Stock Photo Update No. 13: Winter 1998-1999

With life finally having settled down from my move at the end of June and the beginning of July, I've again focused on continuing to update my extensive stock photo coverage of North Carolina.

Several trips to the western part of the state not only produced additional fall color images from the Blue Ridge Mountains—a subject already well represented in my stock collection—but also filled in a coverage gap with a range of images of the Great Smoky Mountains Railway (GSMR).

Operating on tracks once slated for abandonment, the GSMR travels on a scenic line preserved by the state of North Carolina. On trackage purchased from the state, the GSMR not only provides rides to thousands of tourists as one of the most popular attractions in western North Carolina, but also continues to provide freight service to industries which would otherwise have lost access to rail transportation.

The GSMR has also played a major role in a number of Hollywood movies which have filmed railroad scenes on its line.

My photos focus on the tourist train operation—including trains powered by the line's steam locomotive—as well as showing the scenery and small towns through which the line operates.

Closer to home, I've added new photos from the Duke Homestead State Historic Site, the one-time home of the family that was instrumental in founding the tobacco industry in North Carolina and later establishing Duke University.

Other recent images contribute to both my coverage of North Carolina and my coverage of transportation subjects:

Self-published books focus on railroad locations, photo skills

I've found that many of you, whom I've gotten to know over the years—if only over the telephone—are interested in what else I've been doing in recent months.

This year I've self-published two books with primarily text:

America's Classic Railroad Places: A Geographical Dictionary of North American Railroad Locations

This directory provides basic information about some 200 American railroad locations, such as famous tunnels, mountain passes, and routes along with references to recent magazine articles about the locations.

Getting Serious About Photography: A Self-Paced Workshop for expanding your Photographic Skills and Vision

This 20-chapter/session workshop is aimed at beginning photographers ready to move on to professional-level equipment. However, more than being about equipment, the workshop is about the ideas behind effective photography. (Large format, 140 pages.)

Substantial information about both books, including excerpts, detailed descriptions of the contents, and ordering information, is available at my Web site (http://www.robl.w1.com).

If you are interested, please take a look—or give me a call and I'll be glad to mail you descriptive sheets for either or both books.

Two recent self-published books are described in the box at left [above in the Web version].

I have tentatively planned another trip to the Powder River Basin of Wyoming for late spring of 1999 to continue an ongoing project of photographically documenting railroad operations in that area.

As on previous trips to this key coal mining area with some of the highest freight train traffic levels in North America, I plan to fly in and out of Denver, Colo., and will probably also shoot some transportation-subjects in Colorado.

If you are interested in images from eastern Wyoming or Colorado, please let me know.

I am currently (December, 1998) working on creating stock photos related to High Definition Television (HDTV). Contact me for details.

I'm always adding both old and new images to the Web site (http://www.robl.w1.com). New Web pages focus on subjects related to

My previous newsletter announced changes in my telephone and fax numbers which went into effect on June 29, 1998. However, I still get occasional calls from picture researchers and editors who first tried my old numbers—still listed in many old directories. Please make sure that your records show the numbers at the top of this page.

Stock Photo Update #13