Railroad photographer/videographer Tom Danneman resides in Wisconsin, but his heart never wanders from the American West – even during the harshest days of winter. Take a cinematic trek with him, as he immerses us to the clash with the cold, charms of the quiet, and the continuous challenges railroads face under Big Skies & Iron Rails. Season 1, Episode 2, playing exclusively on Trains.com!
Big Skies & Iron Rails, Winter, Episode 2
By Jenny Freeland | April 1, 2021
| Last updated on April 4, 2023
I’m back for my fix of Tom’s stunning photography. I’m on the holiday break from teaching school in sunny warm southern Florida. The snow scenes helped me appreciate how nice it is outside and not freezing my butt off in Wisconsin where I spent many years.
Of the many things that the new Trains web site has brought us, this feature is worth the annual fee. OUTSTANDING! STUNNING!
Thank you.
Tom, you have done it again! There are some absolutely stunning videos in these films! I cannot decide which is more impressive, your creativity or your technical skills but the combination is unbeatable. What type of gear are you using in terms of cameras,?lenses and tripods? What about the editing software? I cannot wait for the next installment! Keep ‘em coming!
Thanks everyone for the positive comments! Daryl, For the videos it’s pretty simple. I use a GoPro Hero8, and an older GoPro Hero Session. I usually have them mounted to a small flexible tripod that can be set down or wrapped around just about anything. For the editing software, we use Adobe Premier Pro.
Could not put it better than Mike Clare. Hope to see much more. Thanks for sharing.
One of the most enjoyable ~28 minutes of train photography I’ve seen in years. Kudos!
Another fine episode. Well done. I do, however, have one objection: photography of winter that good makes it feel ten degrees colder in my place while watching. How about a trip to the desert next time?
Really like the transition from Autumn to Winter and the way you framed the scenes. I spent a summer working at Boeing long before the MAX was even on the drawing board, so it was cool to see the “plane train”. Looking forward to seeing the next video.
This is one of the most artistic rail video I have ever seen. Great cimematicogthy, quality editing, and interesting appropriately place quotes. Someone has a great eye.
Hi Mike. Thanks for the look along the old NP (now MRL) main in Winter. I’m a fair-weather railfan so thanks for sloggin’ it out there. I used to work in Colville so would go to Spokane on weekends following that old GN branch through Chewelah (sp?).
I used to railfan that area quite a bit in Summer even though I lived across the state later on. There was a terrific spot to park off the road that crossed Yardley at grade, Now there’s an overpass with no provision for railfans. I also noticed a lot of GP
60Bs there in the early 2000s.
There is never really a bad season for railfanning. I look forward to the rest of the series.
Sorry. This was sent accidentally so I’m finishing it here.