Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 3 - March 1, 2004

[Anonymous]

I voted for Photo #1 because of the dynamic effect of the heat distortion above the locomotives. I find with my own amateur work this effect seems to always impress me.
Photo #1 could use a bit of cropping without reducing the impact and I personally don't have a problem with the lighting; had this been July we may not have been able to see the locos at all. Snow lighting, heat distortion, and good focus on the lead unit gets my vote. Great work! I also appreciate the Canadian content so far. Thanks for the feature
Bringing Up The Markers,
Ken Morrison, Alberta, Canada
[e-mail]

[StephenDx]

Photo 2 by a long shot. Looks way better. Photo 1 seems to lose the train in the scenery.
However there is the critism of some branches seemingly growing out of the loco's cabin. Not a major, but it seems the shot may have been a little hurried. (And no I do not do a lot of photography in general or of trans specifically at present, no camera [:(]

[Anonymous]

I voted for photo #2, because it is a much better quality photo as far as lighting, focus.

Photo #1 would be the best, if it were focused on the middle of the train, instead of the front, for a infinite shot. Also, as stated above, photo #1 is a much more pleasing shot because of the amount of aditional scenery.

That's my 2 axles worth.

[Anonymous]

While Photo 2 had superior lighting, I had to vote for #1 because of the composition. The train climbing the hill and coming around the S-curve is a great photo-op. The farm in the background enhances the shot as well. The only thing that I don't like are the power lines in the background, and that is getting really picky. In this day in age it is difficult to get a shot where the horizon is not cluttered with something. Hopefully you guys can show us this location in the future in weather that is more cooperative. It looks like both of you are well along in the learning curve of the dRebel at this point, keep it up!

[Anonymous]

I voted for #2 simply because of the lighting. While #1 might have been a better shot, to me it is to dark to see much. I feel the average person would discard #1 because of the lighting. While the lighting is poor on both, it appears worse on #1.

[Anonymous]

Photo 1 reminds me of a toy train layout. Photo 2 is so real it's scary.
John

[Anonymous]

Photo 1 has a lot more character-- the winding train, the blur of exhaust, etc. It almost looks like a model. Photo 2 was also good. As others have mentioned, the "kicking up snow" effect is really cool, and captures the speed of the train.

[Anonymous]

I am really torn here, because I like the snow effect of #2, but prefer the composition of #1.

After all the talk of how to use different settings on the camera, I am surprised to see an example of under-exposure for voting.

I played with #1 a bit in Photoshop, and it did improve it to the point that I'd rather have #1 as my wallpaper than #2; which was one of the criteria I used to pick a favorite.

Ultimately, I voted for #1.

[Anonymous]

# 2 has my vote

[Anonymous]

I voted for number 2. Although both great photo's , I enjoyed the snow kicked up giving a sense of motion. Great series of articles, it is really going to help while railfanning, I've even convinced my wife to let me buy the Digital Rebel. I'm also going to pick up a zoom lens for it, any suggestions? Also are these shots done using a tripod or "freestyle"?
Keep up the good work !!!!

[Anonymous]

No. 2 shows action, speed excitement! The blowing snow whisping up from the ballast indicates the train means business. It also indicates someone has served much time standing in the cold to give us entertainment (no comment on mental status).

No. 1 is too flat, too much forground. I do not find the scenery atractive enough to have so much shown. "I" would have zoomed closer to the train. I have thrown away too many prints from the developer that are way too much mundane scenery. Now days, i just delete them after I take them! But, you gotta take a lot of bad to appreaciate the good ones. Those are the ones that get published, when not submitted as photo contests.

I voted no.2

Doug

[Anonymous]

As a photographer myself, I would have to say that photo #2 is the best. There is no detail in photo #1.

The picture is too dark and the train is clear to the right in the image. There is nothing in the left to balance the picture, other than one tree. Composition is all about the Rule of Thirds, which #1 violates.

[Anonymous]

I voted for photo #1. I love the depth compression the telephoto lense provides. That picture looks just like an area I used to chase trains. Its just south of Fond Du Lac. It used to be the WC main line to Chicago. It has a pretty steep grade, because the trains just crawled up the hill. Just south of where this picture is taken there is a county road that crosses over the tracks. Standing on that bridge was pretty exciting. When the train passes under you, you hear the roar of the SD45's, feel the bridge tremble, and then you get hit with diesel exhaust! Sometimes the simple things in life are the best!

I may live in St. Louis, but my heart belongs to the Wisconsin Central.

[acpardo]

number 2 ...better lighting

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by higssy

I've even convinced my wife to let me buy the Digital Rebel. I'm also going to pick up a zoom lens for it, any suggestions? Also are these shots done using a tripod or "freestyle"?

Picking a zoom lens can be a complicated decision. Mostly, you get what you pay for. If you have all the money in the world, go for all Canon L-series prime lenses. Most people do not have this option though. Right now, I have a Canon EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 III USM. This lens suits me just fine for now and it can be had for about $180. The general rule of thumb is to go with what you can afford, and always try to stay within the brand name. If you are buying a Canon body, go with Canon lenses. Some of the third party stuff is enticing because it is cheap, but like I mentioned earlier, you get what you pay for. For all of my shots that I can, I use a tripod. It helps to make the pictures be as sharp as they can possibly be by eliminating camera shake. This is especially important when using telephoto lenses, since that fraction of an inch of shake turns into feet when shooting things a quarter mile away.

*Also remember that on the dRebel, you have a magnification factor of 1.6x. All of a sudden, a 300mm lens becomes 480mm! This a a very good thing![8D]