Those who don’t follow the bi weekly photo contest called Trackside should take a look even if you don’t vote. The good news about it is that now there is one reader (supposedly) a nonprofessional rail photographer’s entry. The better news is that often the reader’s photo is better than most of the pro’s and often the winner. The best news is that it means there are a lot of good photographers out there who don’t know they are and that the pro’s don’t always get it either. So, don’t give up…look at, inspect, devour, photographs by the pro’s here and in the pages of your favorite railfan tomes…then look through your lens to get your perspective put in sight of others. You probably won’t make it with the first or maybe not even with the first thousand clicks…but you shouldn’t give up. The pro’s aren’t bad here, its just that nonpros can also take a picture and give a good perspective of a scene or idea. Take your pictures and see what develops!
(emphasis mine) I can attest that at least some of the photographers are non-professional. Why? Because I was in Vol. 148: Tangent tracks. [8D]
I’d like to think that the addition of a non-professional is at least partly due to exhortations to that effect here on the forum.
We all know that we’ve seen some excellent stuff here.
As of Tuesday morning the “non-professional” is way ahead of his Kalmback competitors in this week’s contest with about 1/3 of the total vote. Way to go!
Quite right! We’d like to offer more opportunities for readers to share photos, whether it’s via Trackside or other features. Unfortunately, there’s something of a gap between what we’d like to do and what we’re capable of doing. But this was absolutely our effort to bring you guys and gals into the fold, as you’ve so often told us you’d like. And to those who point out the excellent quality of the reader submissions, including Steve Carter’s awesome effort this week, all I can say is, “Hear, hear!”
Perhaps a thread could be started titled something like;
“My best shot of the week” for new pictures, or “Picture from days past”, etc.
Encourage people to link in one picture a week, or something to avoid overload. I’m not saying any official voting would have to take place, but comments could be welcome.
Of course some of us would have to learn the tricks…
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