The Waverley - 19/08/18

This is obviously a question of taste/personal preference. While I am very much into "creating the illusion" in my own photographic approach, I do find the selective use of colour can be very effective in some situations, and this is a classic example.

 

When I saw David’s video it reminded me of all those years ago when Colin Gifford burst on the scene with his stunningly evocative photographs, chronicling the end of steam on BR.
Don’t think I could pay David (@Linesider) a better compliment than that!

 

Thank you very much Al, glad you enjoyed it and that you appreciate the work that goes into such things - which is heartening!

Thank you very much - greatly appreciated. Glad you enjoyed the black and white and spot-colour approach, it took a while to get right!

Essentially, I think you can view conversion to black and white as a means for making things look like old film, retro or some attempt to re-create the past. It can also be used as a medium in its own right, irrespective of era, with its own qualities and especially useful when the weather is so poor as you point out. My main reasons for choosing it were these latter qualities - and, in my opinion, spot-colour can give an added dimension - but I appreciate it's not to everyone's taste. The headboard changing did take a while, and yes, perhaps this is some sense of humour involved there, as well as the desire to highlight this particularly authentic headboard/train-name. Thanks for your constructive feedback though - I appreciate it, good or otherwise

Thank you very much - I think you've said it better than I could!

That's very kind - and greatly appreciated. As with so many others, Gifford's work has long been an inspiration, and an excellent reminder on awful days (weatherwise) that there's usually something worth capturing if you look hard enough.

 

I really liked watching this David. I must admit I thought "oh no!" when initially reading the partial colorisation use, but after watching it quickly altered my opinion and I think the majority of colorisation is extremely effective and subtle. I've seen many stills using this technique and can't say I've liked any of them. The sheep, steps on Horton station and in particular the colour signals are really good. You just wouldn't see the lights changing in full black and white. I think it goes to prove that top results can be achieved whatever the weather if you put your mind to it.

 

Excellent idea David and brilliantly carried out.Some of the light reminded me of us standing at Cowran Cutting when the Scot stalled all those years ago

 

Many thanks Ian, much appreciated. I definitely think it's a technique which shouldn't be used very often, despite the prevailing weather up there!

Thanks very much Henry, glad you like it. Great memories of that day - hard to believe it's been nearly 10 years. Some things, like the light, never change!