Photographers react with outrage at National Geographic train tracks photo

Trains might be quite but they are real big. With one set of eyes looking one way and the other set looking the opposite way I would think that unless you are blind or shooting in a thick fog you would be able to see it coming. I could see the outrage if you are shooting on a bridge. Just use some common sense.

I don't like killing people. Please take care.
KjellsJo - Engine driver.

Everthing has it's dangers. Lets just stop doing everthing, then we can get rid of all the personal injury lawyers, have less stupid comercials. By the way everything is illegal in the USA or you can't do it because of saftey. BS NIce shot From NG.

This is absolute nonsense. How many photos have we seen of people posing on streets. No cars around mind you. Has anyone reacted in this way about street shots. Perhaps, living in this politically correct society, this is because it is a woman standing on the tracks. Maybe, and I'm just guessing now, if it was a man standing on the tracks, would anything be said. By the way, I think the photo is awesome.

I've walked miles and miles on railroad tracks. This sudden outrage, while somewhat puzzling, won't dissuade me from continuing to do so.

No amount of outrage will ever fix stupid. If you are dumb enough to stand on a railroad track and not pay attention, the only one to feel sad about is the train operator that had no choice but to run over you after you froze in your pose when he blew the train whistle.

If it's on the "Today" show, it must be right. Not.

Maybe "look out for your own safety"?

As CreeDo (5 comments down) says: uh, am I the only one who's thinking "we have two people facing opposite directions"?

Let's child proof everything in the 21st century.

In 2015 Deutsche Bahn even spent money on a video campaign. One reason being 147 people dying on railways in 2014, including kids doing selfies or kids climbing around poles and trains.

https://youtu.be/N8Zwf3dol_c

In the comments of that video some German train-drivers post their experiences.

Ridiculous concern. Assuming this is the ex-Santa Fe LA-SD line, Surfliner trains are A, infrequent (30min @ peak hours, hardly at all otherwise), and B, quite audible even with the ocean crashing below. If it's the coastline north of LA, there are even fewer trains.

Many other issues in life worth worrying about, not this.

uh, am I the only one who's thinking "we have two people facing opposite directions"?

How is the train going to sneak up on either of them?

These folks heard and saw the train coming. So funny:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCwu8USgbFI

Must I state the obvious? These people were breaking the law, trespassing on private property. They are ILLEGALS and must be killed. People who break the laws in American are trampling on the Constitution, traitor to Freedom and Democracy, and must be shot till dead. Liberal fascists with their relativism, bull hockey. You break the law, you pay with your lives. The law is the law. Illegal immigrants, deported, trespassers, killed. Done and done.

It depends on the situation. She's in the open and isn't distracted doing something else so she should be able to hear and see a train long before it would reach her. She probably only stood there for a few moments.

Most of the idiots run over by trains were the result of people WALKING on train tracks with headphones and not paying attention. Or they were in a noisy and crowded spot where the train could take them by surprise. Like the 'Midnight Rider' idiot film crew. The families are suing the land owners! The same land owners whom said they couldn't film there!

Infinitely safer than standing in any road, as long as you have common sense.

Not saying it was a good idea to publish it but if you're stupid enough to let a vehicle that has all the predictability of something running on fixed rails and that can be heard from a mile away then I think that says more about you.

A generic cliche image from an unimaginative drone. When you cannot manage light, shoot into the sun- half the image can be blown out and the masses still applaud you for being 'special'.

Geesh, how dangerous is it to take pictures on Safari? Ever gone to Antartica on a photo expedition? Likely dangerous. How about climbing Everest?

I cross the street in NYC every day. Not dead yet. I stand on an open platform on the NYC subway every day. Now THAT is far more dangerous.

Can we just dial back the anxiety a bit? Thank you!

Nah! Take photos where and when you please. If you are too stupid enough not to take the care needed to be safe then that is just life.

There are thousands of miles of unused railroad track in the United States. Not only is it ridiculous that people got riled up by a photo of something as harmless as a person standing on a railroad track, it doesn't even take into account the fact that there's basically a 50/50 chance that the tracks aren't even actively used.

It's a good image. Train tracks are hazardous? Of course they are. Perhaps we should start criticizing war correspondents and photojournalists for exposing themselves to shell fire. Maybe matadors should stop exposing themselves to the bull. Methinks there is a little too much PC going about.

Anyone read the economist's report about the decline of business acumen on the CNN site? It ties in with this. Helicopter parents are creating a nation of weaklings, whose only interests are staying indoors, playing videos, avoiding true social interaction and relying on others for a living. But good thing! They never walk on train tracks!! Or climb trees, play on jungle-gyms, etc.

Does the fact that people die from taking photos on train tracks make it cool and others wanting to do it? I just don't see anything cool about these shots anymore.

Doesn't the world have enough photos of RR tracks anyways? This particular image looks like one of the worst of them.

funny thing a movie director did a shoot and the lead almost got killed by a train that came up

I am amazed this is even a story. This clearly isn't some urban/interstate super rail line with high speed, whisper-quiet super trains and 99.xx% of people shooting something like this (especially when you look at who actually posts on that page) won't be that stupid not to consider the whole picture. And the stupid people won't give a toss what armchair police tell them anyway.

It's a sad world where everyone assumes the right to interfere endlessly with everyone and everything. The orange jacket brigade are getting way too opinionated!

Two thoughts:
1. Going onto train tracks, except to cross at approved crossing spots, is almost certainly trespassing and illegal.

2. On the safety side it would make sense to have spotters to one side constantly watching for any oncoming traffic.

It's most dangerous when you are taking a picture of your model's back side on the tracks because then your facing the same direction... and when you're wearing blindfolds... and noise canceling headphones... and dressed like a railroad tie.

In regards to all this angst about train tracks, my inclination is to say, "Lighten up Francis". Yes, it adds unnecessary risk in your life, but so do things like motorcycles.

I've spent plenty of time taking photos on the rails, and I will continue to. Count me up as a Darwin award if I end up a smear on the cow catcher.

Everyone seems to think they'll hear a train coming and have time to get off the tracks but it isn't always so. I was in a city one day taking pictures of graffiti on train cars in an idling train. The engine was not in sight. I was not at a crossing, there was no fence, etc. There were two sets of tracks at this location about threw feet apart and I was standing between the sets of tracks taking my pictures. I heard nothing only the sounds of the distant engine idling. Suddenly, without any warning, a train on the OTHER tracks came out of seemingly nowhere at probably 60mph (or so it seemed anyway). I didn't have time to jump, move, or even think it was on me so fast. It went blasting by behind me. I wasn't hurt but boy it scared the s**t out of me!! Who would ever have thought that a zillion tons of steel could sneak up on you like that! The engineer probably never even saw me next to the tracks. He never blew his horn.

So now I no longer play photographer near trains. If I want photos of a train I'll use my telephoto from far away from the tracks.

Photographers are outraged? I call BS on the hypocrits.

Poll time: Like this post if you like the pic.

Trespassing - photographers shouldn't have picked the locations to begin with; however, I cannot stop thinking... the visibility near train tracks is usually good. The trains should've be spotted way ahead, the train operators would've given plenty of warning with lights and sound and...didn't give them enough time to leave from the track? I grew up in countryside and the train track was near my place - even to visit veggie gardens, we crossed the track and could see and hear the train coming a few miles away.

The irony here is that the same people trespassing & taking photos on railroad property will be the first to sue when someone gets injured and/or killed.

It may be so obvious that no one has thought of it, but the solution is evidently for the photographer to stand just to the left of the tracks.

In this particular case, maybe they did know what they were doing.

OK - it is possible that they might inspire someone else that do not.

In practice, it seems like selfies at bridges and on cliffs is more dangerous though.

There are the delightedly outraged. Then there are those who care to think deeply through the issues. And then there are the "shoot trespassers on sight" bloviators. Take your pick. I used to run on a commute train right-of-way on the SF Peninsula. No more, and not just because a railroad cop came bucketing down the dirt access road (I hopped over the tracks and was gone). But because I've learn to respect property rights. If you get killed on the tracks, guess who gets sued. The railroad. If you trespass into a yard that just happens to be a pit bull's territory, guess who gets sued. Yeah, the property owner. I support the law-abiding citizen, and emotional airheads of right/left be danged.

I once assisted with couple of bondage photoshoot on tracks, and everybody survived. Lucky?

Darwin Award nominee:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/06/us/woman-falls-off-bridge-taking-selfie-trnd/