A new series for me of late. I call these "whimsies"
These 4 were done on 5X8 with the 9a Century camera with a 9" Darlot Petzval lens on paper negs.
The result when you hold it in your hand is that the image seems to float in air.
I like this one the best. The "smoke" is really cool. I hope someday to see it in the "Galli Gallery" (say that 3 times fast!) and see the effect you mention.
In an earlier version of this train, the focus dropped off more within the front wheel. This gave it more of an impression of movement to me. The arc on the smoke creates the same vision, though. How did you get it to bend back like that?
I do like the cars a lot. To me, somehow the hoods/grills being in focus and the cabs being out of focus makes them look somewhat sinister to me. Sorta like the little cars are lttle beings, with the cabs being somewhat angry faces.