Train Assembly
Light accentuates texture. This sounds like a simple statement but I have seen enough photographs of nicely textured subjects that were taken on overcast days to know that we don’t always remember this axiom.
The image of the undercarriage of this train has three things going on concerning texture. The first is the strong overhead light that should bring out the texture in the lighted areas. The second is the shadow areas that would not display the texture because of the lack of a direct light source. But the photo-artist has added a third element, a textured computer filter to accentuate the appearance of a pitted surface throughout the composition. Though the filter is obvious it is scuttle enough that it does not distract from the image and helps to get the point across that we are looking at a weathered piece of equipment.
There is one area that the photographer may want to take a look at. At the bottom center of the image is a hose apparently on the ground that leaves the frame and then reenters. Perhaps this could be removed. At the same time the horizontal line of the track is acting as a one sided frame which could be removed by cropping. Also note this line is about 1/4 degree out of horizontal.
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Marked Up 
Modified 
March 26th, 2008 at 6:20 am
You have to love the intricacy and detail of large machines like diesel trains, and I am fascinated by them. This shot was taken on a rail track, in Davis-Woodland, CA.
I used flash fill from the strobe on my D300 to light
the subject (which was very dark to begain with). The
filtration was added, as stated for a boost in texture.
The print of this image provides a strong graphic for
viewers, in a contrasting white window mount.