Beth wrote:
We leave next week to go cross-country on the Amtrak. Anyone have
tips on taking good photos from a moving train? Or how to get good
shots of people inside of a moving train?
Ok, here are my tips to add to those you already have.
1. Remember the train is moving. So try not to include anything in the foreground that is very close to the train or it will show movement blur. That is fine, if you want movement blur, which you should have in at least some of your shots so you can say, "Hey, I was on a train." Try using a slower shutter speed, like 1/60 or 1/30th on a shot or two. Shoot at a 90 degree angle from the train using a wide angle. You should be able to show a lot of movement blur in the foreground and much less or none in the distance. Sort of cool shot if you can pull it off.
2. Remember the train is moving! Try to shoot some of the shots at less than a 90 degree angle from the train. That should reduce the motion blur.
3. Remember the train is VIBRATING, so don't press you camera up to the glass of the window. Get it close, but don't touch it.
4. Use a hood or a jacket to cut down on reflections off the glass. wrap it around the camera and push it against the glass out of the field of view. That will eliminate all glare. Next best bet is the polarizer, but that will reduce your shutter speed or f-stop and is moving you in the wrong direction.
5. For shooting inside the train, you can use flash, but remember to use a mode that allows you to see out the windows. In other words, shoot will a fill flash at a higher OSI and a wide f-stop. That way you can see inside and outside of the train, in the same shot.
6. Use both a wide angle and telephoto inside the train. Use the telephoto to compress the compartment down the isle, that will look cool.
7. Don't forget to take some natural light shots inside the train of people sitting next to windows. Very classic shot, don't want to miss that.
8. Don't leave your camera sitting around, it will walk off.
