

[Tigger]

Mid-afternoon at Rhyffedd Coed station sees Russell I arriving with a down passenger train as Argyll waits for a clear road.  Argyll might well spend a little time shunting the siding to drop something off or pick something up.  By August 1952, most of the railway's goods vehicles have been through the repair and paint shops, and now look relatively smart.  The van in the siding, on the other hand has so far escaped such attentions!  Probably over the winter and before it gets any worse it'll be taken out of service for an overhaul.  Just don't look too closely at the angle of Argyll's headlamp! ;D That just shows that this photo wasn't specially posed!  Actually all it shows is that I lapsed on my usual attention to detail before I took the photo.  I was probably listening to an old edition of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue"!!

[berryr99]

David,

Another fine picture, thanks for sharing.

(Side issue - what camera are you using for these shots ?)

Keep them coming !

Bob

[tedp]

Nice photo, Dave - I particularly like that brake vehicle behind Russell, with the stylish ducket.

It's interesting to compare Russell with Argyll. The latter loco isn't much taller but quite a bit wider!

[tebee]

Another fine picture, thanks for sharing.

(Side issue - what camera are you using for these shots ?)

I would guess he is using a Canon Digital IXUS 750

And I echo the fine picture sentiment.

[Tigger]

Thanks guys!  As guessed, the camera I use for these shots is the little Canon IXUS 750, on 50ASA for maximum quality, 10 second timer and on a small lightweight tripod.  It's ideal for these quick shots but its limitations are the autofocus which makes the focal point a little unpredictable and a lack of depth of field.  If I'm doing a more serious job I'll crank up the Canon 300D SLR which gives me a manually focussed lens and a massive depth of field at f36!

Ted - Argyll was a very early (Chivers) kit-built loco and when I put her on the line I was amazed at her bulk!  At the time I was more used to Egger locos and GEM kits!  She was very back-heavy so the bunker rear was replaced with a piece of card and I crammed in as much lead forward of the centre drivers as possible.  I'd always wanted a full brake and the one behind Russell is built from a pair of Mikes Models bogie brake ends, using the scratch-built ducket to disguise the join.  Thanks for the compliment!

[Tigger]

Seen from the hillside high above Mynydd-yn-Bwlch, 'Owain Glyndwr' has completed a shunt and sits waiting for the road to take her train back down the valley to Llanmynach.

Meanwhile, 'Russell' is arriving in the platform road from Rhyffedd Coed with the mid-morning goods for Tawel-Llety.

Once 'Owain Glyndwr' has vacated the loop and departed, 'Russell' will move her train into the loop, shunt the siding and then await the down passenger from Tawel-Llety and Moel Ffynnon before continuing on her journey.

[berryr99]

If I'm doing a more serious job I'll crank up the Canon 300D SLR which gives me a manually focussed lens and a massive depth of field at f36!


David,

I am interested in photography - got a Canon 450D - so presumably you will set a long exposure time if the lens is stopped so far down - question - at these long exposure times how do you avoid camera shake?

Do you lock the mirror up ?

Yes....I know it is off topic !

Thanks

Bob

[Tigger]

So it's off topic!  So what?  It's my topic and I don't mind!!  ;D

Talking specifically about the Canon SLR set-up, I ensure it's mounted in one of three ways - 1, on a good tripod; 2, directly on the baseboard; 3, on a special photographic 'bean-bag' which has the standard

[MickT]

Thanks guys!  As guessed, the camera I use for these shots is the little Canon IXUS 750, on 50ASA for maximum quality,

Hi David,

Just a quick photographic query - I thought ASA went out with glass plate film or similar! What is 50ASA in equivalent ISO setting please?

Mick

[Tigger]

There is no difference Mick!!  Most photographic boxes will give the speed as 'nn ASA/ISO'.

ASA is the older definition.  See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed#Current_system:_ISO

for more info.

Cheers!

[Malcolm]

Incidentally, many thanks to Graham Watling who brought Lord Craig down to Swanley to meet me!  Sadly His Grace's busy touring schedule did not afford him the luxury of making the journey to Wales to experience life in Llanmynach.

David
Despite his lordship being away from home I am rather busy [trying to get things done whilst he is not here to interfere!!!] and am only just catching up with recent posts on this topic.   His lordship has, in the past, indicated that he would be willing to extend his tour next year to include Llanwhatsitsname as he calls every Welsh town and village.  He has recently visited the Talyllyn and I understand he was quite impressed with what he saw.
Malcolm
Equerry to Lord Craig

[tedp]

50 ASA equals 18 ISO or 18 DIN. (Agfa CT18)
64 ASA equals 19 ISO or 19 DIN. (Kodak Ektachrome-X, Kodachrome 64, 1960s-1970s)
100 ASA equals 21 ISO or 21 DIN (Kodacolor Gold, 1980s)
400 ASA equals 27 ISO or 27 DIN (Kodak Tri-X high speed B/W film)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed

Edit - I missed David's post...  The old ISO/DIN speed was a logarithmic scale. The new ISO speed is similar to ASA.  :P

As to camera shake: for low level views I support the camera either directly on the scenery or on a tiny plastic tripod a few inches tall. I use a delayed exposure, but then my old Olympus E-10 doesn't have shake suppression...

[berryr99]

Liked the night shot - very atmospheric.

Just started to rebuild my layout but I will use the process you have described to improve my photos when there are some decent scenic sections on it.

Most exhibitions are "difficult" in terms of photography so have developed a set up for the camera of:

White balance adjusted to tungsten etc as applicable

TV with speed set to no less than 1/15 sec

Focussing on spot

Exposure on centre

Exposure bracket of 1/2 stop up, 1/2 stop down and middle (i.e where the camera thinks the lens should be stopped to)

This usually gives acceptable results and then I use Photoshop to adjust the colours in the shot via Filter>average>Levels>mid point. There is no technical understanding of this last operation (I saw it on You Tube) but it seems to stop a shot being overpowered by the dominant colour in the photo.

Bob