Metro Transit After Dark: Landscapes and Landmarks



Good evening and welcome to the first edition of Metro Transit After Dark. This series will give you the insights and techniques to enjoy night transit photography. It will show the good, bad, and ugly this brand of photography can bring, including post-editing and framing that "perfect" shot.

Tonight, I will focus on night shots taken using landscapes or landmarks as background. Signs, well-lit buildings, and even transit stations can provide good back light to make your photos pop. Below are 18 examples of just that from my archives.

Sit back and enjoy the ride.

In this photo from Boston, it is twilight when MBTA coach #2235 picks up a passenger. In the background is most of Downtown Boston's skyline.

Camera tricks can also yield great snaps. Take this photo of another MBTA NABI that is turning with a fully lit Citgo sign in the background. One of my certain favorites.

Then it's the perfect pause. Thanks to an aware operator or a delay signal, I was able to have enough time to capture this shot of this train with an empty platform. Very rare.
 

A little post production editing helped this photo "pop"

In Los Angeles, excellent lighting and pre-planning at this station helped balance out the impending night with twilight.
 

The "classic" Walgreens sign punctuates this photo with both pedestrians and traffic in motion.

The famous Hard Rock Café in Hollywood serves as a great backdrop to this photo.
 
Las Vegas and its hotels gave me a great idea, which was well executed in this shot.
 
The liquor store ad behind this bus helped to bring a classic feel to the photo
 
The small Best Western sign pales in comparison to the conga line of buses in Downtown Baltimore
 
Transit stations can also provide good lighting and a very lit backdrop as evident in this photo.
 
All by its lonesome, this Gillig Phantom was photographed with the peak of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the background. Taken at 6 seconds handheld.
 
In New York City, Columbus Circle during the holidays makes the places and photos taken very magical.

 
 In Flushing, Queens, the many stores along main street helps to bring out the beauty of the city in the early morning.

The countdown clock behind the bus not only makes a good backdrop but also affects the nation on a daily basis.
 
Times Square in Manhattan is almost as bright at night as it is during the day.
 
In Washington, DC, the Capital building shines brightly in the background of this shot.
 
New apartment buildings brings light and a nice backdrop to Wheaton, Maryland
 
Hoped you enjoyed Metro Transit after dark. Next Stop...Tripper Tuesday: Sacramento

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