For those of us who own cameras with manually-set time and live in a region where time changes are recognized, you'll need to take action this weekend. I like having accurate EXIF data on my image files, so try to get this right.
Guys - EXIF data can be modified by you or anyone else. Although I do not believe the copyright info can be changed by any EXIF editor. Note that you can bit-bang the Image file to do so. Nothing is safe. Besides we are talking 1 hour either way, not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
It is true we can edit EXIF data. Have done so myself. It's just that setting the camera eliminates any need to spend time editing. Any exciting RR action happening in Libby lately? Work windows cutting back daytime moves? I need to wander that way some day to grab a few photos.
Yep, I use the EXIF time to calculate train run times and lessen time wasted waiting trackside. I often know distant terminal departure times, so using EXIF times, I can figure that "X" Hours later, it'll appear in my area. I have most of the routes calculated. I do not live near a heavy mainline, so have to make use of the handful of trains I have available. I manually enter EXIF trivia, such as the train number. I figure this might interest someone someday.
Hay Boxcab - only get to Libby every 5/6 weeks for home time. Should be there in a week or so. Train action is pretty much the same: not much during the middle of the day although ya can get lucky. After the Eastbound Empire Builder @0530 there usually are a few Westbounds that have been waiting upstream to get through and of course Eastbounds that follow. Usually have meets in Kootenai Falls, Libby and Ripley. In the summer I sometimes get a hair up and head up toward Flathead tunnel really early then follow something West. If nothing else ya get to see the EB whiz by. Me thinks that this is our last year of driving OTR, so give me a yell sometime in the spring and we can go and see what we can see. Food and drink probably will be involved! Not while driving though.
Hmmm, how is time wasted sitting trackside? That is the Zen of train chasing. In my neck of the woods there is lots to see while waiting. Have you ever looked into ATCSMon? Program for your laptop coupled with tapped scanner that shows train location a few miles up and down the line. Flat landers have it good as you can see 20ish or so miles in all directions, my location has canyons and mountains so you are lucky to get a couple of sidings each way. Oh, ATCSMon.com should get you started with the thinking process. I haven't given it a look for awhile, covid could have taken it's toll.
I've heard of it and have met fans who use it. Impressive technology! I've thought about looking into it, but at age 65+ with a lot of railfanning behind me, I'm content to kinda keep things simple these days with a radio scanner and info from Facebook.
I should mention too that EXIF files are perfect for entering detailed information about the subject. I use this a lot on my slide scans and this way, the information sticks with the scan, wherever it may end up. In this example of HAGER Tower in Hagerstown, MD taken in July 1982. The EXIF information reads "HAGER Tower also known as South Junction. Built c. 1903, closed c. 1983 and razed shortly thereafter. Jointly owned by WM, N&W and PRR." I happened to come across this information in the WM Historical Society's Blue Mountain Express magazine and thought it was worth entering.
I'm not sure, but it could have been because a lot of rail facilities once existed just beyond, roundhouse and all. So much in Hagerstown has disappeared.
Somehow, back when we bought our Nikon D50 in 2006, I decided to set its clock to UTC. Probably a holdover from my Air Force days, but it seemed like a convenience knowing we were going to drag the thing around with us traveling. Three cameras later, still doing that. I don't use the time for anything like @Hardcoaler, but if I did it'd be somewhat simple to just convert UTC to whatever local I needed...
