First Great Western

I think you already realise Peter that the bright lighting has burned out the highlights, particularly along the top of the train. Did you shoot in RAW? Its easier to pull, back blown highlghts and do corrections in Photoshop if you did. I generally underexpose by 1/3rd or 2/3rds in pictures like this, its easier to lift the dark areas than to reduce brightness.
Otherwise a good shot of a classic Great Western train in action.
David

Oh Peter shiny steam engines on a sunny day! Is there a sterner test for a digital camera? Still like the shot, though, despite the burnt highlights.

Very interesting advice from David, who's taken the odd mainline picture in his time...I must try these settings.

Thank you both for your comments and David for your advice.

Unfortunately I only shot jpg on this occasion. Nowadays I shoot RAW always, but at the time of this shot, I had a small-ish hard disk in my PC and shot mostly jpg for storage considerations.

I included this to show that for all the steam shots that turn out well (like the double header you commented on the other day Andrew), many others are flawed in some respect; i.e. passsing trains, white skies, wrong angle of sun.

I am sure you all know when you have taken a duff shot, without me posting "reject" shots here as an example.

Aside from the blown highlights, I was looking for a GWR engine to placate you Andrew, given my constant offering of 'foreign' engines

Regards

I agree with David and Andrew and I suggest you that use bracketing if you shot jpg. This shot should be better if the highlights haven't burned out.

Thanks Gabor.

I choose to use RAW now.

With moving subjects such as this, I feel that bracketing would be impractical. I would get 3(?) differently exposed shots but with the subject in different areas of the frame.

Regards