Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 26: March 7, 2005

Posted by PRRK4s1361

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 6:54 AM

Likewise, I went with Mike's photo; blurs just doesn't do it for me either. Now Mike, I think, managed to catch a little class with the art sculptures. That added a little bit more to the composition. Yes, Eric; we all know that Amtrak isn't that fast. The only thing fast about them is that they're going down the tubes FAST!!! Being in PA I didn't really appreciate them cutting the Three Rivers back to Pittsburgh; might as well not have it at all (could be next on the chopping block). May your days bring better conditions.

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 7:36 AM

Have to go with Mike's. I have a box full of poor lighting/comp photos too, not a pro you know. And I like to see my subject, so a pan shot is better to me.

P.S. TVRM has a SRR 630 in rebuild just like WP&Y's 2-8-0. Weekend warriors are plugging along on it, and if it were not for a delay in the frame repairs, she might be rolling right now. Throw in RDC rebuilds, a covered wagon and coach restoration, new flues, traction motors on a GP9, you find we are pretty busy.

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 7:46 AM

Eric:[tdn]
Mike:[tup]

That was an Amtrak .....right?

Posted by K4s_PRR

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 7:48 AM

Actually neither photo is one that I'd have taken without seperate metering. Sorry guys but you didn't get it this time.

Posted by railman

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 7:58 AM

I'm voting Mike this week. Art...we might not understand it, but it frames locomotives in a really neat way!

Posted by mandelswamp

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 8:09 AM

I voted for Erik's picture because I felt it caught the impression of a late Amtrak train speeding to make up time lost. Mike's picture was nice and somewhat unusual but I thing that Erik's picture better matches the theme of making the best of a bad situation photographically.

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 11:16 AM

Both shots can be considered gems, though I feel that Erik's shot is better composed. Mike's shots has a lot of potential, though a lot of powerline and other "filters" would be required to clean up the shot -- seems to be too busy and the unnecessary background takes away from the train and also the art work.

Living in Kansas City, I do know how hard it is to try to find a good spot to shoot while having artistic creativity and fighting those darn powerlines and towers! If only I could find a filter for that -- I wouldn't have to spend hours with Photoshop!

Posted by fuzzybroken

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 12:06 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by railman

I'm voting Mike this week. Art...we might not understand it, but it frames locomotives in a really neat way!

[#ditto]

I was down in that area myself on Friday! Didn't get a picture of the public art, but did get a pic of some locomotive art!
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken/Page_1.html
and scroll down to the bottom of the page...

-Mark

-Fuzzy Fuzzy World 3

Posted by wcfan4ever

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 12:18 PM

Erik gets it this week. I like the "at speed shot". I've always wanted a camera that could do that...maybe someday...

Dave Howarth Jr. Livin' On Former CNW Spur From Manitowoc To Appleton In Reedsville, WI

- Formerly From The Home of Wisconsin Central's 5,000,000th Carload

- Manitowoc Cranes, Manitowoc Ice Machines, Burger Boat

Posted by mrunyan

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 1:07 PM

The iron horse framed in the iron jaws of art, wow. Had to give that shot the vote for visuals. The other shot shows the workings of a road better, a bad order left behind, and a train in a hurry to be elsewhere, art of a different order.

Posted by espeefoamer

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 3:04 PM

Mike got my vote this time. I liked the CP train in the jaws of some giant mechanical monster.I have seen much better from both of them,though.

Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 4:05 PM

Mike's photo was certainly a unique and interesting shot, but without question I had to go with Erik's this week! I absolutely love that picture! It's the type of picture that would be good to use in an Amtrak ad. It's just cool!

P.S. Thanks for sharing those photos of the WP&Y 2-8-0 at Mid-West. I enjoyed them a lot. It's always great to see steam locomotives being restored to operation and railroads actively pursuing steam preservation.

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 5:15 PM

I'm not that crazy about CP, but with Mike's photo, at least I know what I'm looking at.

Posted by kicksvette

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 6:34 PM

Had to go with Erik's shot this week. I spend a bit of time around auto racing so I consider speed blurs to be an acceptable means of showing motion although it's usually the background blurred with the subject in focus by panning but the blurs can work either way. Mike's shot just had too much distraction in it. My eye was drawn more to the chamber of commerce scupltures than the train. And the background distracted from the sculptures.

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Mar 8 2005 6:52 PM

I voted for Mike's photo as sometimes you have to do shoot into the sun without a chance to get a UV filer or a sun shade fiter in place, it was a good shot framing it between those uprights as it set the tone of being in a working area or industrial setting. Most companies buying this type of photography from me like this type of shot.