This was real tough. Both pictures had a lot to offer. As I read the different comments from some of the voters it surprises me to see how many vote for the train company instead of the best photo. It seems that the better shot should determine who you vote for, not whether its a “Warbonnet” or some other favorite engine.
After going back and forth I voted for Mike. I thought the rain was special, and the angle of the train was perfect, and the dusk shot was good. But I could make just as many good points for Erik’s shot as well. A tie wouldn’t be bad.
Like everyone else, I find it harder each week to chose because of the quality of the shots. This week I go for Mike’s shot. There’s an eriesome effect with the rain. Erik’s was good too but the single beam of light seemed isolated. Perhaps if the oncoming train was just in the shot, it may have been more dramatic? Hope you guys are being paid well for promoting the Canon. It’s certainly whetting my appetite to start going digital !
Blackbird,
Mike’s shot impressed me so much I had to print it and put it up in my office (I even snuck in a printed it on the good color laser printer). A first! UP should be using that shot for their calendars.
As much as I like both photos, the headlights spotlighting the raindrops ahead of the UP Loco, are nice. I wi***hey BNSF left the fmr Santa Fe red and silver locos alone, the orange BNSF AC unit about did it for me, despite the the light streak . . .
I voted for Erik’s photo…a new way to ‘see’ the Santa Fe ‘War Bonnet’…nice.
Mike’s photo is technically good especially the grain and seeing the entire train, but the 2 photos are very different ways to treat the subject of twightlight photography.
Erik’s photo has more contrasting kind of edge to it… including the streak produced by the passing train.
A good pair of photos to compare and a great topic.
Mike made a really beautiful photograph. But I like Erik’s photo a little bit better for the reasons which he described.
This monthly contest is fairly new to me and it makes me wonder if it is about critiquing photographic techniques or about photographing dramatic railroading pictures.
If there is still any traction or electric railroading being done in the USA it sure would be good to get some of those included in your contests.
If you could vote for two pictures, they would both get my vote. They are both amazing shots. I had to go with Eriks only cause of the snow. I love snow shots. The UP appears to be heading into snow flurries but I guess not. I can’t wait until I see more winter shots.
Erik, you did good that remote switch was worth every penny and you did not get my vote![:O] Got’ha: you got my vote, in fact both you and Mike did good. Those digital cameras are the name of the game, I got one this past November (Fuji S3100) my 35mm is now history. A tripod helps with the shakeI on those shots, I think the untouch photos are the best, either auto are manual they show how good you are are not. [:D]
I loved the effect of the rain in the glare of the headlight and the gathering gloom of sunset. Also, enjoyed seeing the train go to infinity. Tough choice nevertheless.
Had to go with Mike this week. The rain in the light beams isn’t something seen in a pic very often. Snow shots at night can be wonderful but the light streak killed Erik’s shot. I know it’s a digital pic but it reminds me of a scratched negative from film days. If the streak had been visibly attached to the passing loco my thoughts may have changed but as is the streak is a question mark.
I should 'splain myself, Erik was lucky cause photography is 98 percent lighting, 1 percent luck and one percent other stuff (equipment, skill, etc.) and he was at the right place at the right time. Of course, other days photography is 98 percent luck, 1 percent lighting, 1 percent other … actually I liked both shots cause they both involve trains. I just dont like digital. My wife bought a digital camera and the first time i tried it was a great shot of a UP diesel bearing down on me along I-84 in Oregon with the Sunlite right on its nose, nobody told me you had to hold down the shutter button halfway to let the camera set then shoot. What idiot designed that feature? missed the shot obviously, I’ll take my good old 35mm camera anyday. That also goes for music CD’s, digital sucks compared to analog, but that’s another forum. LarryS
I have to say that I love photos of trains in the snow. That being said, however, I think Mike’s picture is better, compositionally.
Cutting the engine in half just didn’t look right. The balance of the picture was weighted all to the right. A big no, no. Had there been a something on the left to balance the picture, it would have made a great shot.