Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 45: January 16, 2006

[Anonymous]

Ugh.. another wedgie shot.. yes it was technically much clearer. but its so old seeing 3/4 wedge shots no matter how technically sharp and crisp they are.. I had to go with Eric as it really showed night shooting plus although portions of the shot weren't clear, the engine/tender were very sharp & crisp.

[PennsyHoosier]

Erik's photo was fun, but Mike's has a wonderful "feel" to it. Mike's got my vote.

[Conrail9990]

I, like many others, like Mike's night shot the best, but still voted for his day shot. Primarily because of the setting, the composition, and the unusual subject matter considering the location/RR.

But kudos to, to Eric, a nice "Model" RR shot, especially in a night setting. (lol)

[broarthur]

I voted for the night shot, low shutter speed shots are always tough to get all subjects without blur. It's going to be a great year!

[Texas Zepher]

I didn't vote. I thought the whole premise was that the photos were being taken with the same brand and type of camera therefore removing technicalities leaving only the skill and eye of the photographer. A Digital Rebel with its stock lens is no match for a EOS 20D with a L class lens (only Ls can do f1.2). It is no longer a fair contest.

[ValorStorm]

Bergie's shot of the lillipution train is the better picture and gets my vote. But I too would've voted for Mike's night photo.

Disproportionate number of "newbies" on here this time. Welcome to all of you. And it's your turn to bring the munchies. Initiation, ya' know.

[Anonymous]

I voted for mike even though I thought the photo was a little dull.
I found the blurred people too much of a distraction to rate it first,

[Fred_Parkinson]

I found the blured "motion" on the left side of Eric's, along with the engineer directing his gaze to the left, to be distracting. Mike's was pretty conventional, but it flowed well.

[Anonymous]

The photo quality is the real winner not the scale. This is why I went with Erik this week..

[Anonymous]

Eric's shot had some movement in the photo that I thought detracted from the over all quality of the shot.

[Anonymous]

Today's freight trains certainly have lost their character and strongly resemble plastic models. No more Pratt or Howe truss cars and crummies. But, as far as subject and composition, the UP makes for a nice shot. However, the overhang of the station roof makes the steamer seem three-dimentional, so my vote is based on that.

[jjackso8]

Well after much thought, I voted for Erik's photo. At first I thought the Blurred action of the folks loading was distracting but the more I looked the more I thought LIVE ACTION!! It goes with the LIVE STEAM and Dead Smoke!! I think that the steam release created some of the glare form the station lights but again this just contributed to the ACTION!!
Boy! Mike's night shot was really something, too bad he did not enter it in this week's contest. But there is always another contest week ahead. Well welcome back to both of you. Happy New Year as well.
In response to the one responder that commented about the new camera versus the old camera, so what. If you enter any photo contest there are seldom if ever rules that tstate that everyone must use the same camera.
So Mike and Erik keep up the good work!!!

[Anonymous]

I agree with Loco. Mike, I would have used the night shot irrespective of the grain. It was dramatic, and with any night shot from behind the locomotive light, as you look down the track it opens up the "theatre of the mind" to the concept of "what is down there," kind of a take off of the old Green Hornet's, "Who know's what evil lurks . . . " Is there a broken rail down there? Is there some kind of obstruction? Is there another train ahead that we can't see? On and on and on. Personally, the shot of the the train in the cut was a little "same old-same old." The rainy night shot was unique, in my view.

[rojakaniaa]

Mike I actually liked your night time shot better than the one you chose. There was just to much glare on Eriks' shot.

[wcnut]

Real vs. Scale aside, the shot of the scale train has a lot going on with interesting composition, colors, visual textures, etc. The CP, although I like the harsh perspective the fill adds to the composition, is just a traditional wedge. Its a good wedgie, but I favor the little guy this time.

Greg
"wcnut"