On October 4, 2014 the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut continued a tradition spanning more than a decade. For the 11th year in a row, the museum hosted a Night Photo Shoot where a group of photographers from around the area converged on the museum to light up the night.
The 2014 edition of the Night Photo Shoot drew photographers not only from the local area, but also from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Jersey, to Willimantic for the evening’s festivities. Some photographers were seasoned pros when it comes to both railroads and shooting at night, and others had only seen a train as they were waiting at a crossing and never photographed after dark. But at the end of the night, everyone in attendance enjoyed the evening, and came away with some nice photographs. One photographer from the area came down with a 4×5 Graflex Speed Graphic and was shooting sheet film all night!
Here’s a look at my photos from the evening – usually at this particular shoot, I don’t get all that creative since I’m running the show. I’m usually more preoccupied with the attendee’s safety, photo line placement, equipment moves and positioning the models in the scenes. But I think I manage to get a few good shots off…this year I even had a second camera with me, loaded with a roll of Kodak Tri-X – yep, I was shooting film in addition to digital!
Thanks to the folks who came down to support the museum’s 11th shoot, thanks to the volunteers who move the equipment around and pose in the scenes, putting up with the photographer’s requests, a big thank you to fellow photographer Warren Disbrow for helping out with providing some of his flashes for a few scenes, and a huge thanks to Steve Barry of Railfan & Railroad Magazine for running the lights again this year!
Here’s the set of photos – check ’em out, and as I have been doing lately, prints can be purchased while you’re viewing them!
A former New Haven EMD FL9 sits at the Chaplin Station as a part of the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, ConnecticutMuseum volunteer Jeff poses during the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut
A station operator mans the desk inside the Chaplin Station, as a New Haven FL-9 led passenger train waits outside. This was one of the scenes at the 11th annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut. Canon Elan 7/Sigma 15mm f/2.8 fisheye on Kodak Tri-X 400.Museum volunteers Pieter and Paul pose during the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut
A color view of museum volunteer Jeff throwing a signal from the steps of the museum’s former Pfizer EMD SW8. Taken during the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, ConnecticutMuseum volunteer Jeff swings his lantern during one of the scenes at the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut. Canon Elan 7/Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG on Kodak TriX 400The museum’s Central Vermont ALCo S-4 with a short train and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad’s Columbia Junction roundhouse in the background poses during the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut.Museum volunteer Jeff swings his lantern alongside the S-4 with the Columbia Junction roundhouse in the background. Taken at the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, ConnecticutThe annual lineup at the Columiba Junction Roundhouse during the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, ConnecticutMuseum volunteers Paul, Jeff, Pieter and Jean pose with the museum’s 44 tonner during the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut. Canon EOS Elan 7 with a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG on Kodak TriX 400 film.Museum volunteers monitor the wheels of the 44 tonner as it is placed on the museum’s Armstrong turntable at the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, ConnecticutThe museum’s GE 44 tonner idles on the turntable at the Columbia Junction roundhouse during the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, ConnecticutMuseum volunteer Rich prepares to throw some sparks as the finale to the 11th Annual Night Photo Shoot at the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut. This was the last shot, and we didn’t get many sparks due to issues with the torch…next time!
On October 4, 2014 the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum in Willimantic, Connecticut continued a tradition spanning more than a decade. For the 11th year in a row, the museum hosted a Night Photo Shoot where a group of photographers from around the area converged on the museum to light up the night.
