Our Photography Courses Blog - Severn Valley Railway, Worcestershire

British WW2 Commando snapped on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

It was back to the future for our Severn Valley Railway photography course. As usual, we started and finished at the Engine House in Highley, and travelled down to Arley on the train. However, as the 1940’s weekend was in progress, all sorts of photogenic things were going on – British and American paratroopers and Commando’s sabotaging the tracks, a visit from the King and Queen and Winston Churchill, and a 1942-era wedding at Arley. Lots to photograph.

Picture taken on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

Photographing re-enactors is good fun, as they rarely mind being photographed. The camera can be unforgiving at picking up digital watches, modern glasses etc. It is also noticeable that the military re-enactors are often a little old for their role. It’s what made the motley Home Guard squad look so authentic. It’s also noticeable that these look good in sepia, but unrealistic in modern high-contrast black and white and colour.  It also helps if they are not particularly sharp – as few cameras of the era were.
The trains are hard to photograph in a dark shed, but we played with ISO, wide apertures and negative exposure compensation to get the right results. A good day, although I think we’ve all heard enough Vera Lynn and George Formby to last us for a while!

Dispatch rider snapped on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

Picture taken on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

Home Guard Picture taken on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

Picture taken on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

Wing Commander taken on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

Picture taken on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

Picture taken on our Severn Valley Railway Photography Course

We often seem to have bad luck with weather on the Severn Valley Railway, but this time we were fine!

The view from the Engine House has this great bend, which lets us see the shape of the train.

a few moments later!

There are goodies to see inside the Engine House as well:



As usual, we went down the line to Areley, which is a beautiful little station, with a pub, a cottage garden and plenty of chances for photography. It’s one of our favourite places to teach photography courses, when the sun is out! We have been known to huddle round the coal fire in the waiting room when it isn’t.
Areley bridge makes a find subject:

All in all a lovely day out!

We had a lovely day at the Severn Valley Railway yesterday…Phil was teaching DSLR and I was teaching the Creative photography course. As always, the ‘job’ for the day was to go home with several images that you’d be proud enough of to hang on your wall… also two long shoots on a given theme. I like to get people out of their ‘comfort zones’ and flex those creative muscles! Dave has already done DSLR and our Landscape course, and his photography is coming on in leaps and bounds! In fact, the one of the train is the best I have seen from the Severn Valley Railway! I suggested that he send the Railway a copy. (See above photo!)
I’m also of the opinion that it’s really important to be by yourself when you are serious about coming back with worthwhile photographs….and it doesn’t need to be for longer than an hour. Dave really proved this point, as he only had 20 minutes for photographing objects I thrust at him, and an hour for the others. Also, it became evident as we reviewed his photographs that we did little or no cropping/editing…they were what he saw in the viewfinder! So extremely well done Dave…we are proud of you!

Phil and Rachel taught DSLR and Landscape photography on the Severn Valley Railway – these pictures are from the landscape course – some pictures from DSLR course can be seen here!