Let's See Your Night Shots, More Than Just Trains, They Should Tell A story.

Wonder if anybody has created a model photo replicating the famous N&W night shots?  Dunno if the 4-8-0 prototype, as at Strasburg, was in any of those historical ones?  That drugstore kit has appeared on the bay,  and can be found.  Poor pump jockey, out in the rain,  checking tires.  "Service" station now a misnomer, and that is a "you-get-wet" project...but there was? one state that did not allow DIY.  Still?

 By rail or bus.

scale rail posted:

I think night shots are very interesting. They have so much more interest and even mystery. A good one is not easy. Flash photography just won't work for a good night photo. This drug store shot was exposed for over a minute. I used a tiny flashlight that I moved slowly for the reflection on the wet street from the cars headlights. Same for the detail of the water tank on the right. It was set up to make you wonder why was that girl in the white shirt out this late? What was the guy sitting on the Coke machine thinking when he watched her go by? Every shot should have some kind of story. All the rest of the light is natural from the buildings. The drugstore is an old Berkshire Valley kit. Not make anymore. Click on pic to enlarge. Don

Fabulous photo, Don.

Midnight Shift'

scale rail posted:

I think night shots are very interesting. They have so much more interest and even mystery. A good one is not easy. Flash photography just won't work for a good night photo. This drug store shot was exposed for over a minute. I used a tiny flashlight that I moved slowly for the reflection on the wet street from the cars headlights. Same for the detail of the water tank on the right. It was set up to make you wonder why was that girl in the white shirt out this late? What was the guy sitting on the Coke machine thinking when he watched her go by? Every shot should have some kind of story. All the rest of the light is natural from the buildings. The drugstore is an old Berkshire Valley kit. Not make anymore. Click on pic to enlarge. Don

Very nice!

It's unbelievable how many multi-talented photographers/modelers, Like Don, Erik and Johan we have here on the forum.

One of my favorites from my team track terminal

I like the viewer to imagine or decide what is being conveyed in my model photographs...

Quarter Gauger - I like that diner shot!

Some creative modeling, all!, and theme, story told, is met.

Pete

Some real awesome scenes here! I will try and give it a shot here.

Norton posted:

Pete

I'm glad I enlarged the scene inside the building in your photo, Pete. Very cool seeing figures playing pool through the window. Arnold 

Live night action'.. A local meets and holds for an Express...

Very cool shot. Can you re-post it again so it comes up with still from the video? Don

scale rail posted:

Very cool shot. Can you re-post it again so it comes up with still from the video? Don

Sure, not sure how to do that though???

Just hit the little icon that looks like a frame of film and put your the same address you posted in the source section, then hit OK. Don

I have a simple rule when looking at paintings, or prints or layouts...."Do I want to be in it?"  If so, it's something I like very much.  QUARTER GAUGER 48, not only do i want to stroll around your layout, it reminds me of Cleveland where I grew up.  The composition and lighting are so very lifelike....stunning.

Ed, thank you that was very nice, but would want to walk around this part of the layout? Don

scale rail posted:

Ed, thank you that was very nice, but would want to walk around this part of the layout? Don

Scale Rail, are you kidding, that's my kinda place!  The tombstones tell stories. Very interesting stories at that.  

The video looks clear and sharp when I hit your Youtube address. https://youtu.be/JNS91ldYGQ0.   Just take this address and place on the icon under formats at the top of the "Add Reply" list. That little icon that looks like a frame of film. Put it in the area that says source. Don

scale rail posted:

The video looks clear and sharp when I hit your Youtube address.   Just take this address and place on the icon under formats at the top of the "Add Reply" list. That little icon that looks like a frame of film. Put it in the area that says source. Don

So, that's how you do that'... I've been trying to figure that out for a very long time'..

What does the other icon next to this one do????  

The one on the left is for adding photos. I use "add attachments" on the lower right to add photos. I just put the picture on my desk top and hit the add attachments and all your photos on the desk top come up. Then I simply hit the photo you want on the list. Don

ToledoEd posted:

I have a simple rule when looking at paintings, or prints or layouts...."Do I want to be in it?"  If so, it's something I like very much.  QUARTER GAUGER 48, not only do i want to stroll around your layout, it reminds me of Cleveland where I grew up.  The composition and lighting are so very lifelike....stunning.

Thank you so very much Ed, I think that is the very best compliment I have ever received  from a fellow viewer and modeler'.  You are too kind'.. I t is appreciated very much'..

                           SeanG, here is another shot of the diner for you'.

The ford facing out'

Here are a couple shots of my refinery at night.  I really like nightime shots at refilneries, they are a light show in themselves.

A young couple ecstatically purchasing their first birdhouse, .

while a woman comes down the stairs on the way to....or the way from...

He was supposed to be meeting ME!

There are a million stories in the Naked City, this is one of them...

While I enjoy night-time train watching, I found there has to be enough ambient light otherwise you can't see the train action. As an example, at the end of this short video, you'll hear a "clunk" lol, where my trains collided on the crossover - although that was more due to me not paying attention!

Short video of my downtown with "Streets." I have to do a more comprehensive video showing the "Streets" intersection with the trolley and street cars as well as my underground station.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLnNRjsFXhg

Got this photo out of my 2015 vault to post on this thread. 

This is a night time line-up of Amtrak Amfleets and New York MTA M7's at the Sunnyside Yards in Queens (aka the indoor/outdoor carpet on my Living Room floor) getting cleaned and serviced overnight before the next day's rush. 

John, were did you get the shelves for the Hardware Store? Looks great. Don

scale rail posted:

John, were did you get the shelves for the Hardware Store? Looks great. Don

Don, is it an image placed behind the window display?

Last train of the night is arriving.

Night work in the tunnel.

Mike McCutcheon posted:

Last train of the night is arriving.

Night work in the tunnel.

As a fellow Lego fan, I really like your train station!

BobbyD posted:

scale rail posted:

John, were did you get the shelves for the Hardware Store? Looks great. Don

Don, is it an image placed behind the window display?

Scale Rail,

Bobby D is correct, that it is an image. But its a bit more than that. I took a lot of interior photos of the real Ayres Variety store (the store has been in my hometown since 1946), then photo shopped them together to look like aisles as well as to get the proper perspective when placed in a semicircular strip.  The desk, birdhouse, people at the cash register and all the window displays are real.  Here is a top view of the first floor

The woman coming down the stairs is underneath that web of wires behind the first window on the left.

Here is what the strip looks like.

It has been heavily photo shopped: each aisle and end cap is a separate photo, distorted to get the perspective right, the flags have been modified, the lights angled inward, etc

For the upper floors I took a more conventional approach:

Real neat photos everyone.  You guys have some real artistic talent,

Bill

It's  the first night of the Terrific Tucker Sale at the Smith Brothers  Tucker Dealership in Patsburg. 

Standing outside the dealership, Preston Tucker takes his hat off to admirers of his fine automobiles. Inside the showroom standing next to the yellow Torpedo, a  salesman and customer closes a deal.  The salesman tells the customer " for purchasing one of the finest automobiles ever made  I will also through in with the this purchase a case of Smith Brother Cough Drops!" 

Here's a couple of my favorite night shots.

i don't have great shots but I have a few that do show a scene that I would like to be in, and that is, as I recall, the point of this thread.

walt

The 'party train' stops at the station to pick up more party goers:

Same 'party train' with a party outside as well:

Here's one in which I did spend many hours when younger.  Miss these in today's world:

And who of us hasn't enjoyed a treat while there?

One of (most of) our favorite childhood 'events', yelling 'Trick or treat':

Tourist attraction unlike any other in the world:

And I can HONESTLY say I am in this scene.  This is Waltburg - a small town of 6 houses of models of my family's houses, inlcuing mine:

The old trailer park on hot summer night. Don

scale rail posted:

The old trailer park on hot summer night. Don

 Hey, no place like home sweet home'... no matter how humble it my be'..

Nice shot'....

My son took these for me, you are right Don, the night time photos are a real challenge !!   

Nice Photos Chris! Your layout sure stands out weather its day or night! Love all the pictures you post of it!

This is my night engine house with smoke. I installed a MTH smoke unit in the back connected to a small brass tube that connects to aquarium tubbing. There is a three way aquarium valve to adjust the smoke to each engine bay. It works well. Don

scale rail posted:

This is my night engine house with smoke. I installed a MTH smoke unit in the back connected to a small brass tube that connects to aquarium tubbing. There is a three way aquarium valve to adjust the smoke to each engine bay. It works well. Don

This is very cool Don...  I wouldn't mind seeing a daylight shot of this as well'...

I didn't realize how many night time shots I have in my files. I can't find any of the round house in daytime. Here is one with all diesel and electrics. Click on picture to enlarge. Don

 Wow Don, that is a very authentic shot'.. Difficult to determine it is not the real thing.  Very good camera execution ...

All these night time shots are very nice, when I get around to redoing my layout. I may look into trying to get some pictures up. Though it will take a while.

AT&SF waycar with its signature porch lights burning:

I was looking at past pictures I have taken on my layout, though not much work done on it scenery wise. I do have some night type shots. 

Even when I do redo my track plan, I will probably not had much in the way of scenery, as this updated plan will probably been redone in the future again. 

John Sethian posted:

BobbyD posted:

scale rail posted:

John, were did you get the shelves for the Hardware Store? Looks great. Don

Don, is it an image placed behind the window display?

Scale Rail,

Bobby D is correct, that it is an image. But its a bit more than that. I took a lot of interior photos of the real Ayres Variety store (the store has been in my hometown since 1946), then photo shopped them together to look like aisles as well as to get the proper perspective when placed in a semicircular strip.  The desk, birdhouse, people at the cash register and all the window displays are real.  Here is a top view of the first floor

The woman coming down the stairs is underneath that web of wires behind the first window on the left.

Here is what the strip looks like.

It has been heavily photo shopped: each aisle and end cap is a separate photo, distorted to get the perspective right, the flags have been modified, the lights angled inward, etc

For the upper floors I took a more conventional approach:

That reply is far above and beyond the "call of duty".

So thanks!

Nice thread! Going to add to keep it going.

The layover.

Layout at night

"Sun has set":

The freight consist will be spotted behind the Depot on the East End Branch and the Dinner Train will be spotted in front of the Depot to await boarding of the first call dinner patrons.

"Tying down the Dinner Train for the night":

The kitchen staff is doing cleanup before calling it a day.

A C&O Allegheny leads a long boxcar train through Terryville at dusk

2 photos of the suburban station at Terryvill at night featuring the PRR Nellie Bly and the Jersey Central Blue Comet on their way to their final destinations of Penn Station, NY and Communipaw terminal, Jersy City, respectively.

CoastsideKevin posted:

 Nice work Kevin'...

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

ToledoEd posted:

Ted, I never understood the interest in trailers....oh, youth so wasted.  Great photo shoot, and talk about 'setting a scene'...ooo la la!

Thanks Ed, I have a few more I'd like to post.  Not sure if they may be to risque for the forum.... I don't want to present anything that may cause concern in spite of the real filth on the net, TV and the social media sites'...  Your thoughts''''.... 

Well...Ted....I delete those photos because in my opinion they don't belong here regardless of the filth on thenet, TV and social media sites....  We don't want that here....

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

CoastsideKevin posted:

 Nice work Kevin'...

Thank you Ted! Be well.

I don't have any photos handy but here is a video of my layout at night. 

RamblerDon posted:

I don't have any photos handy but here is a video of my layout at night. 

 

Very cool night video RamblerDon.

Looks like you just joined the OGR forum yesterday.  Welcome aboard.

Saturday night, late fall after a sandlot ball game. Stopping for a coke before heading home.

walt rapp posted:

i don't have great shots but I have a few that do show a scene that I would like to be in, and that is, as I recall, the point of this thread.

walt

The 'party train' stops at the station to pick up more party goers:

Here's one in which I did spend many hours when younger.  Miss these in today's world:

Tourist attraction unlike any other in the world:

And I can HONESTLY say I am in this scene.  This is Waltburg - a small town of 6 houses of models of my family's houses, inlcuing mine:

 

WOW!!  Fantastic images everyone!

Walt, we always look forward to your builds, you just need to post MORE images for us!! 

SP waiting at the station

Crew members are finally wearing safety vests. 

Added scratch built MU cable and hanger.

Relocated air hoses and reformed to drape outside the plow. 

I love this thread. There is something very romantic about trains at night. Here are a couple enjoying the ice rink in front of their scenic plot this winter. This is a bit of a Christmas layout I am working on. 

The waterfront never sleeps. Loading the ships a night.

                                             More night moves'...

Caught in the act'..

Rear Window

11:15 PM out of Burbank, highballing into Sacramento ...

Night views. 

El to grand central. 

     Electric Chrome, & Urban Nights'...

Sun down & Dusk'.. sets in..

Who needs street lights'...

The TV is on. Wonder what is going on the 2nd & 3rd floors....👀

Radio Days'~

Lots of nice pic's here.  I love experimenting with camera setting to get a good night shot.  It's a lot harder than I thought and I've been messing up night shots for years especially when we had film in our camera's.  Now with digital, no wasted prints..  Just thought I'd throw one up on the site here.  The city scene was taken with a Canon SX50HS with manual settings, on a tripod, NO flash, ISO 80, F stop 6.3, Aperture 4 and exposure time of 15 seconds.  The only lighting used are a series of blue flood lights mounted permanently to make the night scene more realistic when I'm running trains and also to give me some type of light in the room   The city is a 10 foot section on a riser of all H.O. buildings on the layout for depth perception.  The engine is a repainted, reworked Lionel working its way thru the switches back to the engine facility after a hard days work.

@Lary posted:

Lots of nice pic's here.  I love experimenting with camera setting to get a good night shot.  It's a lot harder than I thought and I've been messing up night shots for years especially when we had film in our camera's.  Now with digital, no wasted prints..  Just thought I'd throw one up on the site here.  The city scene was taken with a Canon SX50HS with manual settings, on a tripod, NO flash, ISO 80, F stop 6.3, Aperture 4 and exposure time of 15 seconds.  The only lighting used are a series of blue flood lights mounted permanently to make the night scene more realistic when I'm running trains and also to give me some type of light in the room   The city is a 10 foot section on a riser of all H.O. buildings on the layout for depth perception.  The engine is a repainted, reworked Lionel working its way thru the switches back to the engine facility after a hard days work.

 Hey Lary',  This is a great shot!! We need to see some more of this good looking layout'... I like the idea of the HO structures in the background'... That works very well for false perspective'... You have mastered night photography from what I'm seeing here.  So, let;s see some additional material'.....👍👌😁❗😉👍🏽📸

This is the only night shot I can come up with right now, a short video leaving Chicago Union Station on the east bound Capitol Limited 

https://youtu.be/L3i_aHHL_l4

Here's a few of mine.

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

 Hey Lary',  This is a great shot!! We need to see some more of this good looking layout'... I like the idea of the HO structures in the background'... That works very well for false perspective'... You have mastered night photography from what I'm seeing here.  So, let;s see some additional material'.....👍👌😁❗😉👍🏽📸

Actually I have way too many pic's to post on this site.  Been working on trying to compose a feature article for the mag. but way too busy here in MI. even with the stay at home orders.  This is my turkey hunting time as well as fishing and getting the garden in and also I'm a very avid bicyclist who will pump out 20-30 miles on a given day.  The trains are kind of pushed in the back corner of my mind for the summer months but I do take a project or 2 up to our cabin in Northern Mi. to work on when I can find time and get my butt off the boat.  Winter time I'll lock myself in the train room for hours on end but summer, NO way.

OK one more taken in the just finished section near the town of Essential, all O scale buildings

Under a full moon MOW workers chat it up. 

A night time fly-over.

Dusk settles over Terryville as a C&O Allegheny leads a long box car train along mainline track #1.

Night trains at the station.

The water front after dark.

Two nightly passenger trains make a station stop at Terryville.

Night shift at The Indian Motorcycle plant while at the fuel depot they are working late trying to keep up with deliveries and company maintenance. The coal tower is always busy day and night.

The B&A 0-8-0 is delivering much welcomed parts for the Indian plant while lead man Gary is checking out the wallpaper.