Hooterville

[Richard Crowe]

Here are some shots of the Hooterville model train layout at the Old Town San Diego Model Train Club.  The trains run through two gigantic rooms, one set up as daytime and the other set up as night.

 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

What fun.  So detailed.  Wonderful images Richard. 

[Richard Crowe]

These shots were my first attempt at focus stacking in which several shots are made at varied focus points from near to far. I used three shots for most of these images but I could have used any number. I then combined the multiple shots at varied focus points into a single image using Photoshop.  That way I achieved a greater depth of field (area from front to back in focus) than I could have done trying to achieve the image with a single shot.

I have avoided doing this in the past because I was unsure of how difficult the technique would be. It s really quite easy and is a technique that can be used with any type of image, so long as here is no movement within the image.

These shots could never have been achieved by the general public who visits the model railroad display. Our photo club arranged for us to enter the exhibit an hour or so prior to when it opened to the general public.  We were allow to use our tripods which are forbidden, for safety reasons, to the general public.  Additionally, the Model Railroad Club members removed the Plexiglas barriers from between the display and the viewing area which allowed us to shoot without the bother of the Plexiglas and its reflections.

I shot these with a Canon 6D Mark II using a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens with the camera/lens mounted on a solid tripod.  However just about any camera/lens could have been used with a bit longer focal length as the best choice.  I used f/10 at anywhere from one to several seconds exposure at 100mm and ISO 320.

Virtually any camera and lens could shoot at these parameters.  The trick was having the camera/lens on a sturdy tripod and being in the right place at the right time... 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Richard, thank you for posting this.  We haven't been in a long time - we need to make time to visit (even if your shots are better than being there.)