A newsletter for picture editors and researchers
Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah trip adds railroad and transit coverage
From "trainscapes" to technical details; both freight and passenger subjects included
My extensive coverage of railroad subjects is probably best known for "trainscapes"—landscape photos with trains—which have appeared on calendars, in books, and a wide range of magazines.
A May trip to Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, which included my fifth visit to Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, produced images with new equipment as well as photos from many new locations.
Also in this issue: NC coverage update below |
In keeping with the diversity of my coverage of railroading, the new images include both heavy freight railroading (including coal trains on steep grades) and the light rail transit systems in Denver and Salt Lake City. Inter-city passenger rail is represented with on-board photos on Amtrak’s California Zephyr between Denver and Provo, Utah.
Historical coverage
Historical coverage includes a visit to the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Promontory, Utah, where the First Transcontinental Railroad celebrated the linking of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific tracks. Administered by the National Park Service, the site features re-enactments of the 1869 ceremony marking the liking of the two rail lines.
Amtrak on board
For travel publications, on-board Amtrak images feature passengers in the lounge car enjoying scenery on the California Zephyr’s route through spectacular Colorado scenery, including Gore and Glenwood Canyons (westbound and eastbound).
Colorado
Colorado coverage includes trains on east slope of the Moffat route, climbing 4,000 feet from the already mile-high Denver to the summit at the Moffat tunnel. This route is used by owner Union Pacific; Burlington Northern Santa Fe (under trackage rights granted as a condition of the UP-SP merger); and Amtrak.
Utah
Utah coverage shows heavy freight trains climbing both sides of the route over Soldier Summit in central Utah. Photos include trains of both route owner Union Pacific and tenant Utah Railway.
Wyoming
My already extensive coverage of the Powder River Basin has been updated with new UP and BNSF photos, including remote control helper locomotives in use. (My Web site features a page of thumbnail images from the Powder River Basin—and my guide to the area continues to sell.)
Light Rail
In both Denver and Salt Lake City the light rail transit systems are not only succession but involved in ambitious expansion programs. My photos not only show current operations but also the expansion work underway.
Salt Lake City photos show track construction work; Denver photos include maintenance work in the shops and newly expanded areas of the yard for additional light rail vehicles.
Photos show not just equipment but also passengers detraining and views of the routes used.
On the Web site
Look for new sample images of the above subjects on my Web site. Select the "Recent images" link on the home page for a quick overview.
European Christmases still have a special appeal, because that’s where most American Christmas traditions originated. And even most American children know the story of how, in Oberndorf, Austria, with the church organ inoperable, the local priest and schoolteacher got together to produce a simple Christmas song that could be performed with guitar accompaniment. That song was "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht," known in English as "Silent Night," the wold’s most popular Christmas hymn. Born in Austria (and still fluent in German), I’ve long wanted to spend Christmas in Oberndorf. I’ve made numerous photo trips to Austria and have extensive stock coverage, but haven’t been there at Christmas time in many years. My plans are to spend Dec. 18-28 based in Salzburg with trips to many other cities and towns to visit Christmas markets, sample Christmas food, and to just generally photograph Christmas in Austria. (Oberndorf is just a short local transit ride from downtown Salzburg.) Interested in specific subjects or coverage? Let me know. I’ll try to accommodate your interests. Europe doesn’t go away during the winter season; there are plenty of appealing destinations in the winter, even if you aren’t interested in skiing. And, of course, there’ll be scenic train trips around Austria. |
| Recent stock photo placements |
Samples of stock photo sales during late 2000:
The Laser Image Project
When Laser Image Corporate Publishing, a Durham firm specializing in short turn-around high quality printing wanted to promote its new digital color press, this firm turned to my stock photo file.
Laser image, with which I have done business for many years—they print my self-published books—selected a diverse group of subjects from still-lifes to scenics for a series of promotional postcard mailings.
As long as my supply lasts, I’m including sample postcards from their print runs with copies of this newsletter.
The annual re-enactment of the Confederate surrender at Bennett Place, near Durham, provided an opportunity to photograph Union and Confederate re-enactors—as well as the re-enactment of Gen. Johnson’s surrender to Gen. Grant. These photos add to an already extensive collection of images related to this historic site. Other recent Durham coverage includes restoration work on old advertising signs painted on the brick side of an old downtown building. The advertising signs, long covered up by an adjoining structure, came to light again when that second building was demolished. Rather than paint over the old signs, the owner of the building, with help from a historical group, decided to have the old signs touched up. Rather than try to make the signs look new, the restoration simply aimed at making the old signs more legible, fixing the most damaged areas. Greensboro coverage has been updated with recent downtown images, as is also the case for Charlotte. |
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