November 29, 2007

UP7777 at Sunrise


UP7777 at Sunrise
Originally uploaded by sharkzfan
A favorite shot of the same motive power that's in the picture below.

Union Pacific C45ACCTE number 7777

This is one of my latest favorites. I took this outside the NUMMI plant in Fremont just before dawn.

November 28, 2007


Here's another Scotch-Brite image. This is a "patched" Southern Pacific SD40 which has been renumbered to UP2712. Some say that the Union Pacific and the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) railroads have swallowed up all the competition and become monopolies. You can also find this picture on my Flickr page


I have this this image posted on my Flickr page. I've title the picture "phosphorous" because of the intensity of the sunrise coming through the overcast. Even though there is some "burn" that seeps into the other areas of the picture, I think the overall effect is very interesting

Here's a link to the page on my Flickr account

November 21, 2007

I Chose The Stairs


I Chose The Stairs
Originally uploaded by sharkzfan
Not really having the "daring-do" to find out the meaning of the inscription, I took the stairs to the ground floor. To read the graffiti on the elevator doors you need to view the picture in a larger format. Click the links below the picture.

Scotch-Brite Wedgie


Scotch-Brite Wedgie
Originally uploaded by sharkzfan
The "wedgie" that I refer to is the 1/3 angle shot such as this one. It's definitely the most common composition angle with railfans. I really love this reflector tape photography. I enjoy it so much I've created a Flickr Group called "Railroad Scotch-Brite"

http://flickr.com/groups/railroad_scotchbrite/

Laine's Grocery Store, Alviso


Laine's Grocery Store
Originally uploaded by sharkzfan
I was really quite pleased with the way this one turned out. I was not sure how the sodium vapor streetlight and it's orange glow would affect the image. Turns out it created a nice surreal look. Click on the Flickr link and then above the picture click an the "All Sizes" button. It's best viewed large!.

November 13, 2007

She's not just for TV anymore!

Oprah has most of the money in the western hemisphere and some of the east's yet she can still find it in her portfolio to diversify into Canadian Pacific gondola cars. Amazing!

Actually, if you were fooled, it's really a great graffiti job. The gondola really should say "CP Rail" on the side but has been altered to say OPRaH.

It kind of takes something out of the humor when you have to explain it but I thought if I didn't, most folks would be saying to themselves "uhh, what?"

Found on sd45hogger's Flickr page

November 10, 2007

Christian Rockers Have Fun Too!



Check out the bands MySpace page if you had fun - http://www.myspace.com/familyforce5

November 08, 2007

Atmosphere Pictures


I really like this shot. It's sunrise at the Santa Clara train station and there is a lone pedestrian walking the platform. The haze of smoke from the southern California wildfires hangs over the valley and washes out the photo. I think it adds a monochromatic "flavor" of loneliness. These shots are few and far between but they are the ones you try the hardest to take!


This is an old brick warehouse in Alviso. On the south side of the building it has the name "H.G. Wade" painted and fading away. I've tried to research the history of the building but have not found much other than a reference to the name as the owner.