30742 Charters - 34072 257 Squadron at Swanage

Loved all the photos but the third one down in particular showing Corfe castle, also the coaching stock looks to be in fine fettle.

 

Some further photos from the charter -

 

A few of my efforts from Monday can be seen here https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/albums/72157707360410524

 

I do like the idea of attending a paid photo charter but doubt I could get images like these.

Do they teach you how to photograph?

 

Excellent pictures

 

Other participants will help, certainly, especially with suggestions for different viewpoints but you do need to know the basics.
A couple of mine

Spirited Arrival at Corfe Castle by Arle Images, on Flickr

34702 runs into Corfe by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

No. After buying my first DSLR at the end of 2009 bought this book to learn the basics in 2010 -https://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-Shoot-Photographs-Camera/dp/0817439390 before I started attending charters in 2011.

 

Railway photography is a specialised subject hence needs dedicated books; the recommended book is A Guide to Digital Railway Photography by Kim Fullbrook (Pub Ian Allan 2008; ISBN 978-07110-3341-2). As noted by Hampshire Unit at §7 above, don't be afraid to sample charters as other participants will offer guidance but the real benefit is the opportunity to test various images (e.g. zoom / wide-angle/ panning) to refine your own work as the trains make multiple passes at the same location.

 

Indeed, those two shots of mine were from the same location, one using a wide angle setting and one zoomed in, we did 5 or 6 run pasts so you can try out both and see which you prefer!

 

There are plenty of people there who will be more than happy to give you help. All you need is a decent camera, preferably a DLSR as you will find you will need extra lenses as time goes on. With digital photography a lot of the skill is on the computer afterwards.

 

I mainly go on a charter now to catch up with friends, getting some reasonable shots is just a bonus. There is a wealth of knowledge from the people that attend charters, just having a chat with them you will pick up hints n tips. Join one and see it you enjoy it

All the best
Matt

 

Sailing into the wind here.
Capturing an image is a natural thing, you see it and you want it.
The amount of time I see light but no subject or subject and no light.
Its not about fancy cameras, its about you.
I threw my last expensive camera in the back of the cupboard.
My phone camera is my friend.
Some of the previous shots are technically very good, but sterile and er....run of the mill.
Do not be overawed, be confident, but also see the shot before it is taken, composition is the key.
Look at the pictures that stir your emotions, try and understand how they captured that image.
Fundamentally, that is the key.

 

From personal experience I would say you can be taught how to use a camera, but I'm not sure you can be taught how to photograph. Like you can learn how to play a musical instrument, but that doesn't mean you can compose a song straight away - you have to practice, experiment and find out what works and what doesn't. I look at pictures I took only a few years ago and think 'wow, that's garbage!' But it was all part of the learning process. With all the technical aspects, from using a camera to post-processing on the computer, there is plenty of material on youtube these days showing you how to do it.
A charter won't give you tuition, but usually the organiser will maximise what they have to work with (including the weather) to provide the best photo opportunities for the group.