In our new online feature, Trackside with Erik and Mike, Trains.com staff members Erik Bergstrom and Mike Yuhas go trackside and share with you their results, as well as what they’ve learned. In each installment, we’ll include let our users vote on who got the best shot. Read this week’s installment.
I voted for #1 because of the composition, not the lighting. Using a long lens allows the photographer to capture not only the lead engine but part of the train coming therough the curve. The lighting, however, leaves much to be desired. Photo #2, while well-lit and composed, is for me, a little boring as I see Metra commuter trains every day.
It has to be number 2. Who wouldn’t pass up a Metra kicking up snow?
I like #1 because it looks like the train is pulling hard.the light isnt the greatest but thats what happens sometimes in winter.
stay safe
Joe
I like both, but chose #1. I like the look of the train snaking it’s way through the dim winter scene.
The lighting is much better photo 2
I voted for number one. The picture seemed to show that even in the dark of winter, rail power still prevails. Commuter trains just do not demonstrate that.
I’m going to have to go with photo 2 this week, to me the first was just a little to dark.
I also liked that look of the snow trail in photo 2.
There is nothing like a canadian national freight in the winter.I recall the
covered wagons pushing the plows as lived in Brookville just outside Saint
John New Brunswick.I have found the wonder in any railroad in winter but
CN Rail always wowed me as still does.
Eastern Passage
I voted for one. I like trains going around curves.
George
Oh common, who can resist the classic shot of the speeding passenger train kicking up a cloud of dust (or in this case snow)? Although, I do have to give credit to the shot with the weaving train.
Erik, or Mike, what do you think of this shot that I took not that long ago?
For more of my photos go here:
http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=2955
Photo #1 … I read recently that train photos on curves are more photogenic and I have to agree. This particular one had poor lighting which was too bad but it had lots of potential. There is just something about pulling around a curve that grabs me.
The other could be OK if it showed more detail. It’s a good shot, good lighting, nice effect with the snow and all, but a straight-on shot has to show detail that’s not seen by the regular bystander.
Just my two cents.
photo #2…it’s just better photography!
Photo 1 definitely tells a story. I like the heat waves from the exhaust. Should have panned up enough to get top of silos and get rid of or crop out the white road or whatever in the foreground. Lighting? I don’t know. At first I thought it looked like any amature auto exposure fooled by the snow but then the exposure DOES set a mood.
I voted for Photo 2 because the speed indicated by the snow effect and distance compression of the long lens also tells a story . One that a railfan does not need to rack his brain to understand!!
I’m not much on mood shots so choose #2. The shot of the WC unit in the write up is better thaneither of the vote choices, IMHO.
I voted for Photo #1 because of the dynamic effect of the heat distortion above the locomotives. I find with my own amateur work this effect seems to always impress me.
Photo #1 could use a bit of cropping without reducing the impact and I personally don’t have a problem with the lighting; had this been July we may not have been able to see the locos at all. Snow lighting, heat distortion, and good focus on the lead unit gets my vote. Great work! I also appreciate the Canadian content so far. Thanks for the feature
Bringing Up The Markers,
Ken Morrison, Alberta, Canada
alcoman@telus.net
Photo 2 by a long shot. Looks way better. Photo 1 seems to lose the train in the scenery.
However there is the critism of some branches seemingly growing out of the loco’s cabin. Not a major, but it seems the shot may have been a little hurried. (And no I do not do a lot of photography in general or of trans specifically at present, no camera [:(]
I voted for photo #2, because it is a much better quality photo as far as lighting, focus.
Photo #1 would be the best, if it were focused on the middle of the train, instead of the front, for a infinite shot. Also, as stated above, photo #1 is a much more pleasing shot because of the amount of aditional scenery.
That’s my 2 axles worth.
While Photo 2 had superior lighting, I had to vote for #1 because of the composition. The train climbing the hill and coming around the S-curve is a great photo-op. The farm in the background enhances the shot as well. The only thing that I don’t like are the power lines in the background, and that is getting really picky. In this day in age it is difficult to get a shot where the horizon is not cluttered with something. Hopefully you guys can show us this location in the future in weather that is more cooperative. It looks like both of you are well along in the learning curve of the dRebel at this point, keep it up!
I voted for #2 simply because of the lighting. While #1 might have been a better shot, to me it is to dark to see much. I feel the average person would discard #1 because of the lighting. While the lighting is poor on both, it appears worse on #1.