Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 22: January 3, 2005

[Anonymous]

MIKE'S SHOT IS MORE TRADITIONAL, WITHOUT THE EFFECTS OF ILLUMINATION. ALTHOUGH ERIK'S SHOT IS A VALID DEPICTION OF TRAIN ACTIVITY, IT'S MIKE'S THAT SHOWS THE "GENRE" OF RAILROADING, ESPECIALLY THE ASPECT OF TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.

[jjlamkin]

Sorry Mike, I liked both photos, but I voted for Erik's this time. The night shot just looked cool! (cold really), but the battered look of the old Santa Fe loco with the snow plastered on the front gets your attention. The look of an old war horse, warbonnet and all is hard to ignore. Have a Safe New Year!
Jim

[Anonymous]

I voted for Erik's photo. As I said when I voted for that last night photo of a Wisconsin Central unit, I really love photos of trains at night and this one is really great in how the lights illuminate things. It gives the whole picture a sort of eerie or mysterious feeling about it, which really grabs your attention.

[dougfeinstein]

I have to give the nod to Erik. The soft fading light of dusk, the snow – really lovely.
Mike's meet was quite fine, too. I especially enjoyed seeing those two DASH-9 units
moving away from the camera, which highlighted the radiator "wings" on the GEs.

[Anonymous]

Again, both were excellent shots, but like it was stated up above, I just couldn't vote for the same (albeit great) picture twice so my vote had to go to Mike this time around. But I have to admit that due to the holidays and cold I haven't been out photographing lately either, so I see where you are coming from Erik and the reasoning for your choice this week.[:)]

[Anonymous]

dpunch
I'm fortunate to live next to the Don Valley lines at the south end close to the Don Yard
and Union Station (Toronto CN,CP)so have lots of chances for multiple train shots. Only have a few so far. Had to go with Mike's shot and the going away aspect.

[jimmac230]

Here we go again.....OKAY where's the tie box at??? You guys didn't take no slack time, just more sneaky. Love the Santa Fe locomotive at night because of family heritage working for ATSF. Love the Union Pacific locomotives because I worked with them through Operation Lifesaver. Erik got the vote by a tweak. Hang in there Mike, you're doing fine.

[Anonymous]

Another very difficult week, partly becuase the shots are so different. I did vote for Erik's shot. I have to agree with most of the good comments sfor both so far, though. Erik really needed some off-camera fill-in fla***o the right of his camera position to bring out more of the subject. Think of all of the fine night shots with flash done during the steam era. The atmosphere of the shot IS good. Less contrast between the lights and the engine body would have made it even better - and only fill lighting could provide that.

[wcfan4ever]

I love those night shots in the snow. Speaking of snow, where is it? This is Wisconsin and we have none!!! Pictures just dont look right in January without snow.

[Anonymous]

GROOVEY SNOW SHOT,WAS THE TRAIN STOPPED FOR THE LONGER EXSPOSURE?

[Anonymous]

Well, as much as I liked the night shot the first time around, I'm not going to vote for it again. Don't get me wrong, I liked the night shot alot...but not twice. So with that, I voted for Mike and his meet with the MP coal car. I can only imagine how hard it is to get a meet like that but on a busy main like Rochelle...maybe not...

[fish1467]

Although I think Erik's photo was an excellent night photo, Erik's photo was an excellent shot of railroading in action. Its difficult to choose when there are two great shots with basically different subjects, but I decided on Erik this time.

[DICKK]

I voted for Eric this time. The loco had that look like mother nature gave it her worst and it came through after kicking mother nature's butt.

[Anonymous]

It must be my computer but Irik's shot was so dark I could hardly make outt what I was looking at. I did enjoy Mike's shot as it was much clearer.

[ltritt]

The special effects and close proximity of Erik's shot made me vote for it. There's just enough light to see some details of the engine. It's very well done. But, Mike's shot is very good too, with two trains, one 'going away', and, he's right, the old hopper is a nice change.