This week, Trains Managing Editor Kathi Kube is joined by past champ, Kent Johnson. Together they share 10 photos from 5 railroads this week.
First, read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 97
Next, click here to vote.
When finished reading and voting, add your comments about this week’s photos below.
I have to ponder this one awhile.
As always, truly hate the orange BNSF, and that is what I pretty much see all the time. So no biggie there, except the shot is nice and the country is - well, true midwest. Pleasant photo.
Love NS - the colors, the horse, just a beautiful engine/train - except there is only 1/2 a locomotive. I would like to know how they managed that? Maybe with a small load, you only need 1/2 a locomotive? [%-)] [swg]
Off to ponder!
Mook
I am going with Kathi, something about a train with a caboose. If one did it in black and white could be quite notalgic.
Jared
ps-love the big sky country though!!
…This week I must vote for Kent Johnson’s photo…Some items that popped out at me: 3rds. adhered to…and exposed the nice blue sky…Liked the color combinations…Noted the good light on subject as per my liking. Simplistic. Simply, a nice RR photo.
Kathi’s, a good photo, but nothing drawed my attention at my first look. For some reason, the Kent photo colors, did grab my attention at my first peek.
Had to go with Kathi. Kent’s shot just looks like it was shot on an HO layout.
Kent, you didn’t submit the winning shot: the silhouette shot is great (the windmill is the defining factor), and the rain falling behind the train is superb. The submitted shot is very nice, and could even be a model railroad shot. I like clouds and big skies in my photos, but for a Train photo contest, there is too much sky and not enough train.
Kathi, your shot is very pleasing with an interesting background. I liked the general overall feel of your image, although some parts of it are blown out (headlight, bridge abutments, top of boxcars). You got my vote.
This was a tough call. Kathi’s camera technique is flawless, and the results are excellent. So this was a personal preference choice. Others have commented on the technical aspects - thirds, color, illumination, etc. and I agree with those observations. Still, it’s down to a personal preference. I would have voted for a broadside in that setting regardless of railroad, but clean locomotives always make it sparkle. If they had been clean Oakways, well now . . .
Kathi, what were the reporting marks on the cars in the NS train? Have the diligent sleuths on the TRAINS staff come up with a description of that movement?
George Werkema
OK Kathi…you finally pried a vote out of me.
The BNSF Wyoming shot is gorgeous, but nowhere near as interesting as yours.
Nice work from both of you…but the rolling terrain, trackside poles and wires and unique consist with a caboose in Kathi’s photo made for an irresistable combination.
TJB - Nashville, TN
Unlike others, I rarely see BNSF orange (or any other BNSF color); I get a steady diet of UP Armour yellow and CP red instead. I preferred the broadside image of the shiny BNSF units, especially the slight motion blur letting the viewer know that they were ‘stepping out’ with their load of empties across the prairie. Add to that the high clouds in the blue sky, separated from the prairie vegetation by the colorful splash of orange and yellow, and I think Kent has a winner. Of course, I will keep coming back to this forum to see if anyone knows exactly what Kathi’s NS ‘mystery train’ was hauling.
+1. The shot below would have gotten my vote instantly. Nice job tho Kathi. You seem to find the right shot and shoot it well.
I agree with others that Kathi’s photo had a lot of interest with the caboose, rolling terrain and the “secret nature” of this particular train. It is too bad various light color areas seemed overexposed detracting from the photo.
But with regards to photographic style and quality, Kent’s photo was simply stunning and I could easily picture (pun intended) his photograph unframed on a white wall of a photographic gallery in a museum.
Kent’s photo is:
Clean
Simple
Balanced
Vibrant
Refreshing
Elegant
It got my vote.
PS: Loved the sunset shot too… beautiful.
Kent submitted the wrong pic. The sunset silhouette would have been my choice.
+1. Echoed my sentiments exactly.
This week’s vote is a bit of a toughie for me, since each photo seems to have something that the other doesn’t.
The strength of Kent’s BNSF shot is its nice profile and wide-open expanse. Just look at that inviting sky and flat grass!! The image of the ES44s charging across the lone prairie gives it some feeling of action. Going on pure scenery alone, I would say Kent’s would be the more visually appealing of the two.
Kathi’s NS shot is a bit slower, but sharper. However, it also evokes an aire of mystery and curiosity – just what kind of cars are those? This question kept drawing me back to the photo, so in the end, I chose Kathi’s.
Personally, I favored Kathi’s shot of BNSF Z-STPCH8-23, as a choice for this week’s vote, primarily because of the ex-Santa Fe SD40-2 in the lead. It looks quite well maintained, quite the change from most of the units I’ve seen in my area, which are highly faded and weathered. Her shot of Q-STPFTM1-24 is also quite the eyecatcher, with its patched ex-BN SD40-2 and the curve in the track.
I agree that Kent’s evening shot should have been submitted for the contest because its a winner. The photo Kent did submit was very nice but Kathi’s mystery train appealed to me more and therefore won my vote. I prefer a photo that shows more of a train than just the locomotives since as a model railroader too, I am always interested in the consist. Sure would like to know what was in that train. [:D]
This is one more forum member that agrees that Kent submitted the wrong photo in this contest.That sunset shot would have won my vote.Instead Kathi’s top secret train of boxcars,(with shackles?) "human shaped"doors[:O], got my vote this time.
I agree. The mystery behind Kathi’s train got me in. Plus the black locomotive really stands out and the whole train can be seen in the photo. Sorry Kent but had to go with Kathi’s photo. Well done Kathi.
Choo Choo Aussie
Kurt:
I see too much flatlands out this way in Iowa. Didn’t get my vote this week.
Kathi:
Something about the loco, caboose, the environment, poles…just told me that this is a winner especially since the loco is NS, the Thoroughbred.
My vote: the NS photo.
Kent’s photo and the BNSF’s are nice, but the scene is rather plain and open. There is no real colours other than the engines and the green landscape.
Kathi’s photo gives us the idea of something unusual. A short train with unusual cars, and the scenery is much more appealing. It gives the viewer a sence of the fact that the train has a specific purpose, and not just a transportation mode.
Kathi gets the vote this week.
I really do enjoy both shots, there was something about the colors in Kent’s shot that just reached out to me though and that’s the shot I voted for. The night shot with the windmill in the background was my favorite though, but it wasn’t up for vote. To bad.