Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 13: August 9, 2004

[brilondon]

I like Mike's picture as it has all the reasons I got into railroading in the first place. I have never thought much for pictures that don't really show any thing as I am not a artsy type of person. When I look at photographs I like to see something. I like the picture Erik took but it just doesn't show me much and could be any where. Mike's picture is rare now adays with the jointed rail and a Class one using standard cab on the point. Mike's picture captures just so much more in that one photograph, I chose it.

[Anonymous]

Mike's was excellent, but I had to go with Erik's. Last week I voted for his other photo that captured the front of a diesel as the sun was setting, but I think that this week's looks even better than that one. The sun setting and the silhouettes just capture such a mood and feeling.

[mandelswamp]

I didn't like Erik's photo at all this week and I thought his shot last week was better. I though Mike's photo captured the railroad action beautifully so he got my vote.

[Anonymous]

I have to go with Mike on this one. I like Erik's concept, but I think the shot outside of the middle of the frame is a bit too dark. You can see the handrails and the front of the frame, but the rest of the locomotive gets "lost" to the left, and the same happens with the sky to the right. (Perhaps my screen settings contribute to this; if so, cancel my opinion. :) Mike's shot just oozes good ole' American railroading in the summertime. It has so many classic features, from the jointed rail to the coaling tower, milepost. Etc. Close call on this vote ... if the silhouette of the locomotive were a tad more visible on Erik's shot, I could have gone the other way.

[Noah Hofrichter]

I like Eric's mainly because it looks great, and that Mike's shot is so much from the front. I prefer whole engine shots most of the time, not necessarily comming at you shots, allthough when they're taken from over head, like on a bridge they can look really good. my 2 cents.

Noah

[Anonymous]

What must be included in the picture ? Eric's picture was a little too dark for my taste. However, if a train doesn't have to be in the picture,his sunrise behind the signals shot @f9 looked great. Mike's picture is great railroad photography but I personally would have cropped it a little tighter.

[Anonymous]

This time I'll have to go with Mike's photo. I like how Mike got that old coal tower in the background, the milepost on the side, and the train coming right towards you. But I think it would have been better if the signal was closer. But Eric's photo was good too. If it was a little lighter I probably would have voted for it. (This time I cant even tell what type of locomotive it is, last time I could tell it was a BNSF.) By the way, I almost forgot...I do think it is a good idea how you speak a little about what happened before you took the photo and where you got the photo, etc.

[Anonymous]

I am drawn to any Sunset/Sunrise photo. I have taken a ton of them. Many are railroad shots.

[Anonymous]

Bergie,

I know you like the dramatic silhoulette in the sun shot, but all I can see on my monitor with enough detail is the sun... Not good when voting on a railroad picture.

Mike, you get my vote again, buddy :)

[UPTRAIN]

I voted for Mike, I guess because it's UP and I like the distance, Erik's was neat for the scenic approach to the photo.

[railman]

yeah, I'm a sucker for jointed rail, and although I liked the artistic touch of the signals, this time around it'll be the regular shot.

On a side note, I'll also lean towards the blind voting...this politicing takes away in my opinion from deciding based solely on our takes of the pictures. Not that the stories weren't good.

[Anonymous]

Sorry Eric , but I just don't like that dark of a photo. Plus I like the way that Mike's photo showed the power of a railroad at work. Robertdale

[walthuston]

If there were a choice of "tie" I'd go for that. Both photos are excellent. They are so different that it's hard to decide which is best. I gave Eric my vote because he worked hard to improve on his prior effort and this time he nailed it. I have to give Mike an A for effort too. That is a photo that tells a story. Great work on both of your parts.

Walt

[Anonymous]

I find Erik's photo striking with respect to the lighting and the view of the locomotive. I would mount and frame this photo for the office. Sorry Mike, your photo just doesn't have the SNAP this week, too far away, too much of a head shot of the front of the locomotive. The jointed rail is unique and does give the photo character. Maybe the same site with different lighting?

[gannbb1]

Eric I gotta go for you this week. Your pix shows my favorite theme ( the railroad in its elements). Being a fan of sun set/rise I was hooked before I even looked carefully at the pix. But the signal and the loco about to "hit" it and the 24/7 rail operation implied by the rising sun gives your pix the better railfan story. You got my vote.

Mike, you have a good picture, I particuarly like the effect on the lights, but you need to get over the love affare with telephoto. If jointed rail is your theme then get a pix of jointed rail with a train in it.

You each have a railfan pix that any photog could be proud of. I'm not sure I like knowing the photog and story in advance of judging. Let your pix stand or fall on their own. Later give us "your at the time" insight. I do enjoy the after the voting feedback.

Gannbb