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

[Anonymous]

Have to go with Mike's shot. Although a little over exposed it is crisp. Bergie's shot looks like the Cannon auto-focus was having lock problems and gave it a fuzzy look that I didn't think enhanced it at all.

Re the touching up of your photos: See it as you shoot it ! Where's the excitement of getting a mediocre shot you know you can artificial enhance later?

I guess with the digital age upon us, you can instantly see your result and go for another shot as necessary anyway !!

Thanks for a great column, I look forward to it every week !
Jamiesdad,
AZ

[Anonymous]

Present the photos as they come out of the camera. They are honest photos and stand on their own as photos should.

[Anonymous]

I also liked the night shot!
It is too bad that Erick's shot was the wrong lighting, otherwise it would have been a good shot.
Mike Richardson (new member)
Western Washington Seattle area

[Anonymous]

Well, while I am quite envious of Mike's shot, as I have yet to take a decent night photo, and I like the crispness of the colors in such limited light, I am still a sucker for action shots...especially when they are taken with the sun coming up. Granted, Erik's shot is not the best shot taken, it's the subject and the way it's presented that gets my vote this week.

As far as retouching, I believe that in the digital age, we are able to "get the shot" much better than we could with film by erasing and retaking a shot. So, I would say no to retouching...however, if the majority rules otherwise, I would like to see both untouched and retouched photos side-by-side. Another great column. Thanks guys.

[HEdward]

MIke's pic just jumps out at you. Maybe it's just that it fits my mood right now. It has a bit of Model Railroader lok to it moreso than Trains.

On an unrelated note, I just became a member of the Danbury Railroad Museum. WHOO HOO!!

[jjlamkin]

Sorry Erik, I went for Mike's photo this time. It almost has a "neon" appearance and just jumps out at you, really eye catching. Bergie's almost had that old antique look like the old photos.
Jim

[Anonymous]

Photography as practiced here is an art form. As such, enhancement and modification should be allowed to the fullest extent of the artist's ability. The modified shot of the rear of the train, smoke and all, is closer to what the eye would see if you were there and also more realisitic and enjoyable to view on film. We aren't taking crime scene photos here. Be the best artist you can be. Herbert A. Tidwell, BNSF Conductor, Needles CA

[Anonymous]

I picked Mike's photo this week. It was a tough decision. When I looked at them side-by-side horizontally, I liked the sun shot; when viewed together vertically, I liked the night shot. I love the way the steps are lit in the night shot. Too bad about the car, takes your attention away.
I think enhancements such as filtering brightness, contrast, etc are okay. After all this is the art of photography and we want great pictures.

[Anonymous]

I voted Mike. Great shot!! The "Blue" lights against the red paint of the loco is awesome!!

[trainloco647]

Mike's shot gets my vote, even if it's quite overexposed. But it has lots of "positives" going for it.

Erik's pic is nice, in particular the shooting angle, the lighting, etc., but it's too much out of focus for my taste. This defocusing was, I'm sure, accidental (the auto-focus probably playing games of the "undecided" kind, as usual...) and not on purpose, for artistic enhancement. The pic is also a bit overexposed.

Re. the post-editing issue, I believe it's a matter of phylosophy you have to define for the featured column, with our help. Do you want just to publish "outstanding" pictures either shown as taken or after minor/substantial video editing? Or do you prefer to show us what came out of your efforts without much editing?

So, I'm presenting below my personal ideas about this, which include ways to satisfy both lines of thought....

A -- With just a mention of what was done, but no "before" and "after" pictures:

- OK to center, crop, adjust brightness and/or contrast and, if need be a MINOR OVERALL color adjustment.

B. With a detailed mention of what was done, AND both "before" and "after" pictures presented:

- OK for all kinds of picture's manipulation.

Nevertheless, please note that the B-type pictures should be kept to a MINIMUM.

Hope you like my 2-cent addition!

Carl

[walthuston]

I had to go with Bergies shot. I found Mike's to be too purple. Maybe 25 seconds would have been better...who knows.

As for photoshopping the pics...go for it. I'm all for presenting the best possible shot and if that means manipulating the photo...so be it.

Walt

[Anonymous]

I really wanted to vote for both this time - too bad they block that! I truly couldn't decide which was better, except the day shot looks a litle fuzzy - but that could just be atmosphere getting in the way.

For the purpose of this forum/contest, I prefer treating the shots like slides and using the RAW image. The comments about printing are valid - if a final print was the item to be judged, the same manipulations that can be done in the darkroom should be applied. And those manipulations can be done in B&W or color - color is just a little trickier.

[Anonymous]

I liked Erik's shot with the sun coming up. Great color effect. This would make my calendar choice. I think "photos as shot" should be the ones we vote on.
But, it is useful to see/hear about tips on improving pictures.

[Anonymous]

It seems like the last few photo shots have been harder to decide on the "best". The more you study the pictures the more details you see. This week I went with my first quick impression and voted for Mike's shot. The night shot was more dramatic and while the morning shot was good the sun was to bright and the train was just a shadow.

After seeing the example of what touching up a photo can do I see no problem, as long as you confine it to contrast and brightness. Bringing out the details is not adding or changing what was there. I too would like to see the before and after when the picture is enhanced.

[hijack]

About correction. I've been a photographer for over 40 years. I have gone "digital"
Most photographers know exactly how they want their photo to look. I know what I want to capture. All the depot photos on my web site have been corrected, cleaned up and in general made more pleasing for the user. I do not add.

Same with my other work. I want my photos to represent what I was trying to show. So, I will work with it to correct lighting or contrast problems.

Yes, there should be limits.

Jack Forbes

www.missouridepots.com