Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 23: January 17, 2005

[PRRK4s1361]

From the looks of the ratings so far it appears that Eric will leave Mike in the dust on this one. I agree with Noah whole-heartedly (?). I see so many NS units here around Harrisburg PA that the BNSF unit is a nice change; not that numerous BNSF and UP units show up around here off the CP (old PRR Buffalo line) from Scranton & Wilkes-Barre. The snow kicking up also makes the pix. I always enjoy a good blizzard created by the movement (I feel sorry for you Eric getting clobbered but hey!! Like you said 'Anything for the column').

[mandelswamp]

Erik's shot was a very pretty, artsy shot but as I have commented before, I prefer shots that demonstrate the working railroad and that means a picture of the locomotive and its consist. So my vote this week goes to Mike. Mike, toward the rear of the picture it appears that there is a blue boxcar. Any idea of its markings? Any possibility of a close-up photo of it?

[LVJJJ]

I've only voted twice both for Erik, and it's not that I don't like Mike, it's just that Erik has been at the right place at the right time, and he's shooting Santa Fe related subjects. Erik's is a strikingly different photo so it gets my vote. This one should end up in a "Trains" calendar next year.

[walthuston]

I picked Erik's photo for the dramatic effect.

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by guswfla

Mike's shot is superior to Erik's; the only thing I wonder about his shot is if the perspective is correct (tilted train). Erik's shot suffers greatly from the lack of dynamic range; the dark areas are greatly under-esposed. Futher, Erik's shot looks like it was way over-sharpened.

If you're implying that I sharpened the photo in PhotoShop, I didn't. The only editing I did was to crop it a little.

The dark areas (namely the locomotive's pilot) are dark because of the angle of the sun... it was at 10 o'clock on my left... not a very good place to catch the front of the cab, but a good place to highlight the snow in the trees. Had I used PhotoShop, I may have been able to lighten up the pilot of the locomotive. Maybe I'll show this same picture again in the recap story next Monday and lighten the pilot in Photoshop.

Erik

[BruceGKoprucki]

Erik's shot wins in my book. I like the head's on shot with signals bracketing the red unit and great snow contrast! It says COLD!!! With due respect to Mike's shot; there's enough black, white, and grey in Wisconsin (and here in MN) already without some CP, UP, WS, or BNSF color. to offer some "snap".
My location? Southwest Mpls/StPaul metro.

[Anonymous]

Eriks lacks locomotive detail that Mike got, which is what i look for, had to go with Mike...

[Anonymous]

It's interesting to read everyone else's comments. I thought this was a no contest comparison and the voting seems to bear that out. Erik's photo has terrific composition, a dramatic subject, the right angle, the mix of exhaust heat in swirling snow. It not only succeeds artisticly, but it also says "railroading" - flanking signals, the bend in the track, an obviously moving train in less than perfect conditions. I agree that it woluld be a better calendar shot than Mike's.

My one caveat is that I thought these two were supposed to be giving us pictures from each week's shooting, without some prior agreement. I'd rather not see them comb through their entire collection looking for THE best shots, but be limited to the best shot of the week.

Still, they keep on improving their photography and bring us some useful commentary and terrific pictures all-around.

[fwheadon]

Snow is a great feature, thus Eric has the better shot this time. How about trying to photograph when it is in the minus 30s Celcius with some wind that makes exposed flesh feel temperatures of minus 40 Celcius (that is forty below on the Farenheit scale as well) or colder. This will happen on a few days in winter north of the 49th parallel. On a day, light effects are just great especially for running gear details.

[Anonymous]

Both were very excelent and it was a tough decision, but I went with Mike's photo.

[Anonymous]

What a Great Winter Shot! Wish I was There!

[Anonymous]

they both are nice, but Eric's is more "dramatic", the train coming right at you with trail of snow behind it.

[Sterling1]

Mark one for mike Yuhas. Now this has to stop, Erik can't win all the time. Although I liked the blowing snow behind the BNSF train and the gate effect of the two single aspect signals facing each direction. But I chose the single NS unit because I liked the appearance of the single loco on a CN train; those trains are relatively rare. The NS unit had a bit of snow and the horse was faded out by the snow (or is it ice?) A Dash-8 with a Standard Cab is rare in my book especially with a NS unit.

[Anonymous]

Just out of curiousity, how do you both get so close to the trains to take pictures without ever being stopped by someone for not following the rules in the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001... or have you[?] Being a railfan is starting to be a scary hobby. [%-)][sigh]

[081440]

When are you guys going to go out and take pics of the same train again????!!!!!!!!!!