Aw Shucks… It’s got to go to Andy. Its a great photo, good composition getting the fence in the photo, and excellent light. I’ll have to admit I was the local fan who saved the day. I’m not biased. 
Loren J.
Loren — Ha! I had no idea you were on the forums. Was great running into you that day, and you definitely saved the day for us. It was a great location for a shot. This is proving to be an interesting competition overall. Kent was up early, but it looks like Tom’s Montana magic might win the day yet again. Andy Cummings Associate Editor TRAINS Magazine Waukesha, Wis.
Wow…what else can I say? Some excellent shots here.
The picture that grabbed my attention and held it was Matt’s silhouette shot. Hard to time right and get to look that good. Kent’s shot My ‘heart string’ vote would have to go to Andy (duh, CNW power) but it was almost a daylight shot. Very nice color though.
As Mark Twain said, “in all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.”
I thought Bergie had the best shot, with Ms Kube (who always seems to come at railfan photography with a highly idiosyncratic eye) a close second. But I would also say this: The shots all look very very different depending on what kind of monitor screen you are using to look at them. My older home monitor turns all but the most brilliantly lit photos to mud. My laptop makes everything vivid, assuming I have the top open at just the correct angle. The computer at the cyber cafe at work makes all the pics look good. I think this particular competition, where varieties of light are the main theme, implicates these screen quality differences more than most.
Dave Nelson
I’ll add my own insanity to the mix.
I thought that Tom Danneman’s shot stood out, and I remarked on it immediately. I also liked Erik’s image, although I agree with an earlier comment that it could have benefitted from some minor cropping…hard to say without actually fooling around with it myself to see. But you have to admit it has some not insubstantial drama juxtaposed by both nature and technology.
The other images were all fine (in the literal sense); I enjoyed them and would like to compliment their owners.
-Crandell
Erik Bergstrom’s photo combines the best of all that makes rail photos appealing. There’s a rail line conquering the wilderness without appearing to ruin it; a train operating in unusual light (typical sight if you work the rails); a scene that non-rail-fans can appreciate; a scene you might see on a typical morning when working for a railroad. What made Erik’s photo really stand out for me is that it doesn’t have to be compared to train photos; it can be compared to photos in any collection.
Wow, a number of great views for this edition of Trackside, but in narrowing it down I went with Matt Van Hattem’s view of the UP coal train. Nice color in the sky and a good silhouette.
A close second was Kent Johnson’s shot of the SD70MACs with the windmill, certainly a view worthy of the theme.
I’d have to rate Andy Cumming’s view of the C&NW “three amigos” next, the scene is nice with the fence, even if that poor 8575 has seen better days.
Tom Danneman’s image has a nice sky, but it needed something more.
Erik Bergstom’s shot looked a lot better blown up, but the lack of detail in the sky hurt the overall scene.
Drew Halverson’s picture of the CP train needed less background to left, the shine on the rails is nice but the train just blends in with the background too much.
At least that’s my take on the installment. I like the new format and keep up the good work.
Lance
Good Lord folks! If this is any inkling of what’s to become the new photo contest, ALL OF OUR BRAINS WILL EXPLODE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS!!!
It’s days like this when you wish you only had TWO photos to pick between.
My elimination process went like this - Even tho I consider Kathi the “Queen of Silhouette Lighting”, I’m afraid that I eliminated Kathi, Aaron and Andy first. The long shadows of late afternoon are great, but amid the other competition, I didn’t think they made the grade. Hey, bring on “Late Afternoon Sun” shots, and they’re all back in the fray!
Erik Bergstrom’s picture was the unique one - The reflection was classy, but we’ve already been here with that theme, I think . . .
Finally the Johnson, Halverson, Danneman, Van Hatten quartet drew upon the natural allure of the darkening sky and the palette of setting sun colors. Each was stunning.
However, there is a reason that you call an ART DIRECTOR an ART DIRECTOR. Danneman’s photo was like a painting. I set it up on my big screen monitor and just stared at it for a quarter hour - sensing the power, the silent sensitivity of the darkness, the loneliness of the terrain, the promise of the meeting . . .
It made my imagination dance. And that’s why I voted for it.
BTW: My picture is of the Santa Fe/Wabash Station in my home town of Hardin, Missouri,taken in 1966, only a few months before it was razed.
Wow! Great choice of theme, do it again! It just goes to show why they always say, outside photos at dawn and dusk have the most drama. I had three top choices that were hard to pick from. Tom’s shot was great on so many levels, but the lack of sharpness or the increase of noise placed him in my number 3 spot. Drew’s immediately grabbed me with the color, the rail glint, the distortion created by the heat plume, but I wished there was a little more detail visible on the locomotive so I gave him my number 2 spot. Bergie got my number 1 spot with the stunning beauty of his shot as well as allowing enough exposure to light the side of the train with all that backlighting… STRONG WORK! I believe someone commented earlier about the lack of the “rule of thirds” in Bergie’s photo. While I agree the train split the middle of the shot, I hold the photo back (by holding my laptop at an arms length) and easily see three equal and distinct bands of color across the photo which gives it a sense of thirds to me. Additionally, I think in this case, splitting the middle was the best way to compose this photograph to play off of the reflection. During this holiday weekend, I want to say that one of the many things I am thankful for is Trackside with Trains.com. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
This one was really tough, they were all good, but I had to narrow it down and voted for Tom.
That was an unusual shot with 2 trains and the darkness.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that when I had my choices down to three photos,they came out win,place,and show.