A recent scene on my Los Angeles Junction layout. My current focus is on putting a lot more thought and attention into the background sky/horizon photos that I crop in.
The laws of physics being what they are, it’s impossible to look at our models and have the same sensory experience as actually being at a prototypical location. As humans, gazing down at ten-inch-long pieces of plastic, helicopter style, it will always be…well… it will be like gazing at a collection of plastic. That will be the case no matter how perfectly executed the models are. Putting your head on the layout and closing one eye doesn’t work. Believe me, I’ve tried….many times….with the same result. Until the laws of physics change, and I’m doubtful they will in my lifetime, we need to find a workaround. We need to find a way to experience our world as if we are actually “there”.
Fortunately, such a workaround exists. It’s photography. Mastering the subject is a lifelong pursuit and photographing miniatures comes with it’s own challenges. If you make the effort, the results can be quite rewarding. You’ll be able to experience your work the way you intended. You’ll see it as if you are there.
There are few basic rules you need to stick too that are unique to our hobby.
- Keep the camera very low. Helicopter views are fine for documentation but not for what we’re talking about here.
- You need to use an editor to remove the background of your layout and crop in an actual sky image. (The exception being if you’re working with something small enough to take outside)
- In most cases you’ll be fighting depth of field problems so you’ll need a focus stacking program so that everything is in focus front to back. These programs are inexpensive and easy to use.
- You’ll need to set up a light source so you get a few shadows here and there. Without them, the image will look flat and lifeless. All it takes is a simple ten dollar bulb.
All of this is a preamble for the lead image. No matter how much experience we have, we learn over time. There were some aspects of my photos that I wanted to improve. I’m speaking specifically about the sky I crop in after editing out the layout’s actual background.
Looking at the background sky above, there are a few things I don’t like. An actual horizon goes from sapphire blue near the top and then progressively lightens, almost to white, the closer you get to the horizon. Also, the above shot needs a hint of “something” behind the structures where they meet the sky. It could be the tips of trees, maybe some poles, maybe a distant structure. As is, the transition is too stark.
In an attempt to get a better look at the layout-to-horizon transition, I dug out this shot I took over the LAJ’s “B” Yard a few years ago. It makes for a better background for my Los Angeles-themed model photos. Note the white to blue color transition working up from the horizon. Note the signature, but subtle, power line poles emblematic of Vernon. I’ve also come to realizedthat the climate in Southern California is such that white puffy cumulus clouds are rare. Whispy clouds are more the norm. In the actual prototype photo, there are only two towers. I copy/pasted the center tower and inserted it on the left to make a third one. The layer containing the third (left) tower was enlarged slightly so as to make it look closer.
After many years of experimentation, I’ve come to the conclusion that the camera/lens combo that comes closest to what the human eye actually sees is the older, single lens, smart phones. I use an iPhone 6, which I bought on eBay for fifty dollars. I do use an SLR too, but in many cases get better results with the old phones.
Finally, there is composition. It’s a subjective, highly personal subject. Personally, I prefer less dramatic scenes that capture what I’m used to when I’m out rail fanning. When I’m in the field, I only get “lucky” about a third of the time and see an actual train. Most of the time, I’m looking at cars spotted in front of industries and in yards. I find that equally interesting. Three-quarter angle roster shots of passing trains are fine, but are a dime a dozen.