So you guys think people vote because of the contributor? Never thought about that, but I guess it could and maybe does happen. Personally I don’t know these people that well or at all and always look at the picture to see how it strikes me in regards to the subject. But that being said sometimes I think things like, “man, I never vote for that guy and maybe I should.” Laughs! So yea I think it would be fine to leave out the names and descriptions and especially the descriptions because sometimes it seems like they are trying to make the photo fit the theme with the description. Kind of like using a shoe horn to put on a shoe. (do they still have those?) The names and descriptions after?,yea I would vote for that.
Folks —
Thanks to all for your suggestions; we’ll definitely get a discussion going about this within the building.
You have to remember that when this started, it was Trackside with Erik and Mike, and was very much focused on two friends bantering back and forth. It was designed to be a discussion of digital photography and of railfanning, in addition to being an entertaining read. The contest was part of it, but only a part.
Perhaps that’s all changed enough now that we should revisit what we’re doing. But please, Trackside readers, I want to hear from you. Are there some of you out there who’d prefer to keep the current format, or would you all like to see blind voting and/or no caption info? Personally, I find the stories, locations, information, etc., to be interesting, but I’m also a writer before a photographer.
Thanks again to everyone for your comments, and keep them coming.
I, too, enjoy the information, as others have said. Perhaps it could just come after the voting has closed. Thank you for listening to us. Would it make sense to vote on this issue?
Andy…#### Thanks for getting back to us on this.#### Just so I’m not misunderstood, I LIKE all the information about the photos, including the photographer’s name, but believe that it ought to be held back until after the voting.#### As to the overall idea of the bi-weekly “contest”…it has indeed changed since Mike and Eric got the ball rolling.#### I voted in the first edition and have done so in almost all that have followed. It’s no longer a personal tug of war between a couple of co-workers, but a a multi-contributor feature that has less of a personal element and more emphasis on theme (a fairly recent addition) and composition.#### If nothing else, perhaps a test balloon would be in order…or maybe rotate the plan with every other edition being a “blind” vote. In the event that it’s popular, eventually convert to all blind…if not, go back to where we are now.
I don’t think anybody is saying the current setup is bad. What I’m seeing is that some of us think it might be made better.#### Tom in Nashville
I like some of the revisions suggested. I like a photo to stand on its own, if it has something to say, then that’s it.; if it is to fit a certain catagory or theme, then it has to do it on its merits not what the photographer has to add to “sell” it. Knowing the name of the photographer is certainly a way of distorting the playing field ( I have been perseuaded by name and home of a photographer believeing that he has to know better than…whoever else is at hand…in this particular shot or location. So, yeah, leave name out until later.) What might be important is to give a location, date, even train identification perhaps, but leave the whys and wherefores, even the hows, until after the winner is named. Let the picture do its own selling and the voters do the buying.
Andy,
To me the most important thing is that we get to see, vote on, and download awesome photo’s. Some here are making suggestions the way it is now favoritism might come into play and that they might vote for a photo based on a photographer and or what he has to say.
For instance, in I think it was the “winter scene” topic someone mentioned that they thought it was great that the engineer got off his train and took a picture of it, which should not matter at all. Others have said that steam always wins out and maybe certain photographers lean towards steam shots. So I readily see how the information surrounding the photo could “color” the decision. In other words some people have a hard with non attachment! laughs!
There will always be someone who doesn’t like something about the process. I said earlier that I would vote for having no info ahead of time, but after thinking it over giving feedback trumps voting, and the final decision should rest with the people at the magazine based on the feedback.
I can live with whatever you decide as long as you continue to provide us with the excellent photos. The bottom line are the photos. I will say this though and it’s just a thought. Maybe feelings or egos on your end or with the contributors would be less bruised knowing that the voting was done without us having knowledge as to who took the photos, if that matters. I say just keep the photo’s coming and the trackside feature on line. [:)]
Thanks
All pretty nice shots. Good variety of interpretations of the theme.
I went with Ken’s shot. I think the up close & personal feeling helps convey the theme.
Thanks again for a great feature.
Larry in Wauwatosa
…I think the “blind” voting would be fine…Actually, better…[2c]