Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 48: March 27, 2006

power power power

location location location

picture #2

I voted for photo 1 for exactly the reasons given by "dingoix " in his message below. Both photos are good shots of trains. Somebody said photography is the art of capturing light. Between these two, I find the light in photo 1 the more appealing presentation of trains, even though I often enjoy stark lighting in low light conditions and appreciate the telephoto challenges facing the photographer in photo 2. I agree with “dingoix” re the balance of light. Both caught trains on curves in attractive settings. Glad both photographers are back in action.

Photo 1 looks like a static shot- just another train shot. There is something just a little different in photo 2 - the CP 8520 shows movement, lights on the rails, chugging away seemingly uphill, but getting the job done. Very clean. I like it!

Mike

Welcome back to both of you. Really missed all the action while you were gone.
I am not qualified to “critique” any kind of art work but just pick what appeals to me.
Both photos were excellent but my “liking” choose photo #1. Thanks again for the
good work and friendly competition.

boshart1: I’m sorry, but you seem pretty caustic to me. Remember Erik & Mike are doing this for fun and most all of us seem to appreciate the effort they put forth to give
us a chance to see their photos and vote for the one we like. I’m sure that they
intended this site to be a fun thing to participate in.

Both pictures are good.

However, I like photo #2. I think there is more mystery in the photo created by the train coming out of the brush with its headlights blazing. In this case, the darkness adds to that sense of mystery.

Photo 1 got my vote.
But if photo 2 had been a second sooner, to catch a little more of the CEFX second unit and cut down on the lights, that would have been the ticket.
CWesselNYC

Hey I LIKE both shots but chose the blue sky with the green & yellow#3050 engine. Both had good qualities but I 'll have to agree slightly with boshar 1 , how’d ya set the camera up and what did you do to get the picture-any tips ,hints or kinks?

Good News you are back. Spring is here get so get well miss TR with Erick & Mike.
Sharp and clear details jump at you my vote #2[^][^]

Photo 1 took my vote as it has an unusual loco on the front and it was taken on a sunny day. The perspective of being below grade was also a determining factor, not seen that much.

However, Photo 2 can take heart because that also was one that could have taken the vote with the big muscle leaning into a turn.

Photos like # 1 are becoming a bit rarer as time goes on, so it’s nice to see traditional trains rather than a pair of CP wide cabs. #1 gets my vote.

Sorry to burst your bubble, however, the diesel pictured in photo 1 is not a Burlington Northern loco. It is actually a Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern. Info about that railroad can be found here http://www.rbmnrr.com/ .

As for which picture I voted for. I voted for #2. Not because I am a CP fan, but because I thought the composition of the photo was better. Too much dead space in #1 in my opinion. It was a tough choice. They were both good photos.

I Voted for #2 low angle shots are like cheap wine. They makeme sick
Chutes5632@ameritech.net

There no doubt that pic # 2 gets my vote, the blowing snow indicating speed and a certain mystery what is behind this brute power thundering down the track

Thanks one and all for your kind remarks. It’s great to see that everyone - or at least most of you - appreciate that we’re back.

I can’t believe no one has commented on the photo names! [:o)]

Erik

Well…[:-^]

I voted for #1, I instantly recognized it as an R&N engine. (BN???) How does an engine like that get all the way out to Wisconsin with out one photo posted to railpictures.net of its trip west :wink:

I went with #2. although the focus is a little soft I like the composition. And I’m a big fan of the Rebel’s low light capabilities…BTW Just bought a Rebel D300 (e-bay) and all my film cameras are sitting in the bag collecting dust! Love it! (I keep my Rebel K2 loaded as backup just in case). Glad to have you guys back…keep up the good work!

Picked #1, old style, old school railroading one locomotive doing it’s job. other photo is nice but is common place. Keep going guys.

[quote]
Originally posted by Bergie

Thanks one and all for your kind remarks. It’s great to see that everyone - or at least most of you - appreciate that we’re back.

I appreciate that your back . I only object to the competition. You’re both pretty good photographers and I’m sure you both know it, but to see the loser shedding crocodile tears as you both have done recently takes away a lot of the pleasure of viewing the pictures. Additionally with no guidelines you place yourselves at a disadvantage when the reader has to chose between apples and oranges because the pictures are so dissimilar; e.g. the miniature train at McCormack-Stillman Railroad Park.
Keep up the good work but please stop the petty bickering over who did it better