If I told you I planned a photo composition for the past six years, would you believe me?
Well … it’s true.
Let me explain.
In 2019, I photographed the CPKC Holiday Train as it arrived in Fort Edward, New York. Way back in the day. I even blogged about the experience.
And it gave me an idea.
The train station at Fort Edward is a beautiful and historic structure, and it’s positioned in a way that when the Holiday Train pulls up, it parks right in front of of the cross street, and attendees can see both the train and the historic train station.
My problem was that in 2019, I was on the opposite side of the track, so I was able to photograph the train as it arrived … but was stuck behind the train for the entire concert and could not leave that spot until after the concert ended and the train left.
So … next time the train arrived in Fort Edward, I wanted to create a panoramic film shot during one of the train shows. I wanted the train, the concert, and the Fort Edward train station.
I had this idea way back in 2019.
Let’s see what happened to postpone this endeavor, shall we?
2020 – COVID-19 pandemic. No train run.
2021 – COVID-19 pandemic. Still no train run.
2022 – The train ran late, and I was already at another location photographing it, so I did not get to my planned shooting spot in time.
2023 – Foot surgery, limited my train run to a few stops in Albany.
2024 – I’m all set, I’m in position, and the Rolleiflex that I’ve used for the past twelve years … breaks in mid-shot. ARRRRGH!!
And every time this happens, I have to wait another calendar year to achieve this projected goal. That’s twelve freakin’ months, people.
Okay. So I’m ready this time. I’ve got several rolls of 120-spooled film in my pocket. The Pentacon Six TL camera is my primary shooter today, win or lose. If I don’t get the shot this time … then I may as well give up. Until next year. I mean, what’s another twelve months in my life? 😉
All right. My plan is to shoot a roll of black and white Kodak TMax 400 film in a panoramic capture, then stitch the photos together, and then tilt the camera to a Dutch angle and shoot with color.
Very few people here. I’m early. This will work.
I shot two rolls of black and white film in panoramic. Now I just wait for the train to come, and …
Wait. Why is that CPKC police vehicle parking IN FRONT OF MY SHOT??
Yep. Dame fortune kicked me in the cojones again. That police vehicle is for crowd control. Which is great if you’re just attending the concert. It’s not so great if you’re taking a panoramic photo assemblage and the truck parks RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR PANORAMIC CAPTURE.
And I’ve already got the color film in the camera. I can’t just take it out, move to another location, and shoot more black and white film. The Pentacon Six TL may be a great little German medium format workhorse, but it doesn’t have swappable film backs. And last time I checked, nobody bequeathed me a Hassleblad or a Graflex.
Nertz. Guess I’ll have to do this backwards.
I move my camera gear to the other side of the street. I’ll still get the panorama, but it won’t align with the two rolls I previously shot.
GRR
Despite all that, I did get some great shots of the Holiday Train concert.
But I can’t leave. Not yet.
I have to use my final two rolls of B&W film … and re-create that original panoramic shot from this new pivot point location. And I have to wait until every attendee leaves. And I have to wait until every car drives away. And I have to wait for CPKC to finish testing the crossing lights so that they don’t show up as active in these panoramic creations.
Okay … time for assemblage. If this works … and that’s a big, big IF …
Come on, Chuck. Do not give up now.
What’s the worst that could happen? We try this again in 2026? 😀
And … here we go.
Okay. It’s …
It’s okay.
It’s not great … it’s not competition season worthy …
But it’s okay.
And it does allow me a chance to build on this.
I just have to wait (checks watch) another twelve months.
So I do. What’s another twelve months in my life at this point? 😀
Chuck The Writer 