Erik won my vote, that is not to say Mike’s was not a good shot. You guys make it harder and harder with each installment! I agree with everyone’s comments that Mike’s WSOR shot is sharp, but just as sharp as Erik’s corn leaves! The cornfield meet just has hot lazy summer written all over it. I would like to see the next shot in the sequence, just to see what it looks like with the town. Don’t know if it was planned or not, but the lead loco with the grey hopper in the background give a nice sense of depth, something I don’t think would have been as pronounced if the tanker were behind the locomotive.
[:)]
I choose Mike’s photo over Erik’s. Mike’s photo is a much sharper image, and the colors jump right out. Erik’s phot o is darker and seems a bit fuzzy. Also the tank car a the end of the other train was cut off. Both Mike and Erik are great phot takers, but one of them always seem to come up with a better photo.
I am an avid railfan, and enjoy seeing the photo’s both Mike and Erik take.
Kepp up the good work.[:)]
Wow, this was a real tough one to decide. I liked the vividness of the Red & White in Mike’s photo against the green darkness of the nearby trees. I also liked that Mike’s shot enabled me to see some of the trailing consist. Erik’s picture had the tank car with the FRED, the hazy late afternoon sky, the corn field, and the three smoking locomotives. After examining both photos numerous times, in the end (pun intended) Erik won out due to the rarely captured FRED.
Ehhhhh… easy, I voted for Mike! BNSF pales in comparison to WSOR! I was a little disappointed by the haziness of Erik’s photo, otherwise it might have had a better shot at getting my vote! But WSOR is just a cool railroad all by itself, as many would attest after Saturday (7/9)! [:D]
I chose Erik’s photo just because Mike nitpicked it…Just kidding! I did prefer Erik’s as it shows the new and the old Santa Fe colors. Not kicking Mike around as I also liked the older units he was showing and it was a clear shot. Enjoy the article as always and both keep up the work.
I dunno, but last week Erik got criticised for a front on telephoto shot, then this week Mike’s tops it. Mike’s is the stand out and grab ya one this week
Tim
London UK
I went for Mike’s- I like shots where you can see the crew in the window. Incidentally, I’m guessing the BNSF guy held the pink paper up so you couldn’t see his face.
Erik’s shot reminds me of many times near Rochelle or other times at Blodgett Rd south of Joliet. The stack trains are easy to find and meets happen often, usually at speed. With the weather around here, you were lucky to find corn even growing. Too much is turning brown from lack of significant rain for the last couple months. But it’s a shot that shows typical Midwest mainline action in the summer.
Mike’s single track jointed rail looks more like a secondary line or a branch that wandered off the the usual double and triple tracks I drive past daily.But I find the shot to be more interesting. The overall composition with the trees and the brush frame the locomotives in a natural manner. The colors also help the units stand out. And seeing the crew in the cab brings back a past theme that people are actually a part of the railroad.
Mike gets it because his photo has that “grab ya” quality. Eric, if you could enter that “word picture” in the competition you would have won!! Nice work.
Gannb
I vote for Mike’s picture bcause of the sharpnness and composition…I also think Mike’s picture of the vehicle train was good and should have been the one to vote on rather than the one that’s posted…Thank Ya’ll ,Danny Sisk (videomaker)
And I though it was going to be a quite summer sit back an enjoy Erik & Mike photos an vote for One of them. Now theirs another Mike[?] Their is no 3 way tie vote[;)]
I voted for Mike #1[?][;)]
Bring on “Stunt Mike” put him behind the[8]. Thats a better deal than all these hurricane kicking my but. [B)][xx(]
Mike’s colors are sure sweet, but Erik got that gorgeous light, the meet, the visible speed…had to go with Erik on this one. Yes, Erik’s is fuzzier, but for whatever reason that didn’t bother me.
Milwaukee Zoo pic was the most interesting in a while. No need just say “Just kidding,” after a seemingly interminable sequence of flatland freight photos. They get old. Fast. Maybe if Mike & Erik could arrange a trip to the Mountain West they could see some REAL railroading. Get Kalmbach to fork up the bucks!
Get Kalmbach to fork up the bucks? It would be easier to get PacificEclectic to fork up the bucks! (Just make that check payable to Mike & Erik, PE [:)] )