Tips and Techs
#1 - Honor the Sabbath
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work...
Hobbies are great for relaxation and taking the mind off of the troubles of the world, but on the Sabbath, give God your attention and praise by visiting a Christian house of worship.
#2 - Safety
Train chasing can be an exciting hobby, depending on your level of enthusiasm for it. But those nice photos are worthless if you get yourself killed before you can take a look at them. Besides the obvious danger of getting ran over by a train, there are also falls, electrocution, car wrecks, and even robbery.
Taking these simple precautions will insure that you live to chase another day:
Stay off the tracks! No reason to be on the railroad right of way. You could get yourself killed by a train you never heard or saw coming, you could be struck by objects falling from a passing train, you could inadvertantly damage tracks or signaling equipment, or you could be arrested for trespassing.
Be aware of your surroundings. Some areas that railroads run through are less than safe. Watch your back at all times and be aware of what is going on around you. Take a partner along in a chase vehicle just in case you need a quick extraction. Stay in communication at all times, either via radio or cell-phone, and take your pictures quickly and leave the area.
Don't endanger others by driving stupid! - It's so tempting to drive fast, run lights, and just generally be reckless when you are trying to track down that hot freight. You'll have to sell about 50 pictures to pay off that ticket, and about 10,000 to pay for your funeral!
#3 - When to come
Without a doubt, the best time to photograph anything outdoors in Georgia is late fall to early spring, with winter as the peak time. You will have to deal with occasional really cold days and rain, but the hue of the sky and crispness of the photos will be worth it.
Summer is definitely not a good time for train-chasing. It is Death-Vally hot here, with no wind and extreme humidity. The occasional storms that do arise only serve to increase the humidity even more. Also, there is persistent haze, smog, and pollution that is going to basically ruin any background objects that are more that about a mile away.
#4 - What to bring
- 35mm Camera, or 4MP or above digital camera.
- Waterproof camera bag.
- Extra memory cards for digital cameras.
- Tripod, especially if you are going to be photographing in low light or at night.
- Binoculars.
- Scanner.
- Laser range finder.
- Multitool.
- Rocky Walking Boots.