Choosing sides at Deep River Creek. Under a pretty mackerel sky, Engineer Brian Messinger takes Valley Railroad Mikado #40 and the 2:30 edition of the Santa Special across Deep River Creek, on the run to North Chester.
It seems that whenever I hike out to Deep River Creek, the sun always makes a bee line for the nearest cloud. I typically head out there with the sun out, looking for nice, late afternoon light on the west side. By the time I make it to the creek however, my odds of success would be better at Foxwoods Casino. The fortunate thing about this location is that at this time of day in late November, there is a shot on the dark side. Knowing my luck, I typically set up on the dark side, and while waiting for the train, the sun will poke its head out and tease me mercilessly, trying to tempt me to move to the other side. More than once, I've taken the bait and been badly skunked. On this particular day however, the slim chance of a sunny wedge had nothing on this look up at a mackerel sky. I held my ground on the dark side, and the result was.....not too bad!
Landscape photography is difficult due to the challenge of combining good light and good scenery. Good railroad photography enters another level of complexity since it requires the first two while there is a train in view.
