Mrkirtley800 Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 No, Al, your backscene could do with a repaint. Only joking That is wonderful Derek 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 That looks superb Al 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted June 21, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 21, 2020 Loving this Al - really captured the spirit of the C&HPR with the extension. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 That's a great set of photo's Al. With a backdrop like that you cant go wrong, really works well with the layout. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium figworthy Posted June 21, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 21, 2020 3 hours ago, Alister_G said: This morning, I did this: Wow. Adrian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Brilliant mate, just need to build a shed out there with a big window, and it could look like that permanently, haha.SUPERB. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Alister_G Posted June 21, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted June 21, 2020 (edited) Thanks very much, here's a few more. Thanks for looking, Al. Edited June 22, 2020 by Alister_G 27 1 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernBlue80s Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Really nice pictures. Enjoyed them 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Alister_G Posted June 21, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted June 21, 2020 Thanks very much Steve. Here's a few selected views in black-and-white. Thanks for looking, Al. 19 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold lezz01 Posted June 22, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2020 Nice Al, very, Very Nice! Regards Lez. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium AdeMoore Posted June 22, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 22, 2020 Those photos are top, Bob on. Really excellent most enjoyable to look through them a few times. Cheers 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Alister_G Posted June 25, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2020 I've done a bit of tweakage of a couple of shots, mostly colour balancing and stuff and then re-cropping: Thanks for looking, Al. 24 1 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KNP Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Very, very effective and realistic. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Alister_G Posted June 25, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 25, 2020 18 minutes ago, KNP said: Very, very effective and realistic. Thanks very much Kevin. Now if only I could transport the countryside into the layout room to take these at home... I might try and get a panoramic photo from that location and try it as a backscene, but I'm not sure it would work. Al. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted June 25, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 25, 2020 At least that's the site of the C&HPR mini exhibition sorted! Mike. 2 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 4 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said: At least that's the site of the C&HPR mini exhibition sorted! Mike. Social distancing is possible at any distance Boris feels like on that particular day! Looks superb Martyn 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Alister_G Posted June 30, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted June 30, 2020 I've been experimenting with a photography technique called focus-stacking. By loading a custom firmware onto my Canon camera, I am able to run scripts - little computer programs - to control aspects of the camera's operation, including manual adjustment of the depth-of-field and focus, even though the camera, as standard, doesn't offer manual focus. The script I've run takes a starting point for focus, and then takes a number of shots in succession, altering the focus and depth-of-field slightly between each shot 3 steps down, and 3 steps up from the starting position (although this is configurable to as many steps as I want), then it takes a further shot with focus set at infinity. So you end up with 8 shots, with a range of focus settings. Then I copy all these shots into a clever piece of software, and it combines all the shots into a single finished image, with a much wider spread of focus than the camera can manage in a single shot. Here's an example: This image is a single shot taken as normal with the camera: And this is the same image made up of 8 shots from the script: The difference is subtle, but you can see that both the loco and the crane are more in focus in the second image, as the original shot was focussed on the central brake-van. I'm going to experiment some more, with a wider range of focus, to see what else I can do. Thanks for looking, Al. 16 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Alister_G Posted June 30, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 30, 2020 This pair of images perhaps makes it more obvious. For this I used a different script, where you set the start and end points of the required depth-of-field by physically pointing your camera at the two extremes and pressing the "Set" button, then you compose the shot and start the script. In this instance I didn't set the "far" point far enough, but you get the idea. So here's a normal shot, using Macro setting and the auto-focus's best guess... You can see it failed miserably, really. Then, here's the same shot using the script to run 10 incrementing focus points, and then stacking the resulting images in Helicon: Much better, except it ran out of increments before it had got to the end of the loco. But that was my fault... Thanks for looking, Al. 11 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenrithBeacon Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 I can see why focus stacking is in favour right now for macro photography, but I do feel that it can be overdone. Remember that depth of field is a natural phenomenon, one we experience every day, naturally. I think the key to making natural looking photos of model railways is to remember this and make the number of increments that are appropriate to the subject to give a natural feel to the picture. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Alister_G Posted June 30, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) Hi David, Yes absolutely it can be overdone. However one of the challenges of model photography is that if you use a physically small camera, so that you can get in close to get ground-level shots, then you inevitably compromise the depth of field, particularly if when using macro settings, the subject of the image can be less than a couple of centimetres from the end of the lens. Most small cameras can't cope with that, so focus stacking offers a way to address that and artificially increase the depth of field to something approximating what you would get if photographing the real thing. The one thing that immediately triggers the brain to identify a model is the lack of depth of field in a lot of photos, so as you say, sufficient increments to make it feel natural are what is required. Thanks very much, Al. Edited June 30, 2020 by Alister_G clarity. 4 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Alister_G Posted July 3, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3, 2020 So, I consider that the add-on module with the cutting and embankment is about done, and I've got the urge to do some more modelling, so it looks like it's time for a new module. I'm thinking a 3 foot one this time, so I can fit a bit more on. It will be another portrayal of the C&HPR, but not just a straight bit of track. However it will still need to connect to the main board at one end, and the fiddleyard at the other, so the entry and exit tracks will have to be in the same place. I've come up with the following: It uses a single Code75 medium right-hand turnout (which I happen to have in stock). The only problem is the large expanse of field at the front, but I can't see a way round that, given the two ends have to be where they are. I was thinking I might hang yet another module off the back at some point, to continue that line. What do you think? Al. 14 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Chris116 Posted July 3, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 3, 2020 (edited) Sounds great and with you building it I am sure it will look great. If you made the road go over the railway you would have somewhere to store your model bus! Edited July 3, 2020 by Chris116 Word vanished 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold westerhamstation Posted July 3, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3, 2020 (edited) Hi Al, I do like the idea of these small modules as you can concentrate on a small area at a time and get it finished to a good standard as you do, and not get overwhelmed at looking at a large unfinished layout. All the best Adrian. Edited July 3, 2020 by westerhamstation 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KNP Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 52 minutes ago, Alister_G said: So, I consider that the add-on module with the cutting and embankment is about done, and I've got the urge to do some more modelling, so it looks like it's time for a new module. I'm thinking a 3 foot one this time, so I can fit a bit more on. It will be another portrayal of the C&HPR, but not just a straight bit of track. However it will still need to connect to the main board at one end, and the fiddleyard at the other, so the entry and exit tracks will have to be in the same place. I've come up with the following: It uses a single Code75 medium right-hand turnout (which I happen to have in stock). The only problem is the large expanse of field at the front, but I can't see a way round that, given the two ends have to be where they are. I was thinking I might hang yet another module off the back at some point, to continue that line. What do you think? Al. Like the idea. How about a lake, or edge of one? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Middlepeak Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Al, Continuing the theme of the Harpur Hill and Ladmanlow branch, what about a row of quarry men's cottages at the front, slightly below the level of the railway? The other area of great interest is the section to the north of the Hoffman Kiln at Harpur Hill, with the wagon repair shops. I'd post some pictures, but the moderators will doubtless object! Hopefully you know where I mean. Regards, Geraint 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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