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

[Bergie]

In our online feature, Trackside with Erik and Mike, Trains.com staff members Erik Bergstrom and Mike Yuhas go trackside and share their photo results with you. In each installment, we’ll include let our users vote on who got the best shot. Read this week’s installment.

Please vote and then share your comments.

[Anonymous]

I prefered Mike's photo simply, because it had more of the things that I look for, in train photos...The artistic qualities of Eric's shot, definately would make it a good calendar or Art Gallery subject, but is not what I personally would be looking for, in taking railfan train pictures. Another Good Installment Guys !!!

[Willy2]

I had a hard time choosing, but I think I'll go with Mike's photo. I thought that Eric's was a little too dark, and I like seeing all of the scenery in Mike's photo.

[zardoz]

A very difficult choice.

Mike has created an image that does indeed show railroading in a more "classic" or "traditional" setting (jointed rail, coaling tower) that almost could be a photo from anytime in the last twenty-five years (if one ignores the ditch lights and UP in Wisconsin).

Eric's shot I like because I can appreciate the difficulty in getting such a shot. And as much as I like the 'traditional' aspects of Mike's photo, I am more "emotionally" drawn to Erik's. Plus ya gotta love the profile of the SD40-2's front porch!

49/100 for Mike; 51/100 for Erik.

[Anonymous]

UNION PACIFIC - bring it on.

[Anonymous]

Hey Eric,
I think you had the right idea but your angle of attack could be better or your choice of subject could,ve been different. For example, if there was someway to shoot from the same location but from a higher elevation so the engine, sun, and signals could be centered in the shot might have been nice. Even waiting for the engine to be centered in the frame and have it backlit might have done it. Or waiting for perhaps an empty flat car framed with tank or hopper cars with the sun in the middle of the flatcar would have given you that artsy photo you desire. Be patient my friend, good things come to those who wait.

[wcfan4ever]

I love Mikes. I try so hard to get photos like that. I love the photo because of the coaling tower in the distance. Plus just for being able to see a train on the line just makes the photo a winner.

I have traveled along those tracks every summer for the past 6 years and I have only seen one train. I have waited at many crossings and nothing. Great Shot Mike! A+!

[MP57313]

I voted for Mike's photo for the reasons listed above...jointed rail, etc.

I agree with Leeson55; I would have liked Erik's photo better with just the signals...

[Anonymous]

Tough vote but I went with Eric's photo. Mike's photo is good also but I think the train is too far away. Eric's photo just pops out more and is more pleasing to my eyes.

[jimmac230]

Man both you guys just keep coming with the photos. Mike's is great because I too photograph Union Pacific trains and Erik's photo with the sun shot to me is poster quality again and for this reason I voted for Erik's with Mike's an so extremely close second. Still the photos are absolutely great and keep up the excellent work.

[Anonymous]

Hey guys, long time, no post! Sorry for the lack of my allegience lately, as I have been very busy myself [;)]. I even got shots of the Kerry-Edwards Special train, http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=2955 click on that to see all of my latest, high quality work. Hey Erik, do you think TRAINS Mag would like some photos of the K-E Special? [:D] Anyway, I have always liked the creative artistic side of rail photography, and Erik, I must say, you have an outstanding photo! It is a self described incredable shot, great work! So, I Have to go with Erik's photo. [8D]

[kolechovski]

boshar1: You wanted to know how to put up a picture. Although I don't know how to post one right here, I just used a site to post a screenshot 2 days ago and I like it. It's pretty simple to use and is quick to register. Go to imagedump.com, post your picture there by uploading it to their server, then when you look at it, just copy the URL and paste it here. I'd like to see it.

[Anonymous]

Wow . . . Toughest vote yet. I like both for different reasons. [tup][tup] I'd be glad to have taken either photo.

I like several things in Mike's photo. The oncoming engine seeming to dominate the picture, but without being overbearing. The foliage filling the background and the tracks ending in the front right foreground really frame the shot nicely and add to the "power" effect (for me). The retreating train, the signal, milepost, and the coaling tower are bonus aesthetics. Overall, this photo seems to capture many different aspects of railroading. [8]

Erik's photo is much better than his last one. Like others here, I do like his other photos (with no train in them) as much as the actual competition photo. In the "money shot" I like the "crisp"-ness of the focus (especially that the power lines don't blur into the background on the right), I also like the slight shine on the rail, the "hint" of sunlight shining thru the cab window and over the wheels, as well as the contrast. All combine to make this an outstanding photo. While I don't usually like a photo with so much empty space, the sharp details on the signals and the engine on the left more than make up for the wide expanse of emptiness on the right. A great "Farm Country in the (very) Early Morning" photo.

I'm not sure why there are 2 halos in Erik's picture (the reddish halo over the right signal and rainbow halo just below that one). I don't care for the red one. Mike's picture seems a little hazy; I like deeper blues (sky) and greens (foliage) but there's not much that can be done about haze . . . or halos . . . without editing. I nearly voted for Mike's picture, but at the last minute changed my mind and went with Erik's (after closer examination of it). It came down to, "Which one would I be most likely to frame and hang on the wall?"

PS - [2c] I think you guys should start saving photos like these . . . start producing calendars, maybe even publish a book of train photos. [:)]

[Anonymous]

Sorry Erik - you'd have got it for the shots without the train but I found that a distraction in the final image. Good shots both of you though

[Anonymous]

Mike's picture is a great catch but like a lot of shots the light just doesn't work for me too much backlighting. Eric's picture shows a lot more optimization of the situation and planning.
Paul