Top to Bonham Photography

10/02/2026

It’s been a while since Union Pacific Railroad Big Boy 4014 made its East Coast tour, but if you’d like to experience that journey again, I think this video captures it pretty well.

This is my experience chasing 4014 from New York into Pennsylvania and following the journey as it continued south. Plenty of videos captured the locomotive passing by, and others focused on its history, but I wanted to document what it actually felt like to chase it.

The hours spent waiting. The route planning. Arriving early and wondering if you picked the right location. The anticipation when you finally heard that whistle in the distance. The few seconds when 4014 thundered past after hours of preparation.

And just as importantly, the people.

At every stop, the crowd seemed to grow. Photographers, railroad enthusiasts, families, volunteers, crew members, and people simply wanting to witness something historic. Somewhere along the way, it became more than photographing a steam locomotive. It became a community following the same journey.

Looking back, this film has also become a personal reflection on the weeks I spent chasing 4014 and the stories behind many of the photographs I brought home.

If you followed the East Coast tour, I hope this brings back some memories.

And if you didn’t get the chance to see 4014 in person, I hope this gives you a sense of what it was like to be there.

Chasing steam. Capturing history.

I spent weeks following Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 across the E...

09/28/2026

Filmed over two months on two different cameras, the journey began at Letchworth State Park and ended at Cresson Railroad Park. Along the way, I accumulated more than 500 video clips from six locations, including footage from four separate visits to Steamtown. Now comes the hard part: recording the narration, color grading footage from two cameras, balancing the audio, choosing the right moments, and somehow piecing it all into one cohesive story. I still need to animate the timestamps for the most important clips, too. I’m a photographer, not a filmmaker, so this kind of editing has been a challenge, especially with software that’s about ten years old. Combine that with being both a perfectionist and a procrastinator, and it’s easy to understand why this documentary has taken longer than I hoped.

It probably should have been released sooner, but now it's become something even more meaningful: a lasting record of an unforgettable adventure and the story behind the photographs. I can finally say the documentary is taking shape. I’m genuinely happy with how it’s coming together, and I can’t wait to share the entire journey with you.

Chasing steam. Capturing history.

09/27/2026

The forecast called for a nor’easter. I saw an opportunity to photograph the Jersey Shore in a completely different way. Wildwood's bright colors sat beneath heavy skies. The rides were still, the beaches were nearly empty, and rising water began reclaiming parts of the marinas. Farther south, waves broke against the remains of the concrete ship while a few birds held their ground above the rough surf. Storm chasing isn’t always about lightning or dramatic skies. Sometimes it means returning to familiar places when the weather strips away the crowds and reveals an entirely different character. These are four frames from my day along the coast—color, history, flooding, and the relentless power of the ocean.

Which photograph tells the story of the nor’easter best?

09/20/2026

Thank you, Smithville Italian Festival, for an incredible day! It was a pleasure being part of this event and sharing my photography with such a great community. One of my favorite parts of these shows is seeing the genuine reactions when people step into the booth and experience the images in person. From conversations about wildlife, landscapes, and the stories behind the photos, to meeting fellow photographers and hearing everyone’s own experiences with a camera. These moments are what make these events special. A huge thank you to all the volunteers and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the festival possible. And thank you to everyone who stopped by, viewed the collection, shared a story, or simply took a moment to talk photography. Every photo has a story, and I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to be part of that journey.

📸 Thank you for supporting original photography.

09/15/2026

09/13/2026

The 9/11 25 Years Later album is now live on SmugMug. I always seem to leave events like this with some degree of regret. I put a lot of pressure on myself to capture everything. I arrive with photographs already framed in my mind, and inevitably there are moments I miss or compositions I never quite execute the way I imagined. This year, access was more limited with the memorial closed to the public for much of the day. Still, I was finally able to check off a few photographs I had envisioned for a long time. Most notably the The Oculus at the World Trade Center “wedge of light” around 10:28 a.m. and the preserved markings along the E train corridor.

One of the most unexpected moments happened when I got into a line thinking public access to the memorial area had reopened. Instead, I found myself entering St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. After going through security, the elevated position gave me a completely different view over the memorial. While I was photographing, I suddenly heard a rapid burst of camera shutters behind me. Photographing wildlife, especially eagles at the dam, has taught me that when every camera around you suddenly starts firing, something important just happened. I turned around Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was passing by. I followed the moment as the entourage moved down the steps toward the motorcade. I captured several frames, but still missed the one I wanted most: him walking directly toward me. Another photograph that will probably live in my head longer than it ever lived in my camera.

Later, I headed to Edge more than 1,000 feet above Manhattan, hoping to photograph the city as the light faded. And again, tunnel vision got me. I was so focused on finding a composition for the Tribute in Light that I missed other details I had wanted. The illuminated firefighter helmet and American flag displayed across nearby skyscrapers.

By the time I made it back to the ferry, the schedule had been delayed. Instead of calling it a night, I kept shooting. And maybe that delay was exactly what I needed. The final hours were spent Viewing the New York skyline from across the water, photographing the skyline, the people around me, and finally the Tribute in Light rising above the city. I didn't capture everything I imagined. I probably never will. But looking through the finished collection now, I realize the photographs I came home with tell a different, and perhaps more honest story than the one I had planned. Never Forget — September 11, 25 Years Later is now available to view on SmugMug.

🇺🇸 September 11, 2001–2026. Never Forget.

https://toptobonhamphotography.smugmug.com/Top-to-Bonham-Collection/Photography/Events-Documentary/Never-Forget-September-11-25-Years-Later

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, New York City continues to remember. This collection documents the 25th anniversary through the people, places, and quiet moments that continue to carry the weight of that day. From American flags hanging inside the Oculus and memorials surrounding Ground....

09/12/2026

Twenty-five years later, New York still remembers. I spent September 11 in Lower Manhattan documenting the anniversary through the people, places, and moments that continue to carry the weight of that day. From the American flags inside the Oculus, to firefighters, first responders, families, and strangers stopping simply to remember, there was history everywhere you looked. Some of my favorite photographs weren’t the big skyline views. They were the quieter moments. The firefighter carrying the memory of someone on his uniform, flowers left behind, a salute, a prayer, two people walking through the Oculus wearing 9/11 shirts, and an FDNY shirt reading two words that still say everything: Never Forget.

The day eventually gave way to night, with One World Trade Center rising above the city and the Tribute in Light reaching into the sky. I went into New York hoping to photograph the 25th anniversary. I came home feeling like I had documented something much larger. The way a city, and the people within it, continue to remember.

September 11, 2001–2026. Never Forget. 🇺🇸

09/09/2026

I won’t name the print studio because this isn’t a call-out post, but I can’t hide how frustrating this is. I was beyond excited to finally print several photographs from my recent journey chasing Union Pacific Railroad 4014. These images needed to be seen large, and I planned for this metal triptych to become a featured piece at my upcoming art festivals. After what felt like weeks of anticipation, the shipment finally arrived and I opened the box to find the panels bent and folded along the edges.

I can’t begin to describe the disappointment. My photographs, my integrity, and the Top to Bonham Photography name are represented by every piece I place in my booth. I cannot sell work in this condition, and I won’t. No matter how much time or money I invest, my customers deserve artwork I am proud to put my name behind. I’ve contacted the studio and hope we can resolve the situation quickly. For now, this is one of those difficult behind-the-scenes moments that comes with preparing for an art show, one most people never get to see.