Event: Early Fall Colors When: October 6, 2001 Where: Lansing, MI area            I have always found shooting the fall colors to be rewarding -- beautiful and challenging. By the time the leaves begin to change their colors the days have become shorter, the temperatures lower (sometimes even downright cold), and the light more harsh. This change in lighting limits the time available for shooting and makes the shadows harder. Though the results can be spectacular, it does make the work of the photographer more difficult.      There is a park in Lansing, on the northeast corner of Mt. Hope and Aurelius, with a special view. The park's trail follows the Red Cedar River and passes under a bridge supporting the two tracks of the CN/IC's Flint Sub. Standing on the retaining wall there you can see the old coaling tower to the west over the river. It is not a good location for railfanning, but it does provide for a beautiful backdrop for eastbound trains. Not wanting to stand in wait for too long, I planned my arrival at the bridge only a moment before the scheduled arrival of the eastbound International. Amtrak, as unpredictable as they can be, may be counted on to run late. Today was no exception as I waited for almost 30 minutes for the train's arrival. The delay gave me enough time to experiment with the camera angles and select my favorite. The results were these two photos -- one from high above the bridge, the other below. The captured image of the Amtrak Dash-8, number 517, was worth the wait.

     A few hours later I found myself back at the East Lansing station. It is the old standby of local railfans, but with the right lens it provides a nice view of the diamond without trespassing on railway property. By using the 80-400mm lens (the equivalent of a 120-600mm lens on a 35mm camera) I grabbed these three views of a eastbound coal train on the CN/IC headed with BNSF power waiting for a mixed CP on the CSX line. The low light and slow shutter speeds provide a challenge as I had to hold the large heavy lens very still. But these are the challenges that make the hobby so rewarding.

Once the CP freight cleared the diamond the BNSF coal train was free to continue through the diamond. I had already switched to the 35-105mm lens (the equivalent of a 52-160mm lens on a 35mm camera) since the 80-400mm was too long for capturing a train as close. The BNSF engines labored as the train accelerated. Zoomed in as far as possible I snapped off a few images, then zoomed out, waited for the train to advance, then snapped a few more.      These last shots were the only of the weekend to show the wonderful fall colors. What better locomotive to compliment nature's palette in autumn than a BNSF in the pumpkin scheme? Given the opportunity, perhaps over the next few weekends I will have the my answer.