Journey into the Dark: Railroad Night Photography

Steve Barry, Editor of Railfan & Railroad magazine, demonstrates how the art of night railroad photography has evolved by showing his own work from the past 45 years. Originally he used flashbulbs or natural light just as the pioneering O. Winston Link had done in decades past. Then came synchronized electronic flash units and early digital cameras. Now fixed lights and High-ISO digital cameras can produce nice images in previously impossible conditions. Mixed among the trains and streetcars from across North America he also features historical reenactors and modern-day neon signs.

This presentation was recorded live at the April 22, 2024 meeting of the West Jersey Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society held in Audubon, New Jersey and virtually.

For more on the West Jersey Chapter NRHS: https://www.westjersey-nrhs.org

00:00 Introduction
00:50 Flashbulb era
05:01 Existing light
11:10 Electronic flash era
16:11 Early digital cameras
17:01 Synchronized flashes
46:03 Fixed light era
1:05:46 In O. Winston Link’s footsteps
1:06:45 Q&A