About the Image(s)

Hamlet Train The sun set on an age gone by.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 f2.8 lens @ 24mm, ISO 200, f13, 1/6 second mounted on tripod.

I read about this train station about a year ago and have been trying to get the opportunity to visit since then. I made it 10 days ago. The station in located in Hamlet, N.C. about 80 minutes from Fayetteville where my son lives. The station is literally in the middle of nowhere, with wide open spaces on three sides. Directly behind the station is what passes for the city of Hamlet N.C. The sign says population 5500 but according to the station master there might be 500 people living “in the area”. Still there are a great many lights on Main Street at night which is right behind the station and creates a halo along the edge of the station roof at night. I liked the photographic possibilities surrounding this station so much that over 3 days was on site for 2 sunrises, 1 afternoon, 2 evenings and one all nighter to capture star trails framing the station. During all that time I saw only a station master, one man jogging with his dog and on one busy evening featured 3 people sitting on a bench in the park across the street. There is not a single store open on Mainstreet. As shown, sunset can be beautiful, day break truly makes the station turn golden, and in the middle of the night I have never seen a sky with a deeper midnight blue than I saw above the station on my second night on. The station still operates for one train that stops three times a week, if there are passengers to drop off or pick up, otherwise the train just rolls on by. The train is the Orange Blossom Special running on Amtrak from NYC to Miami as it has sine 1908. The station was built in 1900. For this shot I do not like the bright white area of the setting sun on the left and while I could have moved the camera position to hide it the only clouds with color were on the right. The sun’s position did help to light the upper story of the building which is really hard to capture because of the overhang. The building is amazing at night with the station lights. There was a lot of editing to dim highlights, or open shadows because of the roof overhang. Everyone should put this location on their bucket list??”it is worth the visit. Just bring your lunch. The only food establishment in the ‘Hamlet” had a sign on the front door saying “Gone Home for Lunch will be back at 4 p.m.” They were not back at 4.