Arron,you got my vote with that excellent steam shot.You should run that IC photo in a future contest,but not against a steam picture.I think running a rail grinder shot against a steam photo was the equivilant(sp?) of a bug splatting against a windshield.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Noah Hofrichter wrote: While both shots were good and it was a tough choice this week, I went with Mike's shot. It just appealed to me a little more. I think I would have been persuaded to vote for Aaron's had he used the other 1003 shot with the barn though.
While both shots were good and it was a tough choice this week, I went with Mike's shot. It just appealed to me a little more. I think I would have been persuaded to vote for Aaron's had he used the other 1003 shot with the barn though.
My thoughts exactly.
I wasn't really impressed with either shot. Even though I like steam a bunch, I'm also interested in different types of rail equipment in action. In my opinion, Aaron submitted the wrong shot. The earlier one in the country-side was a much more interesting composition even though the whole train is not shown. And, no, personally I don't like a lot of pavement showing unless it is in the background as an incidental subject like in a city shot. Whoever said the bright cars detracted from the loco was right. The country shot displays all sorts of color and melds all the objects into one comprehensive composition.
bnebb
Nice shots.....but I wish you could see what the rail grinder does?? I voted for the steam....not just for the steam but because it is a good shot. The different color cars do not bother me.
Larry in Wauwatosa
I don't usually come back with a second comment, but in this case, couldn't resist.
I agree with "Partsman_ba that the asphalt in the lower right adds balance and perspective. Either way it would have been / is a super photograph.
TJB
Nashville, TN
edblysard wrote: In both shots, had you used the camera to crop the pavement out, they both would have been, in my opinion, much better...in fact, had you submitted the IC shot sans pavement, I would have voted for it.Practice cropping with your viewfinder, looking at the edges before you press the shutter, and you will be surprised at all the stuff that manages to sneak into a photo.
In both shots, had you used the camera to crop the pavement out, they both would have been, in my opinion, much better...in fact, had you submitted the IC shot sans pavement, I would have voted for it.
Practice cropping with your viewfinder, looking at the edges before you press the shutter, and you will be surprised at all the stuff that manages to sneak into a photo.
In MY opinion, the pavement adds to the power of the composition. The edge does a nice job of running up into the lower thirds point of the photo. The pavement also helps give a sense of place for me - I can feel the engine coming at me as I wait at the crossing!
I think Aaron already has a pretty good sense of how to crop with his viewfinder when I see the composition of his shots, so just because you don't like asphalt doesn't mean he needs to take it out! He didn't seem to have a problem with cropping out vehicles!
See, to me a great railroad photo must be a great photo first - just because the subject matter is a rare engine or track machine doesn't make it stellar.
Dr. Bob wrote: Hi,Mike gets my vote for a picture with mood and detail. Rail grinders do important work and while they may not have the glamour and the present day rarity of a steam run, they have their own appeal. Let's see more photos from both of these fine photographers.Dr. Bob
Hi,
Mike gets my vote for a picture with mood and detail. Rail grinders do important work and while they may not have the glamour and the present day rarity of a steam run, they have their own appeal. Let's see more photos from both of these fine photographers.
Dr. Bob
Here you go Bob a couple more shots from this past week. Enjoy.
Akofyholic wrote:Aaron, welcome to the forum! I liked the NS shot you posted first a great deal, but I wondered why you didnt boost the details in the shadow areas? Also, a question on your shooting type? Do you shoot in raw or jpg? I shoot raw (nikon .nef) and post process using Capture NX to bring out subtle details. Two great steam shots this week, I'd have liked to see the head to head competition (same shot-both sides of track) but I know for sure Aaron would have won, just due to the more scenic backround. As for the Loram, I've heard one in action also out here in the SF east bay, a couple years back BNSF sent one through to rework their rails. great shots.. Went with Aaron on the voting though..
Akofyholic I always shoot RAW.
mandelswamp wrote:Mike, while I am more interested in a photo of the Grinder than another steam locomotive photo, the head on angle of the photo does not allow the viewer to gleam much in the way of details. So I went with Aaron's nicely executed photo instead. I would have voted for Aaron's July 11th photo too because I liked the vividness of the sky.
Trackside is great; I enjoy the photography a lot. But it would be so much greater if you used photographers from other places around the country.
Terry Edwards
Miami, FL
Liked Aaron's steam shot, but.....
I am a machine junkie, and love to see rail grinders, CWR trains, and ballast trains at work...the building of the railroad, what goes into it...I sat and watched a BN crew replace a trestle...went back three days in a row just to watch.
So Mike's shot gets my vote, for purely personal reasons.
By the way Aaron, welcome to the nut house...everyone here is crazy except thee and me!
Seriously, welcome, and hope you don't mind a little critique of your work.
I understand the use of the pavement in your competition photo...it draws the eye to the front of the locomotive, and you used it quite well, but for me, it distracted from the over all impact of the shot.
I noticed the same thing happened in your IC shot...great use of the sky and clouds; you really got a dramatic feature in there...but the crossing pavement snuck into the shot again.
I am sure you already know this, but your mind sometimes edits out distractions...you don't notice the beer cans or the old tire in an otherwise fantastic shot, at least not until you view it on your monitor...but the camera doesn't edit things, it is not subjective at all, but only photographs what's there, whether you like it or not.
Beyond that...both of your shots are excellent...I really liked the IC shot, has a lot of impact to it.
23 17 46 11
Aaron gets my vote. What a shot! Rods down, nice puffy plume trailing over the consist, great framing by the trees on the left, excellent angle. Shows that a well-executed wedgie can be a great photograph. While the Loram train is well-photographed, it is a documentary. Railroad equipment at work, but not acting very dramatic. Perhaps a little of the fire from the grinding heads might have perked it up a bit. Looking forward to the next Trackside . . .
It was good finally meeting you in Ripon too Mike!
Noah
A very interesting line-up for this week's vote!
Aaron's Soo Line steam photo is very appealing. I like the perspective it takes low to the ground, which gives one the sense of the power of the engine. It is also at a nice angle where you can see the rest of the consist; the second car from the end (the pure silver one) seems to resemble a BNSF business car.
Although some may find the choice subject for Mike's photo a bit odd, I myself am pleased that he chose a Loram rail grinder for this week's vote. It's something one doesn't see every day (at least I don't in my area), and gives us something a bit different with a MOW theme. I think a side shot of a machine like this, given its complexity, would be better (althought that may be a little hard to do with all the dust it's flying up!), but that's beside the point that it is a great shot from the front, with a nice straight perspective of the track behind it.
It was a tough decision, but it came down to aesthetic appeal in the end, and I think Aaron's shot has more of a picture frame touch, so it won my vote this week.
- Bryan
Dan
Great shot Aaron, the composition and colors put it over the top, I like Mike's finding a somewhat unusual site and would have probably picked it, but I think Aaron's shot had that little extra.
Very difficult decision, But had to go with what I thought was a better picture. Steam rules, but MOW is so oft forgotten that sometimes you got to root for the underdog. Great trackside, keep up the great work!
Well....
Welcome Aaron! If you saw an older model Ford Ranger supercab with topper chasing the 1003 that was me. It certainly was a fun day to shoot and (personally) I was glad to see live steam. It was the first I'd seen since the CNW's 1385 ran through Oshkosh. I liked your picture because the train fit neatly in the landscape and you captured it in motion well. However I can't make out many details around the drivers and (to me) the road is a bit distracting from the picture. If you'd have shot from across the street that shot would have been even better than it it IMO.
Mike-I didn't vote for your last Oshkosh shot (Vol. 80) even though it was from my hometown. This time out I got to meet you as you took pictures. That being said...the shot you put up this week seemed to look 'forever' down the tracks. It makes me think of the never-ending job the grinder has, how important the job it does is, and the neat phenomenon that it presents on the (relatively) rare opoortunity most folks have to see one in action.
Ok so both photos are of unique pieces of equipment. Aaron's is nice, well composed, and familiar to me. Mike's is definately not common either, and one of the (IMO) more forgotten components of a working RR: MOW equipment. MOW equipment and the 'nitty gritty' daily workings of railroads seem like they take a backseat to the aesthetic and historic aspects of railroading.
My vote is to Mike. Great job both of you and good luck Aaron.
sorry mike but the steamer got my vote today.
stay safe
joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
OK...first off I must admit bias. I lived beside Soo tracks (Hankinson-Bismarck branch in North Dakota) when I was a kid and that's when my love affair with trains started. A Soo mixed train isn't a whole lot more romantic than a rail grinder...but the memories last a lot longer.
That said, I voted for Aaron's shot...because it's simply a very good photo.
OK...first off I must admit bias. I lived beside Soo tracks (Hankinson-Bismarck branch in North Dakota) when I was a kid and that's when my love affair with trains started. I Soo mixed train isn't a whole lot more romantic than a rail grinder...but the memories last a lot longer.
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