Tracks

This week we are back to shooting with the Canon.  I actually made it out of the house early one morning last week and headed for one of my favorite spots, Tempe Town Lake.  Of course there is some bias as it is close to work so I can either stop by on my way in or way home.  It does offer a variety of subjects to shoot...bridges, water, trains, light rails, people, boats, birds, you get the idea.

A few weeks back I posted some shots taken at dusk of the Mill Avenue Bridge.  I was quite pleased with those so I figured why not come back during the morning and see what could be captured.  My goal was to be here before sunrise but that didn't pan out.  I blame my alarm for not being loud enough.

With the sun up I knew I didn't have long with the golden light.  I snapped several of the train bridge from a low vantage point hoping the blue sky would provide nice contrast.  Those weren't bad but nothing to get excited about.  With no one around I decided to climb up on the train track and see what kind of perspective that would yield.  Using the "No Tres.." sign to pull myself up I made my way down the tracks.  I snapped a few brackets at various angles tilting the camera each time. Again those were ok, nothing great.

Finally, I noticed how smooth the track was and how I could see the bridge reflection on it.  Hmm.  I placed the camera right on the track and set the aperture wide open for a shallow depth of field.  Happy with that shot I made my back down to the truck. 

 

I will have to say this is probably #2 on my list of shots where I was a little nervous.  The first one being the fog shot in http://chrisfrailey.blogspot.com/2010/08/you-just-never-know.html.  The light rail track is near this one so every time the light rail approached I kept looking over my shoulder.  I didn't want to be that photographer you hear about on the news who got hit while standing in the middle of the track.

Until next time...

Choo Choo

I'll have to admit this now before we get much further along.  This blog will most likely be slanted towards pictures of my kids.  It is not my intention for that to happen but I'm just say'in.

Cole getting ready for a ride

Anyway, we loaded the family up and took a little trip over to the Desert Breeze Train Park in Chandler AZ.  It is a great place to take the kids as they have a little of everything.  You can find a train of course, monster playground, a carousel, ducks, swings, a lake, and acres of grass to run wild in.  Oh and in the summer they have water fountains for the kids to soak themselves.  Like I said great place to take the kids and let them burn out energy.

Kaeden & Montana

Our youngest received some overalls for Xmas complete with matching hat.  These just happened to be pin striped (train conductor style).  What better place for a photo op than Desert Breeze.  Our oldest had her best friend and partner in crime Montana over, so she went too.

Conductor Cole ready to go

I was able to grab a few good shots during the afternoon.  Of course my subjects grew quickly tired of having a camera pointed towards them which meant bribery was to be employed.  The youngest got his ride on the train and the two girls got a game of tag from yours truly.  Good times.

Kaeden stopping for a pose

I do my best to cherish these times as I know there are only finite number of them.  Tag you're it!

Cole in a rare moment of not moving

Until next time...