Exploring Central Jawa Photo

Photographer’s Note

Originally I didn't want to post pictures of my pre TE time as I was not really interested in photography then. But now I like to fill my map :)

This picture was taken during an adventure, I felt a little like Phileas Fogg. During the 1999/2000 change I travelled with my indonesian friends through Central Jawa. We came along the Ambarawa Railway Museum which is located right in the middle of the jungle! There are 21 German, Swiss and Dutch locomotives to be seen, built between 1821 and 1928. Some of them are still operable. My friends heard that it should be fantastic to take such a trip only problem was we were there out of season. Accidentally at the same time there arrived a "strange" german train lover, his name was Otto. He was really desperate to ride the train. For me it wouldn't be a big problem to only see them standing in the museum. But Otto was trying hard and succeded, we called an emergency number. I was satisfied that no one of the crew or the administrative staff spoke english as this Otto was not really behaving nice to my indonesian friends before. First he tried alone "with hands and feet" but then noticed he will need my friends for translation. So interesting to see people change!
So Otto and I rented the whole train with crew for a 2 hour ride. And what an amazing ride. Today I regret that I wasn't in photography at that time and only had the old click and shoot automatic camera of my parents with me. I even never had my own cam before the DX6490 now.

If you like more information about the train, try to meet this Otto ;-) he knew everything about it.

The picture is a bad scan, sorry.
Postprocessing in PS6: Cropping, Autolevels colour and contrast, Contrast Masking and unsharp mask. I desaturated the bad sky we had on that day (rainy season).
Yours, Jan

mortijo, robbertjan, Edwin, avigur_11, jmaddocks, summer89, eelliott305, digi-mom, carper, wr1611, Ebbe, orme, quegardens, ChrisJ, nmess, dmitriy55, stiginthedump, Uhu has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

clodreno (0) 2004-03-15 4:22

I can see the picture.. even if it's a bad scan. I love trains. Your story is nice too.

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robbertjan (2906) 2004-03-15 4:45

Hi Jan, i love trains. I like your picture very much, even with the bad scan. Good composition and good colors. There are a lot of details. I like the man in the back. Good job!

Edwin (2039) 2004-03-15 4:58

Beautiful and engaging note, Jan! And IMO there is no need to apologize for the bad scan. I think that the colour toning adds to an already great documentary picture. I especially like how the red of the loc returns in the man in the background. You did a great job here! And from your note we can conclude that this trip must have been quite an interesting adventure, I enjoyed reading it!

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olli (2091) 2004-03-15 6:45

Great train shot, Jan. What a beautiful old locomotive. I like how there are also people in the image. Very well composed shot – I like how the train is on the bridge.
I tried to do something for the bad scan – I posted a WS...

avigur_11 (21301) 2004-03-15 6:46

Hi jaJan. The scan is bad indeed, but I think that this is a great shot. I love trains, especially old ones and especally when they are still running with full steam. I like very much the framing and the position of the train and the bridge, together with the nice green slope. A very good shot, very very well done.

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summer89 (5414) 2004-03-15 6:52

Great composition,Jan. Colors and detail, are very good, too.

Well done

eelliott305 (776) 2004-03-15 6:55

The scan is not so good, but this is still a very good shot. You took it from a good position, showing plenty of the old train and also the bridge. The plants in the foreground and the tree act as a nice frame.

jmaddocks (563) 2004-03-15 7:55

HI Jan. No, the scan is not that great, but the picture is very good. There's no use regretting the past as we cannot undo it, but just be glad that you now are "into" photography, and make up for lost time ; )

I love the train crossing the tressel, the tropical vegetation and the men present. It makes for an intriguing shot.

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greg (2835) 2004-03-15 8:39

Well, I think you know about the scan... but really a great scene, almost a fantasy.

taivo (1840) 2004-03-15 9:53

Very nice composition. Your photo reminds me of the Death Railway near the Bridge over the river Kwai (Thailand). Actually, I like the "bad" scan because it has a nostalgic feel!

carper (64948) 2004-03-15 10:54

When this was a sharp photo Jan than was it one for the first price, The composition is realy great, your story too, realy one for TE very welldone.

wr1611 (197) 2004-03-15 13:10 [Comment]

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Ebbe (9571) 2004-03-15 16:20

Despite the scan you made a fine picture. The composition with the train along the side and the rest left for the landscape is well done. The colormatch of red from engine to shirt is a plus.

orme (6746) 2004-03-16 1:59

Great composition, Jan. I really like the way you have framed it, with the train 'suspended' in the top left corner. The light coloured sky contrasts well with the train. The variety of green covering two sides of the frame is excellent. Well done.

quegardens (1469) 2004-03-16 20:53

It is wonderful to see these steam engines still in use elsewhere in the world. I like the strong perspective lines leading away from the train and telephone or power posts.I still have fond memories of riding a steam powered train in my youth...thanks for the memories Jan.

lukasfoto (3078) 2004-03-17 3:10

like a toy... :)) well done

ChrisJ (70293) 2004-03-22 8:46

I've been to Ambarawa but didn't get time to see this. So much to see, & so little time to see it ! I did get up to Gedong Songo, however. Some nice views of the volcanoes up there. The Java man museum is alo in the area, with lots of coffee trees aound Salatiga.

The crucial areas around the train are in sharp focus, & the lines of the grass & mountain help 'propel' the image forward.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-03-23 10:00

Lovely shot, I like it alot, it is a bit grainy, but apart from that it is stunning, I wish I could see something like this for real

Well done

stiginthedump (1823) 2006-06-26 6:59

Nice photo this you've got here Jan. Don't worry about the quality of the image. I always try to tell people that a 'professional photo' isn't always needed. What's important is that one can look at a photo and have good memories.

I notice this pic is a couple of years old, so i'm gonna have a look at your more recent stuff!

Regards.