Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Categories
Photography & Videography Articles

'Round Town with Roy

The author shares a couple of photos he took at an HO and an HOn3 layout.

28th Annual Photo Contest Winners

Photos of the winners are shown, including Mike Schwab's Sn3 San Lorenzo Southern layout.

A Call for American Flyer Photos

How to take good photos of an A.C. Gilbert-base layout.

A Portable, Lightweight, and Inexpensive Photo Stand

Using foamcore, poster board, and pushpins with some glue is all you need to build a nice photo stand.

A View From The Train

Photographing from within a moving train in Illinois.

ABCs of Model Railroad Photography

This article provides the basic information needed to set up for photographing a diorama or layout.

Basics of Layout Photography

The author wrote a 30-page document for Model Railroader magazine called "Model Railroader's Guide to Digital Photography". The document is available on the NASG web site for free (see link). In this article, he describes the selection of a camera, lighting, and the 14-steps to taking a good photograph.

Better Layout Photos

An overview of photography, and many example photos of what is good and what is wrong with the photos, as it applies to model photography.

Better Layout Videos

This article covers video taping your layout. It discusses essential gear, dealing with location and lighting, setting your white balance, exposure control, and has two side bars on using today's small video players to show off your layout, and video editing tips and tricks.

Better Photo

How to take better model photos.

Build Your Own Model Photo Stand

The author describes how he built his photography stand which uses an 18-inch-wide roll of paper and under-cabinet LED strips for illumination.

Digital Background Painting for Model Photography

How to edit photos so that a digital backdrop can be inserted to make a photo more realistic.

Digital Cameras and Road Trips

Bob uses his camera to photograph the models he is building, taking "snap shots" of his own layout (as a memory for when it is later gone), and, of course, photographing the prototype for modeling purpose. Although not necessarily a second hobby, Bob recommends keeping a camera around at all times.

Digital Photography for Model Railroaders

Describes the (then) current state of digital cameras, and includes quite a bit of information about the basics of photography, such as depth-of-field, lenses, white balance, and how to manipulate digital photos after they have been copied to the computer.

From Snap Shot to Composed Photo

The author shares his learned experience of setting up a composed photo on his A.C. Gilbert-based layout.

Imaginative Model Railroad Video Tools and Techniques for "First Timers"

How to make layout videos having little or no experience. The author covers equipment and techniques, as well as software needed to edit the videos. The article includes a sidebar and photography terms.

In a Different Light

Describes the photography of K. Jeb Kriigel. He specializes in photographing all model railroad scale scenes, but adds the touch of using smoke, fog, lighting, and steam. Includes many of his photographs, and tips on how to set up for great photographs.

It's a Styrofoam Sky!

Using a piece of blue styrofoam insulation board as a quick-n-dirty sky background for photographing dioramas or models. Clouds are optional.

Model Photography 3

Lighting of both models and layout. Exposure and composition.

Model Photography Part 1

This is the first of a series on how to do quality model photography, ready for the print press. It covers the equipment needed. Several set-ups are shown in the accompanying photos.

Model Photography Part 2

This installment covers how to select your film, lighting, and equipment setup.

Model Photography with Helicon Focus Depth of Field Software

The author describes the use of the software and includes several photos that compare results, including how to add smoke to a scale steam engine.

Model Railroad Color Photography

How to set up the camera and the lighting to take good model color photos.

Model Railroad Photography

The author covers all the steps he takes to take good layout and model photographs. Even though this was a pre-digital age article, the basics of set-up and lighting still apply.

Modeling with Photo Prints

Two articles are contained within this one showing how to use photo prints as background images for a layout.

Phone Photography

How to use your cellphone to take good-quality layout photos.

Photographic Backdrops

The author shares his techniques for photographing his own backdrops, printing them to scale to match his layout, and installing them.

Photographic Techniques with Helicon Focus

The author uses the Helicon Focus software product to create some stunning photos of his N-scale layout. Incredible depth of field.

Photographic techniques with Helicon Focus

Using this software application to compose one image from several images taken at different fields-of-depth, so that the final result is an image where the whole subject is completely in focus.

Photographing Models for Articles

This informative article describes how photograph model railroad models, how to build a stand for creating effective backdrops, using the correct lights and lenses, taking outdoor photos, and the interesting work it takes to take photos while a model is under construction.

Photography 101

Choosing a camera, lenses, tungsten film, lighting, composition, depth of field, and bracketing. Includes digital photography tips with minimum requirements for MR publication.

Pinhole Photography

After the author describes why you want to use a pinhole, he describes how he built one for his camera.

Realistic Looking Model Photography

The author shares his tips on how to make model scenes appear real in photos.

Reference Photo

Feather River canyon photograph

S Tracks

The author's layout models the Pittsburgh area, but he had never actually been there in person. A trip with camera in hand allowed him to better model the area.

Scaling Plans from Photos

Through several diagrams, using a real photo, the author shows how he determines the main dimensions of a structure.

Sunlight Warm Up Your Shots

Two photos showing the difference between indoor and outdoor photography of an engine.

Taking Sky Backdrops to the Next Level

Building on the previous article, the MRH staff shows how to edit photos and bring in external background photos.

That's a Wrap

The story of Allen Keller's video taping of the Franklin & South Manchester session # 3.

The Art of Prototype Modeling

Sometimes one has to go see for oneself to learn about the prototype.

The Camera Never Lies

Several ideas on improving models: weathering trucks and wheels, adding lots of people to scenes, adding lots of vehicles, making sure that structures are embedded in the scene, how to deal with the edge of the layout in photos, and several other tips.

The Digital Darkroom

The author describes how he managed to get a photo of himself in a photo of his model railroad using a computer and Photoshop.

The S Photography of Doug Evans

The author enjoys super-detailing locomotives and photographing them outdoors. He includes the back story behind each of the photos. One photo shows his set-up.

Thinking About Buying a Digital Camera?

A description of digital cameras available at that time.

Tips on Photographing Your Model Railroad

The author discusses using a fog machine to hide backdrop edges and transition. Several "right" and "wrong" photographs are shown as examples of the topic discussed.

Trackside Photos

Photos of Stan Stokrocki's S-scale layout which feature kitbashed HO-scale industrial buildings.

Using Photoshop Elements for Model Railroading

The article describes how the author scanned an prototype photo, and enhanced its sharpness to be able to better distinguish details about the scene. Brightening up a photo can bring out details that otherwise might be lost to the eye. How also shows how to make a realistic "Bad Order" sheet.

Yes, It's a Model

Various model photos that look like the real thing.

Your Models on Film

The new editor of the Dispatch appeals to the audience to send in more photos of their layouts, and how to go about doing so.