Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 5: April 5, 2004

[Anonymous]

I chose #2 not only because #1 was underexposed but because of composition. Most of #1 is dead space, either plain blue sky or a barren field. I know you guys have agreed not to edit the shots at all, but if you were to crop the top and the bottom of the shot, it would be a much closer vote. Both are good shots, but with a little lightening and cropping, #1 could be equal to #2.

[Anonymous]

I picked no.2, the other one seemed dark.

[Anonymous]

This was a tough one as each photo had it's merits. While I liked the second photo's head on approach and the capture of the ditch lights, the first one seemed to grow out of the landscape as you looked out of it which i think is what he was trying to capture. While the light of photo 1 was not as good, it still had a nice effect against the blue sky.

[JoeUmp]

Gotta go with number two. Seems to me that it has more impact of the subject and better contrast to the background. The locomotive just stands out better than the side on shot on number one.

Frank: Have been to Toluca many times. My Dad grew up there and my uncle still lives in Streator.

For richiej: that particular location is almost flat with no appreciable grade.

[M636C]

Erik, Mike,

The high colour saturation in number 1 is often seen when automatic exposure is used in a shot at fairly wide angle, although since Mike indicates that he has and uses a polarising filter, it would be nice to know whether it was used in this case.

It would be good to see a manual exposure shot and an auto exposure shot from a variety of conditions to show how well automatic systems work in different conditions!

In long lens shots, like number 2, the automatic exposure systems tend to operate more consistently (or more accurately). Again it would be nice for this data to be included.

Peter

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pathfinder1946

U sure u guys can't get some trestle shots?

Hi pathfinder,

Thus far, we've only been in southeastern Wisconsin and north central Illinois... not exactly trestle country. [:D] We'll see what we can do in the future.

Thanks for reading and voting!

Erik

[ltritt]

Closer is better!! But, both are nice, clear, colorful shots. And thanx for visiting northern Illinois.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Just started reading your series. Great!

Last month I purchased the Digital Rebel for a trip to UK and Ireland in a few months, but I will be trying it out in Oklahoma's "Big Canyon" Apr 24, along the BNSF mainline and Washita River. I like the camera a lot for its fast response from hitting the trigger and taking the shot-- much better than FujiFinePix (6900?). It also takes the same lenses as my old EOS 650.

Oh, I ended up picking photo 2. It was brighter than photo 1. Had 1 been a little easier to see the choice would have been more difficult. As someone else posted 2 shows the "power" better, but you get a better overview of the train and motive units with 1.

-- Glenn

[Anonymous]

Gotta go with #2, #1 is a great shot, but too dark. I like to see the details.

[Artistik]

Fellas-
I enjoy what you guys are doing here.... this friendly competition & train hunting missions.
It's always a good challenge to capture any higballin' train shot.
Both shots are very good but I am gunna to have to go with train shot #2 -
The detail & orange colors are rich & vibrant....plus it fills the frame.
There is to much negative space in shot #1 & the exposure levels are on the dark side.
That's ok though- In the age of Digital image manipulation you can boost the levels up to brighter properties in PhotoShop.

keep up good work!


Arturo Juarez
Image Poet/ Master Digital Retoucher
Cramer-Krasselt,
C-K.com

[Anonymous]

I voted for photo #1 even though it is under-exposed, the composition makes it a more interesting shot, particularly with the patchwork of various colors. The power types are more distinguishable and the length of the train is emphasized.

That's my take on it anyway.

Rich Witt
Arlington Heights, Il

[Anonymous]

I voted for #2. It's closer and clearer and you really can feel the power of the train. Not that #1 isn't good also, though.

[oltmannd]

Photo 2 has the rear end of the train cut off (a pet peeve of mine!), so I voted for Photo 1. Photo 1 might have looked better if the camera was either tilted up or down a bit more to get the subject at a 1/3 point. More sky would have given more of the impression that the train was moving though vast farm land. . Both are nice shots, in general. Just my opinion - your mileage may vary.

[Anonymous]

Both potos seem to have been presented "as taken." When I take a digital photo, I put the original file in a folder for "raw" shots, then put a copy in a different folder to play with. Cropping, changing color temp, saturation, contrast, and even sharpness are trivial with even a low-cost graphics program now. About a hundred bucks and you no longer have to be an expert camera operator, but it still helps! I voted for 2 as they are shown, but it would be interesting to have the originals...

[Anonymous]

I voted #1, but it took me a long time to figure out which one. #2 seemed a bit overexposed.