Photographing steam trains isn’t a bad way to make a living and working with the great team at the East Lancashire Railway is a pleasure. They really know how to put on a show for the photographers on one of our photography courses.
We have been running photography courses with the ELR team for about eight months now and we thought it was about time we posted a few examples of our work photographing steam trains.
Candid photos like this would be a fantastic addition to your portfolio
This image is a good example of how up close and personal we get with the teams working on the steam locos in the engine sheds. Getting real “stand out” images for your photography portfolio are we aim to help you achieve.
If your main experience of photographing trains to date is at platform height, being able to go trackside away from the crowds to set up your shot in the perfect position with plenty of time to compose and adjust is a revelation.
It’s not all about photographing steam trains from the trackside, images like this which capture the essence of the East Lancs Railway and its team of dedicated volunteers give a more reportage feel. The eye is drawn to the tea jugs and the questions they provoke about their owners but then your eye wanders to take in the detail in a photograph that is a lot more technically dmanding than at first glance.
You will recognise this image from the home page of our website and although it shows off the engine beautifully, especially the polished paintwork which is reflecting the colour of the brickwork of the platform buildings to give it a bronze look, it is the concentration of the driver and his features that tell the story. And that driver’s cap is the crowning glory!
Another shot that captures the work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes at the ELR. Remember on our photography courses, you get to go where the public can’t and spend time crafting the image that you want.
Hang on, that loco looks strangely familiar….
One of the highlights of our steam train photography courses has no trains. It is the UK’s largest mechanical signal box. The levers, gauges and the huge hand painted display panel showing the full ELR network is genuinely unique. Being able to photograph in here is a real treat.
Train photography needn’t feature trains all that heavily. Here the tracks and pillars of the engine shed dominate and only then does the eye pick up the detail that tells the story about hard, grimy work.
Our final train photography image captures the pleasure and pride the ELR volunteers have in their work and the special camaraderie of the railway.
We hope that this selction of images gives you a flavour of what we find on our steam train photography courses and that we will see on one soon. Here are the dates of upcoming courses in the category Photographing Steam Trains
