Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 46: January 30, 2006

[Anonymous]

Wow, Erik, your shot has unwittingly brought back a flood of happy memories of riding on the Pennsy local from Chicago to Logansport, IN, during some heavy midwestern winters, peering thru the double glass, trying to find the galloping wires hanging twixt the 'phone poles. It is no trouble at all to conjure up the vision of a string of Tuscan clerestory heavyweights behind that fat covered hopper..... You got a good shot, Mike, but Erik's has melted me.

[mrunyan]

Erik had more color depth, less sun fade, darker shadows. The green signal was a good addition, something coming the other way?

[techguy57]

I have to go with Mike's shot based on the following:

Locomotive is prominently featured in the shot and is nicely centered

Erik's shot has a couple of distracting features such as the partial telephone pole on the upper left and the large tv or electrical tower visible above the signal on the right.

While I like he snow in Bergie's shot, to me it makes the shot feel unbalanced. I don't know how better to describe it, it just feels like the left side of the photo is "heavier" and that there is more going on. Mike's feels more balanced.


Still I like both shots. I just like Mike's better.

techguy

[Anonymous]

Had to go with Erik this week. Loved the reverse curve and block signal in the backdrop. One does have to be hardy to shoot train pics in Wisconsin. Sometimes, I just watch and don't bother suffering to leave my car for a great picture. I do roll the windows down to capture the soound, though. I transplanted from Ohio and wanted to depart after my first winter in Wisconsin but married a Wisconsin girl and never got out!

[Anonymous]

I'm not voting this week, as both photos are good, and not much to choose between them. BUT - if Eric had entered the first photo of the article,showing the SOO unit leading, it would have won my vote hands down. This picture has atmosphere, drama, and for me it's what railroading in winter is all about. If you blew this picture up to poster size I would buy it and hang it on my wall. Also, Eric, forget the Mike Yuhas school of landscape neutralisation - this is a natural picture , as it should be.

[wc909193]

I like Erik's shot this week. Mostly because it has a great left to right fade in color. Nice big red CN nose on the left fading to almost totally white on the right with that great green dot from the signal for contrast. Love the way the lower right edge is white on white. Now if you could just get rid of that power tower...

[Anonymous]

I voted for Erik they were both great pic's but I am a retired CN and still love the CN

[fish1467]

Blowing snow, double track, CN red - excellent photograph.

[lhtalbot]

It's a wash! Both photos have pros & cons but nothing significant to swing the vote.
Sorry guys, I have to abstain on this one!

Larry
Wauwatosa

[Chris Owens]

Nice Shot ! :-)

[Anonymous]

I just want to say "ditto" to gemotor's comments. Bad weather doesn't necessarily make a bad shot.

I did vote for Eric because of the better dynamics and lighting in the shot.

[brilondon]

I voted for mikes only because it seemed to reflect winter more with the blue sky ovehead and the frigid looking background. the truth be known I had a very difficult time choosing between the two as they are both excellent photos and I enjoyed them very much. Very difficult to choose though.

[Anonymous]

Folks;
As a member of the Thousand Island Model RaiRoads Club, I am into any thing Northern (like CN), But the main reason I like Erik's work is; He captures the real heart and soul of the subject (as he did here). Lauds!
BarnicleBill

[espeefoamer]

Another toughie! After lookimg closely at both photos,I voted for Mike's picture.It shows more of the side of the locos,and the background gave more open feel to the shot.As I looked at it,I felt it was easier on the eyes.I never thought I would be voting for a picture of UP SD40-2s but they are not so common anymore,and they added to the appeal of the photograph[:)].
bigoak,[#welcome]to the forum.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Wow!! Talk about a tough desicion. Both photos are so evenly matched. I eventually went with Erik's photo through. I liked the way the red train "popped" against the white snow, I like the mystery of not knowing what the rest of the train is like, and I liked the green signal further down the track. I also liked the exhaust flowing out of the stacks of the locomotives, it makes for a neat blurring effect I've always liked. I did like Mikes in the way the snow was stuck to the under brush around the track, and I liked the barn too, but I would have liked the barn even better had the handrail not been splitting it in half.

Sorry Mike, maybe next time.

Noah