Monday 20 October 2014

Sulphide Street Railway Museum, Broken Hill

I have always liked railway museums - I guess partly because as a kid, I spent time train spotting in the days just before steam was discontinued and partly because the English are mad keen preservers of industry.
These days I like shooting images of railway equipment using HDR techniques.  HDR or high dynamic range photography involves taking multiple different exposures of the same subject, preferably using a tripod, then using specific software to assemble the bracketed frames into an image that shows a wider range of tones than you would normally get with a single shot.  Typical software used to combine the bracketed shots includes Adobe Photoshop, Photomatix Pro and Nik HDR Efex, to name just a few...
Because of their metallic surfaces, thick layers of grease, rust, and wear and tear (not to mention their history), these ageing mechanical monsters work beautifully in a high dynamic range image.

Engineer's runabout powered by what looks like a lawn mower engine.
HDR by Natalie Hitchens.
Another reason to like railway museums is the colours. 
Aside from the fact that the HDR process has exaggerated the hues in this shot of a steam locomotive from the Silverton Transport Company, you just never see that kind of green any more.
HDR by Natalie Hitchens
Dirt and Dust. 
HDR is good for holding on to deep shadow detail without losing the valuable highlight tones - which is what you'd lose if this were a single shot.
HDR by Robin Nichols
Number 24: same steam engine front on.
HDR by Robin Nichols
Souvenirs from the left luggage office.
HDR by Natalie Hitchens.
More cool looking furniture from the days of steam in the outback.
HDR by Natalie Hitchens
Inside the first class, smoking carriages.
HDR by Natalie Hitchens

More smoking seats.  The non-smoking section only had 8 seats.
HDR by Natalie Hitchens
2nd, non-smoking carriage section.
HDR pic by Robin Nichols
HDR pic by Robin Nichols
Amazing to see how much wood was used in the construction of these railway carriages. 
All the electric lamps had glass lampshades.
HDR by Robin Nichols.

HDR close-up of two ore trucks coupled together.
HDR by Robin Nichols
Inside the guard's van.
HDR by Robin Nichols


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