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An-ti-ci-pa-tion!

With a respectful nod to Carly Simon and that ketchup bottle in the famous TV commercials ;-)

Yes, there was much “an-ti-ci-pa-tion” on this splendid autumn afternoon, as I hiked with my cameras
to a commanding viewpoint overlooking the magnificent Landwasser Viadukt, which carries the trains of the
Rhätische Bahn’s Albula Line high over the Landwasser River in Switzerland’s Canton Graubünden.

This was one of the motifs I had hoped to capture on my remaining stash of Kodachrome-25, around which
my trip to Switzerland and Germany last October was planned. Mother Nature must have known how much
I was hoping for superb weather for this "Last Hurrah with the Kodachrome!" She smiled.

No ketchup lover, I am certain, ever waited with more delicious “an-ti-ci-pa-tion” for something bright red
to appear than I in the late afternoon sunshine of this photo-perfect autumn day, as that first Rhätische Bahn
locomotive emerged from the tunnel leading out of the sheer rock face and onto the Landwasser Viadukt.

This Kodachrome image was taken with a 28-80mm Canon L-Series lens, set at full wide 28mm, with polarizer, on my trusty EOS-1.

It was one of many images made that afternoon on K-25, Agfa Pan 25, and digital…and not necessarily my favorite,
but kind of special to me for the anticipation it embodies. I think the train- and Kodachrome-lovers among us will understand ;-)

This image is available in archival gallery prints and as a custom printed Photo Note Card.

For more images of the trains and territory of the Rhätische Bahn, please navigate this
Kodachrome! folder and also see my Rhätische Bahn, Engadin, and Swiss Alps folders.

Photo, Design, and Narrative ©2010/2011 Steve Ember

Another Kodachrome from that same viewpoint...

Greetings from Graubünden
Greetings from Graubünden
Steve Ember

Comentarios 8

  • Susanne Kämmner 17/12/2015 15:54

    The motif definetely was worth a hike. How long did it take you until you arrived at that fantastic viewpoint, Steve? I fully understand the anticipation you felt that day. The view is incredible. Indeed, on first sight it looks a bit like a model railroad. Stunning the differences in size between the railway, the bridge and nature. Your photo demonstrates well how tiny man-made "stuff" is compared with nature. Looking at your photo I am happy myself that weather that day played to the rules and helped to take such beautiful pictures.
    • Steve Ember 30/10/2021 6:31

      Thank you, Susanne. I linked tonight to this photo from a post on FB, and realized I had not responded. The viewpoint was reached via a trail from the RhB station at Filisur from which that train is coming as it heads northward. Fortunately, as I recall, it was a fairly level hike, perhaps a half hour through the woods along that ridge. I say fortunately, as I was "schlepping" four cameras, a pack and a tripod ;-)
      Happy you liked the photo. Guess you can imagine the huge smile that came forth when I saw this view bathed in late afternoon autumn sunlight.
      LG,
      Steve
  • Tatjana Puc Kous 30/05/2011 23:20

    Good compo!
  • TeresaM 28/05/2011 23:45

    Une prise de vue captivante et splendide !
    Une excellente vision sur ce paysage... le petit train en +++
    Amicalement,
  • Gabriele Benzler 27/05/2011 22:57

    Very beautiful picture. Very nice view!
    Greetings Gabi
  • Liesl Stangl 27/05/2011 21:26

    grandios, your picture, gratulation !!!

    with the best greetings
    liesl
  • s. sabine krause 22/05/2011 10:34

    this one's beautiful, too!! love how the majestic snow-capped mountains are watching the train appear from the tunnel – or disappear into it? – aeon-old witnesses to time, the history of the world, man and his seminal invention of the "iron horse" ; ))! beautiful correspondence between the u-shape of the mountains/valley and the arches of the bridge facing the opposite way… greetings, sabine.
  • Thomas Reitzel 10/05/2011 12:39

    Well, who could better understand than any of us train-photographers!

    Great view in weather conditions that couldn´t be better!

    Best regards

    Tom