Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 21: December 6, 2004

[virogue]

Great visual effects on both pictures... How to choose? Well, the well lit nose, the frost on cab sides and snow on nose of unit, the ray of light, the distant clouds, and best of all the feeling of "being there" with the photographer: Erik gets my vote today! Thanks for another great contest, Mike your rain effects are cool ;-) Vianney Roge, France [:D]

[fish1467]

I could feel Mike's photo, getting dark, rain falling, train getting ready to pass by.

[Anonymous]

Got to go with Eric's shot, the lighting's great and the hint of light in the sky behind the trees makes it a winner. Where did you get the cable relese for the Rebel. I have the 35mm Rebel and I really should get a cabel relese.

-Justin Franz

[jgilber0]

Both superb, but Erik gets the edge on this one - better color saturation makes it for me.

[taylorjj123]

Awesome photo's both of you. I had to go with Erik's though. I love the way the light from the approaching locomotive lit up the one in the siding. It gives it an almost "heavenly" appearance!

[CSXrules4eva]

OH my this was a tough decision, all in all I like them both. But, I voted for Mike's photo of the UP CW44AC w/ the ex Southern Pacific loco. I love coal drags!!! NICE :)

[Anonymous]

I voted for Mike's as he stood in the rain, where as Erik in the snow would not get soaked.

[Anonymous]

As everyone else has said - tough choice! I'm tempted to vote twice, one for each. I love the rain in the headlights. That is worth getting wet for!

Edwin - [e-mail]

[tommann]

Both great pictures but I had to go with Erik's. The light from the passing train lit up the warbonnet perfectly. I've done a lot of time exposures with film, but have never had a digital camera that will do them. Very nice both of you!

Tom Mann

[alleyoop]

It was a difficult decision, both photographs being of exceptional quality. This is my first time voting, I am living in Tennessee and I'm dying of homesickness for Colorado. Mike's photo brought back such sweet but sorrowful memories of train watching in Colorado in the snow. I drive a 4WD Subaru and used to go train watching regardless of the weather. Both photos are excellant, but the snow in Mike's bro't back such bitter-sweet memories. 'Scuse me whilst I wipe away the tears.
Richard L. Opp
Murfreesboro (TrainDead), Tennessee

[Anonymous]

There was more train in Mike's photo along with the unusual SP and UP combination which is not so common these days.
Hal

[jimmac230]

Okay, you two are making it tough for us. Keep this up and there will have to be a third catagory of tie. Erik squeaked by and got the vote cause of the perspective shot made. But Mike would get my vote also as his shot is nothing to sneeze at, since he probably caught a cold getting the shot. I'm impressed with both.....

[Anonymous]

Both are great photos! This was a tough decision for me, and just because I voted for one doesn't mean I didn't like the other! I enjoy taking night photos using existing light with my digital camera which is a point and shoot model. There are some incredible effects you can get in low light photography.

I voted for Mike's photo because of the way the rain showed up in the headlights/ditchlights, and how the "wings" on the nose still really stand out and are not in a "shadow" created from the glare of the lights.

I liked Erik's photo quite a bit, and liked his idea with the light from the other train. However, the crew of the other train didn't help him by turning their lights off (even though as an engineer I understand completely and would have done the same thing). Unfortunately that made the light streak effect less noticeable and dramatic.

[Anonymous]

I WANTED TO VOTE FOR A DEAD HEAT, BUT NO SUCH OPTION WAS OFFERED!
BOTH PHOTOS ARE EXCELLENT AND ARE REFLECTIVE OF BOTH THE ART AND THE SUBJECTS!

[tree68]

I liked the effect of the rain - Mike got my vote this time.