Santa's Polar Express Photo

Photographer’s Note

This picture was taken yesterday at Bo'ness station.

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society runs the railway from Bo'ness to Kinneil and also cares for, restores and runs a variety of steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock. Each year, from the last weekend of November until Christmas, they run "Santa Specials".

Here, British Railways Standard 2-6-4T No.80105 tank locomotive starts to pull the train out of Bo'ness station amidst clouds of steam and smoke - as much an exciting experience for old fogies like me as it is for those youngsters who have never seen a steam train before!

The "Santa Special" is well worth booking up for, especially if you have young children. On the return trip from Bo'ness to Kinneil, Santa passes through the train giving presents to the children, but everyone must wear a reindeer fancy hat and join in with the Christmas songs. Adults are treated to a cup of tea and a mince pie on alighting from the train back at Bo'ness. The cafe, incidentally, does excellent fish and chips!

Unfortunately, the Santa Special is fully booked for this year. If you want to find out more about the S.R.P.S. and the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, have a look here.

Picture shot in RAW and converted and edited in PSE6.

All comments/critiques/advice welcome!

WelshTraveller, leo61, graffer, saxo042, ktanska has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

WelshTraveller (352) 2008-11-30 12:38

Hi John
Well titled, especially for the time of year! Very nicely done. Lovely colours and exposure.
TFS
David

Longroute (8915) 2008-11-30 13:15

Great shot, apart from the dresses of the people it could be a last century picture, the illusion is perfect. The composition is built very well with the smoke of the locomotive (so sharp!) stretching upward and filling the sky. The light is so tender and fine so the colours are pretty intense. An almost 3D photo. Very pleasurable.
Compliments,
Donato

leo61 (42946) 2008-11-30 13:21

Hi John!
This is a fantastic shot with many fine details to view.It`s a very good exposure with natural colors.
This could be the intro for a great movie.
Regards,leo

nesiaZ (996) 2008-11-30 14:08

John this is a right moment for your photo :). I like it a lot.
Well captured, nice colours, interesting smoke.
Great one :).

Ps. I still belive in Santa... ;)

Anetka

ninaL (19300) 2008-11-30 14:29

Very impressive picture.
I love steam locomotives !
Perfect high POV, balance of tones and composition.
Congratulations.
Best regards. Grazyna.

Cormac (26449) 2008-11-30 15:26

Nice shot! I like the use of the square frame, which is just right for this subject, leaving a very well balance image between the horizonal ground and the vertical steam rising from the engine. Excellent work, and very timely too!

batalay (20712) 2008-11-30 15:44

Hello John,

What a fabulous image. Your vantage point has given you a magical and mystical image of the old locomotive. Presented in a square format, it is especially rich in content and quality.

Warm regards from Virginia,

Bulent

graffer (1764) 2008-12-01 4:05

Hello John,

This is real "Railway" magazine stuff, if that publication still exists. If the train was just pulling out, it looks as though you missed your chance to get on board.

You've caught that magical moment when steam starts to issue from the cylinders, just as a superb plume of smoke blasts from the funnel [is that the right term for a locomotive?]

A fine perspective with the red on the front of the loco in the FG, the waiting line of passengers on the platform, the lovely pastel colours of the distant houses, and the trees on the skyline under a wintry sky.

I would dearly like to see a photo of the Cannon family wearing their reindeer antlers - perhaps as a WS!?

An excellent composition too.

Regards,

Peter.

saxo042 (15188) 2008-12-01 5:30

Hi John,
I don´t think I´ve seen such perfect smoke and steam in a photo before. It nearly looks like a lot of genies coming out in the smoke... The red and black engine is of course also very beautiful. And I can also see some reindeer fancy hats as well!
Regards
Gunnar

ktanska (16432) 2008-12-04 5:39

Hi John,
That late autumn light is excellent giving good contrast on people, cloud of smoke and the locomotive. Off centre square framing works well. I wonder if you brightened the smoke or is it just the sunshine.
Kari

Greg1949 (8507) 2008-12-04 6:21

John, this is a really fine capture, the sharpness on the engine is super and the lighting of the smoke plume is perfect I think. The people, the bg, are all very well seen and composed, great job.

Greg

Glint (3029) 2008-12-04 8:12

hello John,
another good one of Santa's Plar Express. A good composition with lots of interest. Lve that tall plume.
I have this place bookarked for another year.
Bev

partha (13655) 2009-09-27 23:51

Hi,
Amazing shot. Excellent ambience,wonderful lighting condition and the smoke adds life in the photograph.
Regards.
Partha

Photo Information

Copyright: John Cannon (tyro) (2606)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-11-29
Categories: Transportation, Event, Decisive Moment
Camera: Canon 20D, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP AF, HOYA 67mm HMC SUPER UV(0)
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Map: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-11-30 12:37