Trackside with Trains, Vol. 83

[LU-Trains]

OK, so Mike’s picture is not doing so well this time out.  But I don’t know about you other railroad guys (and well, maybe, gals) but I have Mike’s Railroad Picture website on my computer railroad favorites.  I probably pull it up every few nights and take a visual stroll thru modern railroad history, compliments of this great railroad photographer.

I was raised in Hardin, Missouri, where both the Wabash and the Santa Fe raced through town - over 85 trains a day in my youth.  It was a pleasure to see some other areas of Missouri in Mike’s recent pictorials -Thanks for the great shots of the coal trains around Eureka and Pacific, Missouri, Mike!  If you haven’t been to his site, you should give it a look - www.mikeyuhas.org.  (No charge for the advertisement, Mr. Yuhas.)

Disclaimer:  Because of recent critical critiques of my writing style, I am also including a secondary and somewhat more plebeian version of the previous two paragraphs:]

Me like Mike.  Mike have good pictures.  Go see.  www.mikeyuhas.org.  Lots of choo-choo trains.  Big trains.  Little trains.  Pretty colors.  You like too.  Go see.

Off to Chicago for a week.  Merry Christmas All!

 

[wcnut]

This pose is very fitting for Ron!

Greg
"wcnut"

[wcnut]

I am glad to finally see a portrait shot for competition and it's not because I have known Ron for a long time.  I like the composition of the shot, only being able to see part of the locomotive.  I think it would have been too predictable to have Ron standing on the loco, or at least having the whole loco in the frame.  Also, there are a lot of little clues to tell you that it is a glorious Wisconsin winter: knit hat, multiple layers, snow, and the overcast sky.  One thing, next time tell him to kill the ditch lights!

While I think Drew's shot is interesting and dramatic, it didn't take me as much as the other.  And maybe it's because I think "railroader" shots are not well represented in this forum.  I know the polls have shown that this forum is mainly a "locomotive up front" kind of group, I would like to see more "railroading" shots.

Kudos to both,

Greg
"wcnut"

 

[emmar]

Ouch! Mike is having a bad week (and I didn't help much cause I voted for Drew's photo). Looks like its gonna be a landslide in favor of the newbie. Better luck next week Mike.

[espeefoamer]

I voted for Drew's excelent EB shot.The Milwaukee Road Skytop observation car with a dome ahead curving into the sunset was almost perfect.Though the light may have been better had the train come by a few minutes earlier,the photo was great the way it is.Mike,better luck next time.Maybe you should go steam hunting.

[ValorStorm]

Drew new. Choose you.

[tree68]

[LU-Trains]

Hey Larry, (tree68) -

Had I not just recently read my NMRA Magazine cover to cover I would have never known what a Microferroequinologist was.

But now, seeing your picture, I even know what one LOOKS LIKE!

I stand in the presence of greatness. 

[rojakaniaa]

Neither picture is exceptional in any way.  Drew's picture was just a little too late in the day, ( maybe just have been the settings on the camera...couldn't see enough of the car.).  Mike...I think your photo would have been a lot better if your subject was actually on the train, instead of the goofy pose of him in front of the engine

[StephenDx]

Sorry Mike, photos of the people of railroading is a good subject but only if both photos are on the same topic. That gives a clear indication that Drew was the choice for me this time round.

The brief look I had at the voting to date has you on the end of another beating  

Hopefully you won't go so far out on the limb next time

[tree68]

Had to go with Drew's shot.  I like Mike's shot, and using the ditchlight as backlight had real potential, but the halo around the edges of the tuque immediately shouted "Photoshop" (and not a very good one) to me, even though a closer look (and realizing the positioning of the ditch light) proved otherwise.

[edblysard]

Personally, I liked both shots...

Drew's is quite evoking...the train is heading out in to the night, taking people away from home, family, familiar places?

It has kinda a lonely look to it, very compelling.

But I always like seeing other railroaders, and I like the silhouette effect from the ditch light...

And not a wedge in sight!

Going with Mikes this time around, just because it shows the human that runs the machine.

But, like Chris, if I had taken the shot Drew submitted, it would be poster size at least, maybe even wallpaper, and hung on one side of my living room.

[Partsman_ba]

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=227421095&albumId=622829

Try this link to see what I came up with. As you can see, I didn't go for the full daylight look, just less contrast to bring out that beautiful Milwaukee Road color and keep the sunset from overloading. I had to redo it this morning, since I didn't save my first tries!

I know Art is in the eye of the creator, so I respect your decisions, I just was amazed what I could see when I tweaked your compressed image! I was just imagining what could be done with the original image. Do you shoot JPEG or RAW?

[bigmac]

I voted for the sunset.  Seeing something different riding the rails, even a rail grinder, usually catches my attention.  This was not only a special car, but the timing and lighting made it a very, very nice photo.  Thank you gentlemen for the efforts.

Bob

[Rocket Man]

Hey Dr. LU-Trains,

I'm not complainin', just noticin' & enjoyin' the fresh literary breeze, so to speak. Keep the colorful comments a comin'! I'm a wine geek too... (vs. snob)

I also forgot to welcome you to the group as I noticed it was your second post at the time.

 

[Tommy Toad]

Drew - You should have stuck with the CSX out of Milwaukee photo!

[freightcarguy]

I had to vote for Mike's shot.  Drew, the subject and composition of your shot was great but it was too dark.  I know how tough it is to take a shot into the setting sun - easier with digital than silver-based imaging but still tough.  But, doesn't your camera have a "sunset" setting that would have allowed you to slightly overexpose the scene, so that you could see more of the Cedar Rapids than its tail light?  My P H D digital does and it can give you some nice pictures.

[Bill the Cat]

I'm rather partial to the shot of the Cedar Rapids, but then, I was in the Superdome ahead of it at the time.

 

Thanks! 

[cpprfld]

I loved Drew's photo, I loved the color contrast with the setting sun. My mother taught me that if you don't have anything good to say don't say anything at all. I really would like to see some of the photo's OJLAR would post.

[Modelcar]

....You fellows made it tough for me this week.  I honestly really like them both.

I'm biting the bullet and casting my vote for Mike's portrait shot.  I like the depth in the picture.  The engineer's features are so sharp.  It is a photo I like.

Drew's photo of the retreating train in the sunset is a beauty too.  Sorry, I can only vote for one.  And looking at the voting so far, I'm in the minority.  So be it, those are my true feelings of the photos.

[LU-Trains]

OK Chris and Rocketman, you got me . . .

Wine taster - yes.
Artist - yes.
Musician - yes
Composer - yes
Museum patron - yes.
Man of Letters - yes
Able to wear black tie and tails well - yes.
University Professor - yes.
Railroad Geek? - YOU BET YOUR SWEET OILCAN, BUDDY!

I’ll try and be a little less poetic next time.  

And of course, use smaller words . . .  

 

 

[loadmaster747]

No offense meant to your friendly engineer, Mike, but any time I want to see a guy with glasses and a graying mustache, I can just look in the mirror.  True, there was an IC logo on the locomotive behind him, but the photo just didn't convey what he does for a living.  Drew's Skytop into the sunset photo has a timeless quality to it... was it taken during the prime of the Milwaukee Road, or just last month?  The equipment and the surrounding woods offer no clues.  My vote, therefore, goes to the "new guy" for the second month in a row.  Nice job, Drew, and welcome! 

[CNW 6000]

I played around with the Sunset shot to bring out the details as was discussed above.  You can see a bit more of the train, but it ruins the effect of the sunset (to me it looks washed out).  It's one of those shots that (I agree with CopCarSS) looks darn good the way it is.  If anything, I like it a bit darker.

Here's the lighter shot:
http://danielgbraun.com/images/Cedar%20Rapids-Light.jpg

Here's the darker shot:
http://danielgbraun.com/images/Cedar%20Rapids-Dark.jpg

[jeaton]

Yeah, Partsman, give it a go. I'd like to see the changes.

I left it dark because it connected me to the scene. Looking at the photograph it looks like the darkness is trying to consume the photo and the light is struggling to hold on. That is exactly what was happening as I stood there, hoping that daylight would hang on just a little longer. 

I also like it from an artistic point of view. The darkness frames the train while the sunset lights it up. The contrast alone makes you think.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there a contest rule that bans or limits the use of Photoshop or similar editing programs?  Not an important issue with me, just curious.

[Richard]

After I adjusted my monitor brightness I realized what a tough decision this was. I went with Mike's photo. I really liked the human interest aspect of the photo.

                                                                                      Rick
 

 

[D-Halv]

Yeah, Partsman, give it a go. I'd like to see the changes.

I left it dark because it connected me to the scene. Looking at the photograph it looks like the darkness is trying to consume the photo and the light is struggling to hold on. That is exactly what was happening as I stood there, hoping that daylight would hang on just a little longer. 

I also like it from an artistic point of view. The darkness frames the train while the sunset lights it up. The contrast alone makes you think.

 

[blhanel]

(Brian, there might be a fifth season during which nobody's going to be using the car, right?)

LOL- don't get me started on that goofy city slogan...

[CShaveRR]

Partsman, is there any chance that we all could see what you did with Drew's shot?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd guess that there are three special cars behind the Superliners, not just one--that's a full-length MILW dome car ahead of the Skytop lounge.

Mike, your friend looks like a lot of the railroaders I encounter from time to time (believe it or not, I rarely encounter railroaders in the course of my railroading job!).  As others have said, the things that make Ron special to you aren't conveyed in the shot.  Could they be?  I don't know.

So--albeit somewhat reluctantly--I have to give Drew the vote.

(Brian, there might be a fifth season during which nobody's going to be using the car, right?)

[lhrfan]

I to prefer the more personal side of railroading that Mike's pic captured. The sunset shot is great as well, just not so personal.