Old and Abandoned Trains on A New Jersey Trail
Old Train Car 1 by Richard Lewis 2015
Old Baggage Car 1 by Richard Lewis 2015
Overgrown Train Car by Richard Lewis 2015
The bicycle is as big a part of my life as my camera and hiking boots, but when one rides a bike, it is good to travel light. The bicycles that I ride don’t have a lot of room for cargo. This provides a challenge for me as a photographer when cycling. Since the world around me never ceases to provide interesting images and I never cease being a photographer, I have often found myself in a very photogenic situation without my regular camera and lenses.
iPhoneography, or smart phone photography has been the solution to that predicament. As the cameras on mobile phones improve along with the sophistication of the photo processing apps, tucking a camera in your pocket is not much of a compromise anymore. It is simply a change of photographic vision.
Recently we rode down a New Jersey rail trail (train tracks converted to a bicycle/walking trail) on our bikes and discovered some old train cars. Even though I could probably come back and walk to the location with my regular camera gear, I think these iPhoneography images say what I want to say about these old and abandoned trains.
Enjoy
These photos are fantastic. I never would have picked them for phone photos. The abandoned trains are so photogenic. I love the organic and natural starting to invade the man made and industrial.
Thanks Laura. I’m very attracted to old trains for some reason. I tend to mark them on maps and revisit them from time to time. I love to find stuff like this along rail trails because the were natural once, invaded by industry and then reclaimed back to nature again.
Hi Rich, as always they delight. Probably a year ago if not less I would have mentally gone ‘noooooo, no matter how good the images are, it’s wrong’ and that would be traditionalist in a person. In me anyhow. But perceptions change. I was horrified when cameras had video options. I’m still squeamish about it, however having seen Bonythons (I think it’s correct spelling) and some others footage of scary surf spots such as Shisterns in Tasmania, I can now only marvel at what a still camara can do. So looking at your images I concur. I’m often out on very incredible trails and think, wow that view, and remember the Samsung in my Mule and I get to shoot it, upload it and there and then share where I am. Instant. So when I get back it’s not the best quality(next upgrade will be iPhone possibly) but it “good enough” for the happy snappers who are my friends (not the photofriends, they attack,,,,,laughs. Thank you for these images and insights,,your seffrikan connection,,,I’ll be on the trails today…Rudi
If anyone has the opportunity to do great landscape on a phone, it is you my friend. It’s not just photographing the but processing the in the apps afterward that brings out the true image from what your phone records. You can ride, shoot, sit under a tree and process, then post on line. I’d love to see how you make out with that. Enjoy your rides my best (and only at this point) Seffrikan friend.
Super images Rich! I had heard about some abandoned trains in the Pines but could never find out more information… maybe these were someplace else. (Not that it matters now that I am 2,000 miles away!) I love seeing what you are doing with your iPhone… you are really mastering it!
Thanks Denise. I always appreciate you taking the time to comment on my posts. Those trains are not in the Pines. they are up near New Hope along the Delaware River.
That lil phone can and will take stunning pics… but as you said you have to embrace the limitations and use it for what it is. For me it is freeing of weight and also the guilt of not bringing my ‘big boy’ camera. I actually can settle my impulsive shooting nerves when I shoot with the iphone… you always set my compass straight when viewing your work as it is always about the comp and not just the gear!!!!
Thanks Mike. I have to share your feeling of freedom when you shed the “big boy” camera. While I absolutely love what that camera does, using a phone tends force you to see the scene a differently. I find myself going for line and form; color and shape. The post processing workflow is also very different. While I can pre-visualize what I want with many of the “big boy” camera shots, the iPhone is more like Forrest Gump’s “Box of Chocolates”… You never know what you are going to get when you open the image in an app.
Forrest Gumps “Box of Chocolates” !! going to file that comment. It’s a classic…thanks Richard
PS I am fortunate to have made cyber friends with a good few of your country kin, we remarked on how there are misconceptions about all countries and yet we are so alike…thanks for allowing me to enjoy the buzz of knowing you all.
It amazes me how we are all a like yet we have such different histories. I would love to explore that someday with you. Knowing you has been a a great deal fo fun and pleasure all the way back to those days on Eyefetch.