Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 40: October 10, 2005

[fievel]

Eric did a terrific job of capturing a view which can be seen beside many a highway
and country road in the Corn Belt. It brings back many pleasant memories of
train watching for me.[:)]

[Anonymous]

I went with Mike's approach shot. I have always prefers to seeing some cars in a photo it it can be done without taking a way from the engine. I also like that you can see the engineer in the shot..... Eriks shot for me is not a bad pic, it's just that I don't care for the departing look. Overall The corn shot doesn't show the depth that is visible in Mike's shot.

[mandelswamp]

Erik, your shot was nice and it seems like it was taken with you squating down in order to shoot up at the engines. However, I have never been a big fan of roster shots. I prefer a picture that shows at least part of the train's consist. Mike's shot provided that. I particularly like the slinky look of the string of covered hoppers behind the locomotives. So Mike got my vote this time.

[Anonymous]

Have to go with mike this time , to me there doesn't seem to be a completion of Eriks shot, you know what I mean, like he shot to soon for the picture he really wanted. Thanks for the fun of picking and voting,upbob771

[williamfriggle]

I went with Eric's. Just because it is not the normal head on type photo.

Bill

[kicksvette]

Had to go with Mike this week. The freight curving out of the woods is a bit more interesting than the locos riding on the cornstalks.

[mrunyan]

From the thumnails Erik's was best as color and composition, the brooding sky and wind whipping the trees, a storm was a brewing. Mike's was just another boring roster. But expand them and really look at the photos, Erik's had not one thing in focus, a cut off engine and we had to trust him that it was intermodal. Mike's was sharp as a razor, stunning detail and textures. It really was the best photo.

[LVJJJ]

usually one of the photos grabs me right away, this time had to study both, went with eric cause I like wide open spaces and much prefer bnsf to the foreign road. both shots are good tho. Larry in Las Vegas.

[Anonymous]

First, let's go back to blind voting. I don't want to know who the photographer is until after voting is closed. Don't know if it is just my eyes or not but both shots don't seem to be as bright as I would like. Erik's photo is unusual being taken from a lower angle
but Mike get my vote this time. Again, PLEASE go back to BLIND voting.

[Anonymous]

I like Erik's. It just looks sweet!!

[Anonymous]

I thought both pix were classic and classy but I liked Mike's a little more. Using the "rule-of-thirds" principle of photo composition (impose a tic-tac-toe grid on the picture and you should find the most interesting information not dead center on the picture, but at the intersection of two of the lines), the CP loco's headlights fit the grid. Very handsome and harmonious. Erik's, not quite so much, but the NS stallion logo underneath the cab came close.

By the way, I want to belatedly thank both of you for a competition earlier on that didn't use rolling stock to define the idea of "railroad." Liked it a lot!

Allen Smalling

[AC6000CW]

Erik and Mike do you have any pictures of any dash 8-32bwh,dash 9,ac4400cw,and dash 8-40bw?

[chrisfBN]

Went for Mike's shot simply because of time spent in Banff Alberta 15 years ago which those CP Rail units brought back memories off. Both shots are great, if for no other reason than the fact that living in Australia I can't go out and get them!

[Anonymous]

Had to go with Mike's...I love Canadian railways. Probably because I never see any of their equipment...other than CN box cars, those things are all over the place.

[wccobb]

Looks like Erik's granmaw was a tad late with her box brownie.