Outbound Metra Train Passing a Bimodal Freight Train at the Mannheim Metra Station (2015-01-24 11-04-48a)

Outbound Metra Train Passing a Bimodal Freight Train at the Mannheim Metra Station (2015-01-24 11-04-48a)

The photo was taken at the Mannheim Metra station which serves the Milwaukee District/West line. It is also very near a large freight operation. I used a Nikon Coolpix P7700 camera to take the photo and editing was done using Luminar 2018. I have mixed feelings about the result. I go back and forth between liking and hating it. Feel free to weigh in. I won’t be offended.

I should note that, although it looks like the photo was taken around dusk, it was actually shot around 11:00 in the morning. I thought it was more interesting this way.

I started with the RAW Develop filter which I used to adjust the white balance, increase the contrast and clarity and decrease the highlights, shadows and whites. Next I added the Accent-AI filter and three copies of the AI Sky Enhancer filter, all set at maximum. (Its effects are additive and the sky in the original image was awful.) I used the Saturation / Vibrance filter to increase the vibrance and the Tone filter to decrease the SmartTone, highlights and whites. Then I adjusted the curves, used Dodge & Burn to darken the mud and gravel and used added the Dehaze filter. Lastly I used the Sunrays filter to add some rays to the light on the front of the Metra train.

I especially tried to keep the Sunray filter more subdued. Most of the times I’ve seen it used on other peopls’ photos it has been overly strong and, in my opinion, ruined the photo. I wanted to avoid that. I hope I did.© 2015 Gary J. Sibio. All rights reserved.

#train #commuter #passenger #freight #Chicagoland #Illinois