With this upcoming Union Pacific 4014 “Big Boy” photo shoot on my mind, the last thing I want is a malfunctioning or misfiring camera. I also want my gear to operate at tip top shape.
So I’m doing a test right now.
And that “test” is to break out my Nikon F2S camera (“Nikon Athena”) and run a roll of fresh Kodak Ektachrome E100 slide film through it.
Lenses to use – I’ll take three. Let’s go with my new-to-me 300mm telephoto lens, along with my 55mm f/1.2, and my Vivitar 19mm f/3.8 ultrawide lens.
And what better way to test out this camera than by taking it on the “Maple in April Festival” run on the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railroad’s annual trip from Corinth to Hadley. This time, I purchased a ticket on the open-air car for the first part of the journey …
And in doing so, I captured photos from the train of railfans at crossing stations, who in turn were taking photos of the train.
I don’t fault these guys. The train only comes through this part of the Adirondacks once or twice a year, get out there and get the photo.
Before the train reaches Hadley, it has to cross the Sacandaga River, which gave me a perfect opportunity to photograph the adjoining Hadley Parabolic Bridge – one of only two parabolic bridges in the world, and the only one in the United States – from a previously undiscovered angle. Trust me, no drones were used in the capture of this image.
I arrived in Hadley for the “Maple in April” festival, and yes, I purchased some maple treats. Not very many, mind you – just a few snacks for myself. Gotta keep the blood sugars low, don’tcha know.
While in Hadley, I switched out my lenses and slapped the ultrawide Vivitar 19mm f/3.8 lens onto Nikon Athena. This is the train that’s pulling the freight BACK to Corinth, the ALCO-5 that was the first locomotive purchased by the SC&H to revive this heritage railroad.
And if you thought the Hadley Parabolic Bridge looked nice the first time around … check it out in an ultrawide capture.
The train returned to Corinth, I disembarked, and drove BACK to the Sacandaga River and set up my gear along the shoreline.
This time, I switched lenses to my 300mm f/4.5 prime. In the past, I’ve struggled to capture the train as it crosses the bridge. My Meyer-Optik Gorlitz 500mm lens “Johnny Wadd” is great for this, but it’s designed for my medium-format Pentacon Six TL camera, and I want something that’s Nikon-specific.
So that being said … can I make out some words on this train as it crosses back into Hadley.
You tell me.
Wait … is that diesel smoke from the locomotive? Did I capture that ON FILM???
Sweet!!!
And if I can capture that faint whiff of diesel exhaust … imagine what this camera can do with a plume of steam in about a month.
Yeah, this works out well. And I may keep that last photo as an alternate entry in Competition Season if I feel so inclined. 😀
All in all, a really good outing for Nikon Athena. A few shots here and there … and yeah, I’m feeling more comfortable with it as time goes by.
Which is a good thing in and of itself, for sure.
Chuck The Writer 