Taking photos of garden railways is one aspect of the hobby which can be extremely rewarding. It is an area that I personally enjoy, especially with the introduction of the digital camera to replace the old 35mm that I originally had. With the introduction of digital cameras, you now have the ability to take many photos, and only save the ones you like or want to keep. The magazines and web sites for garden railroading have many excellent examples of photographs that tell the story of a particular scene or railroad. The following is a quick guide to model photography which may aid you in getting more realistic photographs.
When taking pictures, the type of shot must be considered. Most people take wide shots or medium shots when viewing a layout. The problem with these shots is they do not convey the image of a miniature world to the viewer. You are getting photos of the entire railroad or the tops of buildings and trains. A close up shot is probably the best way to showcase the individual details of a scene. The model railroad is a world within a world. To capture the excitement of a miniature world we need to translate camera angle relative to the scale of the trains. Eye level is no longer the usual 5 feet above the ground but is now close to 3 inches above the ground. Ground level shots are quite literally that. Moving the camera below the subject, such as a train crossing a bridge or high rock ledge, emphasizes the size of the train even more, and can increase the sense of scale conveyed by the photograph.
For some of the photos on my web site, I am on the ground, or the camera is resting on the ground or on a small 3" tripod. I want to convey some reality to the scene, and in many cases am trying to get a shot of the trains as viewed by a person standing by the tracks. I am still experimenting and learning.
Light is another factor in photography. The best light for model photography is on a bright but overcast day. If this is not possible, then early in the morning or late in the afternoon are your best camera times. At any other time the bright sun will create harsh shadows or high levels of contrast which will ruin your photo session.
Composition is the last factor that you must consider when taking photographs of your trains. The subject should generally be in the center of your photo, and all other areas will be slightly out of focus due to depth of field restrictions. This is acceptable since you are focusing on a locomotive or a structure. To achieve more depth in a photograph, keep your camera at an angle to the subject rather than perpendicular to it. A subject coming toward the camera creates a sense of action and gives the photo life. Your trains do not have to be moving to create this effect.
Avoid distractions. This is anything that draws the eye away from the subject such as patio furniture, hoses, rakes, portions of your home or out buildings. Other distractions may include leaves, large flowers, dead branches, dead bugs, legs, arms, or even rolling stock in the background that calls attention to itself. Also make sure all the wheels of your trains are on the track, and all cars are coupled to the train.
As previously stated, with a digital camera, shoot all the photos you want and delete the ones that don't make the cut. Don't be afraid to experiment and find your own style. There is no single formula to follow to get great photographs every time. You may follow the rules and get boring photos, or violate all the rules and get a prize winner. Have fun and enjoy yourself.
