A few months ago I bought an inexpensive solid state video camera to just leave in the car and capture random subjects with. The image quality isn’t too great (the sound is particularly inadequate), but its not bad for the price. It won’t cut it for the occasional Weather Channel broadcast video, but its so small that you can get away with shots you wouldn’t want to attempt with something more expensive.

While shooting the sunset from the Duke Raleigh Hospital parking garage on Wake Forest Road for the recent March photo series, I set the video camera up to record the scene while I took photographs. This video is about 1 hour reduced to 25 seconds.

Notice the Wake Forest Road I-440 beltline exit traffic.

Now what is a scenario where you might not want to risk an expensive piece of equipment? A 250,000 pound train locomotive running over top of the equipment might qualify.

A note on the recent train “themed” subjects: My wife’s Dad is a locomotive engineer for Norfolk Southern and is 2 months away from 34 years with the railroad. If you ask him, he’ll tell you (to the day) how many days he has left until retirement. That being said, Beth and I thought we’d capture him in action while we still have the opportunity.

Two elevator shafts are visible within the condo portion of RBC Plaza.

Boylan Heights view of RBC Plaza.

Nightfall takes over downtown Raleigh.

My father-in-law waits at a signal near the Boylan Wye for another train to pass.

View from the Clarion Hotel of RBC.

Berkeley Cafe sign and a toothbrush in the window.

Purple lights illuminate Powerhouse Square.

Convention Center and L Building Progress.

M&F.

Raleigh.

The mystery angle in context.

Lightning brightens the sky near the convention center.

Belt of Venus envelops the RBC Plaza construction

Upward moving lighting initiates at the 2,000 foot tall TV Towers near Clayton.

Boylan Heights neighborhood sign.

From the Duke Raleigh Hospital parking garage.

Fayetteville Street views.

West at North condos receives a brick cladding.

Downtown Raleigh view near the Norfolk Southern Rail yard.

Overview of Raleigh and “the Hillsborough” site from the Clarion.

Kinsey Street.

Wake Forest Road and the growing Glenwood South skyline.

Norfolk Southern Locomotives rest at the Raleigh Yard.

Magic Hour.

Jones Street.

The sun reflects off of the shiny RBC Plaza windows.

Until next time…

The crane at RBC Plaza was boosted recently to make room for the addition of the building’s crown. I’d estimate the crane to be at least over 600 feet- makes you wonder when we’ll see something this tall again downtown.

From the Clarion.

From SS.