Photos from a train

Train photography is difficult and frustrating.

You perform the pre-photo check. Shutter speed fast enough to compensate for train movement? Check! ISO high enough but not too high? Check! Aperture acceptable? Check!

You spend your time waiting for a gap in the trees, embankments and other obstacles.

When there's a break you quickly frame your shot, assuming there's something to shoot. If you're lucky you get it. More likely you get another tree, or train signal or one of numerous other types of poles.

So you wait for another break. And wait. And wait. And wait. No break. So you lower your camera. Just for a moment.

Then suddenly the perfect scene appears. Quick! Aim! Focus! Tree! Damn!

When you finally get the scene you wanted to capture you check. Did you remember to avoid the reflections on the glass from inside the carriage and the opposite window or is your beautiful scene marred by a massive white patch? Or worse, your desperate expression in reflection! Or did the rocking of the train bump you just at the last moment? Is it light enough? Is the right part in focus? Is any of it in focus? 

If it's an epic fail you delete it straight away.  Otherwise you keep it. 

You work on the principle that the more shots you take, the greater the chance of success. Luckily you brought lots of memory cards. You're going to need them!

And on top of all that you want to be considerate of the people around you. Don't want be a nuisance. Though to be honest, this last one is just a matter of managing guilt. Nothing is actually going to stop you from trying to capture this moment. Nothing!