Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 120mm — ¹/180 sec, f/10, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Marci and Josh Kreta
Enjoying the Trains

As I mentioned the other day, my sister Marci is visiting my folks' with her 17-month-old son, Josh, for the last week that Anthony and I are here, and for another week after to help ease my parents' empty-nest feeling.

Yesterday we made the half-hour drive to a particularly bleak part of the world called the Alliance Amtrak Station. The station itself was like a run-down bus stop in the most desolate area of town, but it had one great thing going for it: trains.

The “station” (if you could call it that — it's just a slab of asphalt with a little sun-shade waiting area) is at the junction of two train lines that are well trafficked by freight trains. So, we went to see some trains.

Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D — ¹/800 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100 — map & image data
Photo by Marci Kreta
Train Tracks!

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — ¹/250 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Running When No Trains Were Running
The “station” is in the background. Can you say “bleak?”

At one point, to the horror of my Mom (or any sane adult), I let four-year-old Anthony use my D200 with a big Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 on a monopod, and he took a few nice shots...

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — ¹/2500 sec, f/5, ISO 400 — map & image data
Photo by Anthony Friedl
Cousin Josh and Aunt Marci

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — ¹/800 sec, f/5, ISO 400 — map & image data
Photo by Anthony Friedl
Little Josh Checks out the Tracks

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — ¹/500 sec, f/5, ISO 400 — map & image data
Photo by Anthony Friedl
Daddy and his Nephew Josh

And now with the camera back in my own hands....

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 140mm — ¹/400 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ignoring the Bad Example

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Come on Josh, Let's Race”

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Come on Josh, You Can Do It!”

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — ¹/800 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Making Silly Faces While Waiting for Josh

I've got to say that I'm very proud with how Anthony is playing the “big cousin” role. He tries to be helpful and patient, and succeeds more than I would have expected.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — ¹/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Josh Making “Chooooo Choooo” Train Sounds