THE FOTR WINTER PHOTOGRAPHIC GALA

[John Ashworth]

THE FOTR WINTER PHOTOGRAPHIC GALA

Good news! The best time to take photographs of steam engines is early winter, and due to requests from a number of photographers, we are therefore running our first photographic Gala in May!

The objective of the Gala is to provide photographers with the opportunity to take photos of steam engines in a controlled environment.

* The photographic sessions will take place over 2 days –
o Saturday the 31st of May from 17h00 to 21h00 – a chance for late evening shots as the sun goes down, and then night photography!
o Sunday the 1st June from 6.00 to 9.00 in the morning – early morning photos of seam engines show of the steam best in cold weather – more condensation, and more drama!
* The location will be in the Friends of the Rail yard at Capital Park, Pretoria – a typical authentic working environment for steam engines, both past and present. Secure parking and toilet facilities are available. Refreshments will be available.
* Photos will take place in the yard area – storage compounds and inspection pits are restricted access areas.
* A Class 24 Steam Engine will be in operation on both days, with additional steam engines (a Class 15F and Class 19D positioned in place for optimum shots). The operating locomotive will also be operated as required for photographs.
* On each day the initial photo shots will have a degree of control so as to prevent unnecessary flashlights going off, shots being obstructed etc. After these sessions are over photographers are free to do their carte blanche stuff.
* The cost is R100.00 per head for one session, or R160.00 per head for both – unfortunately coal and maintenance is expensive!
* Numbers will be limited to 40 people, so booking is essential - phone Arno at number 012-548-4090


You will need to ……..

* Bring your photographic equipment.
* Wear light coloured clothing or a light coloured jacket – you need to be visible to the crew when the engine is moving.
* Bring warm clothing for when it gets colder.
* Wear boots or sturdy shoes – the ground in the yard is rocky and uneven


SEE YOU THERE!

NB: Telkom is having very great difficulty in keeping our sales phone line working. Please call our cellphone number 082-293-4616 (+27-82-293-4616) if you cannot get connected on the sales number.

[John Ashworth]

A good time was had by all. The feedback we got from the photographers was very positive. There were about 40 of them for the evening shoot and rather less for the morning one. We provided them with a very varied menu, including the arrival of our Cullinan train on Saturday afternoon, shunting during both sessions, locos posed in various lights and in darkness, superb dawn shots, crew posing wearing old-fashioned railway attire, and run-pasts with 3664 hauling a variety of stock.

From FOTR's point of view it went very well (and safely) and provided some valuable income to be put towards our move to Hercules. A few lessons were learned for the next one - and there most certainly will be a next one.

PS - let's hope that some of the pictures will get posted on this forum...

[Chris Janisch]

For a first run I believe it was a tremendous success. There were many unforseen factors which could have tripped things up, but by sound planning and limiting of numbers we were able to pull it off. In fact, we were probably oversubscribed for the night session, where the darkness and lack of space made it difficult. However, the photographers were all in good spirits and everyone got their shots. It once again proves that one should not be overambitious, but rather play safe and take what comes. The demand was unexpected and in my mind opens up a whole new target market for us. Photography is big in this country and it is not a poor man's hobby. We have a foot in the door now and these guys will be back, bringing along their mates too hopefully. Expanded plans are now in place for future shoots- different venues, locos etc. The night stuff needs finetuning but can be done. It was a very profitable exercise too- the club needs everything it can get at this stage!
Thanks to all who helped and participated.

[John Ashworth]

See photos posted here

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Well done guys, it was a huige success. Thanks Arno for the marketing and Chris J for the motivation, and especiallt to those on the ground, for all the prepping. July for the next one? Cullinan weekender in sept?

[Gabor Kovacs]

YES, I agree with all below, that this was certainly a huge success and as Nathan has suggested that we at FotR need to do more of these in the future, and we should look at other venues in and around Pretoria, which should coincide with our regular trips and which can be easily and safely be managed.

Even for the footplate and ground crew this was a good experience and interesting, as we had to use sections of what we were taught at college concerning night movements, and additional vigilance was required due to visitors being around!

To all concerned, Thank you!
To all the photographers who attended a BIG Thank You to you all! I hope we will see you again soon!
OOOOh by the way photographers - Please submit at least one photo either through e-mail, or if you are a registered user of this forum, then the forum would be the way to go! We at FotR would appreciate your input greatfully!

Thanks
Gabor
(your Saturday night "On-duty" Shedman (yard loco driver))

[Nathan Berelowitz]

I have never seen so many people FLASHING at Gabor!!

[John Ashworth]

E-mail received from two of the photo gala participants:

Dear Chairman

We enjoyed the photo gala on 1 June 2008 very much and have taken some
extraordinarily nice pictures of Jo-Anna.

We have created a forum entry on our website http://lanportal.co.za with
some pictures that I took.

You may view this at
http://www.openlab.co.za/forum.html?fun ... 2&catid=22

Thanks once again for the fantastic work you are doing. We truly appreciate
the heritage of steam trains and would like to see even more loco additions
in the future and more photo gala's featuring those.

Best regards,
Lionel Redelinghuys, Rianet Botha

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Nice pictures.

[John Ashworth]

Nathan's reply:

Many thanks, we are glad you have enjoyed yourselves. Your contribution will help towards ensuring the future of such steam locomotives. Many thanks.
Nathan.
Chairman

[John Ashworth]

The local photo club in Pretoria North like us very much! They have posted a link to our site on theirs so they are hungry for action. Check their website and go to PHOTOCLUB where you will see pictures posted of the gala.

Their website is here, or go directly to the gala section here, or to the photographs themselves here

[Lionel Redelinghuys]

I would like to correct the above URL to my FOTR forum section.

We have moved our site to a new permanent location which you may access even when your international ADSL cap is finished.

Here's the link to those pictures:
http://www.lanportal.co.za/forum.html?f ... 2&catid=22

See you all in the nearby future!

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Thank you Lionel!