Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 19: November 8, 2004

[larrysbk]

Mike's night shot is very much like the night rail I've been doing since the late '70's.

I think the image is a little overexposed, but the color rendering is very good.

I think the RAW file for digital is the way to go, especially for special applications such as night photography.

Optimizing white balance and exposure is not "cheating" the image as far as I care. Neither is cropping or straightening the horizon. I expect these things to be made the best they can be when an image is presented to me as finished work.

[larrysbk]

Mike's night shot is very much like the night rail I've been doing since the late '70's.

I think the image is a little overexposed, but the color rendering is very good.

I think the RAW file for digital is the way to go, especially for special applications such as night photography.

Optimizing white balance and exposure is not "cheating" the image as far as I care. Neither is cropping or straightening the horizon. I expect these things to be made the best they can be when an image is presented to me as finished work.

[dave5000]

Love the night shot -
Photo manipulation:
Contrast and brightness is ok - so long as its not over done. Attitude correction (rotation) is fine - but it would be nice to see the original next to the finished product. Digital cameras can be unpredictiable sometimes - especially the point and shoot, so a bit of help goes a long way.

I agree with the comments about slide film - but printing is another story - you can change anything! Publishing to the web is a unique situation, this medium can either be a "slide" or a "print" it just depends on what you see as the ideal image in the photograph you made.

btw: thanks for the astronomy link - i used to have a sub. to the mag.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Girl_4005

I went for Mike's shot today. That blue just jumps out at you.

As far as enhancing the photos go.....I think that would be alright as long as the original picture is posted with it's enhanced version.

Since I am alot higher up on the food chain this time around I am going to repeat an idea I had last time. How about a Trackside calendar from you guys at Kalmbach??



Things that might be included could be voting results, the descriptions from the guys about their photos, and maybe even Mike and Bergie could pick their favorite quote from the forum here for each set.

Yes, I realize they both have alot of work to do and this would add to it. This is too late for this year but how about next year???

I love the idea (naturally), but if memory serves me, I think I saw the proofs of the 2006 calendar on a friend's desk a over a month ago. Yes, 2006! Welcome to the wide world of paper. [:D]

Bergie

2006--I believe in the Boy Scout motto "Always be prepared" but 2006!!!![;)]

Bergie, do you guys put out just one calendar??? If so, how about adding another version to the mix. There are so many people online that never make it over here to see the pics you and Mike take, a calendar would be another way to showcase some really really really cool shots.

I'm letting you off easy with a calendar, dare I mention a "coffee table" book(yes I know it is early but if the calendars are already out to 2006, imagine something as involved as a book)?[:0][;)]

[Anonymous]

I preferred Mikes shot overall. Erik's shot has more life and drama but the train itself is little more than a silhouette. Adjusting the photos to give a more pleasant picture with better detail lighting is fine with me. But I also agree with those who suggested a "before & after" format if it is not too big a production problem.

[Anonymous]

I voted for Erik, morning shots are hard to take but some times they have to be taken, in this case I liked the soft ness of the photo.

[brilondon]

I like Erik's photo better this time. The train just looks better running then just sitting there. I don't like photos that are enhanced by a computer. I guess feel that photos are a snap shot of a point of time and the true representation with out enhacing the photo is best.

[Anonymous]

This is the first time I've voted but I know I'll be back to vote some more. After looking at both photos I decided even though both are well poised that Erik's was more to my liking. It takes one back to the romantic age of railroading, of riding the rail out of the long night into the growing light of a new day. I can imagine standing there like Erik watching that train as it raced towards us, passed us and on towards its final destination. Nostalgia is what this photo is all about, it gives the me a chance to create a story for the photo as I remember the railroads of my youth.

[gtwhorn]

I voted for Mike as I too like night shots.

I think that enhancing the photos is fine as long as what is changed or altered is explianed in detail so that we may all learn. And too, post the original photo so we can see the difference.

[Anonymous]

Mike's photo is too "perfect"; makes it look "staged". Erik's, however, has that "photo reality" coupled with artistic creativity in the timing and angle, etc. of the shot, lending to its total overall impression of nature's interplay with man's contrivance! Both are stellar efforts!

[SURVEYOR]

I went with Mike's shot because he attempted to do what most film photographers would pass on. It's hard to make all the corrections necessary for a good shot - sometimes impossilbe. I applaud the attempt. As far as photo enhancement goes, I think a before and after shot would be really cool. It would show what is possible in the digital world. I think this type of approach would encourage railfans to take many more shots in marginal lighting situations. After all, isn't it all about getting that one great shot while documenting the essence of the industry? Take more pictures!!

[PRRK4s1361]

Once again it was a tough choice. I eventually went with Mike's photo. I can remember years ago (in my youth of course) when I used to traverse the old Reading station at 18th St crossing in Camp Hill (West Shore of Harrisburg) and became relatively good friends with the operator, watching the local switch at the old Canco canning plant up on 10th St. One time I managed a decent night exposure of, if memory serves me, a Reading GP30 or 35. Unfortunately, all my slides were destroyed in a fire at my in-laws farmhouse in Huntingdon County back in 1979. I was in the US Army then in Hawaii and had our belongings stored in the attic when a smart-alleck kid was going around the valley and putting bombs in mailboxes and some houses. My in-laws farm was one. It burnt to the ground with all my possessions. They could never catch the kid because people were afraid to talk; he threatened them next.
Anyway back to the subject; as I stated this was a very tough choice. Even Eric's photo reminds me of an area that I pass every morning on my way to work. I drive on Interstate 83 (Harrisburg Beltway) from down around the PA turnpike interchange on the East Shore. As soon as I get on I-83 the expressway goes over the ex-Reading mainline from Hagerstown to Rutherford Yards. When I look every morning to the right (east) the curvature of the tracks and the low rising sun always reminds me of some pictures that I have seen in your magazines before with the sun reflecting off the rails in an early morning scene. Simply beautiful. Oh, as far as adjusting photos I agree with many of the replies; post both the original and the changed one stating what was enhanced.

[DICKK]

I voted for Erik this time. Too much glare in Mikes where as Eriks captured the morning haze and sunrise with the train coming through it.

[kolechovski]

I agree on the getting skunked part. That's always how I find a train...just minutes after I leave or before I arrive. Anyway, this week I voted for Mike's shot. It's just a beutiful night shot. Sorry, Erik, not this week. About the photo enhancing, I think it's a good idea, although I like the competition of the originals. What I'd recommend in this case, as long as the enhancing doesn't get out of hand, like adding things, etc., is having two competitions-one for the best original pictures, and another for the best touched-up pictures. Anyway, nice night shot, Mike! I can never get my night shots to even show up!

edit-about brilondon's post-..."I guess feel that photos are a snap shot of a point of time and the true representation with out enhacing the photo is best."-
actually, I believe it's quite the opposite. No matter how good a camera gets, it still has the many shortcomings compared to our eyes. I believe in many cases where the lighting isn't "optimal", enhancement is a requirement in order to bring back that representation that we saw in the first place...my 2 cents. I also forgot to say, thanks for that link to the northern lights. Had I been awake at that time, we likely would have seen them here as well.

[FrankStratton]

I was impressed by the colors in Mike's photo so he got my vote this time.

As for retouching of the photos, I don't think this is the thing you want to do for this sort of contest for it will change the whole context. It will no longer be a contest of the photographer with his camera and subject but it will become a studio thing and who is the better digital artist back at the office. So I would prefer that you guys keep the artestry out in the field as you have been doing (Please see note below contest pictures). After all this about who is the better picture taker with the Cannon Digital Rebel, isn't it?