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[WatchungAve]

Would have voted for No. 1 if the engine had been just about halfway across the sun (tought deciding just when to shoot), which would have given a bit more weight to the shot. I love the idea of shooting something that's difficult. But the No. 2 shot is fine, with the variety of engines and the reflection -- also difficult to get just right. Keep shooting, guys, and hope Mike is still doing folk music somewhere.

[Anonymous]

I think that I liked Photo 1 better. It's a really unique shot and as others have said, it's a very powerful photo that would also appeal to non-railfans. There's just something about it that really makes your mind drift in thought. It brings to mind different images.

[Anonymous]

I like Photo #1 better. Silhouette shots like that just stand out. Photo #2 is also great but #1 has a more artistic quality to it.

[walthuston]

I like the dramatic effect of photo #1. Photo #2 has too much "background" in my opinion.

Walt

[Anonymous]

This was a tough choice this week. At first glance I was drawn to #1, but at closer inspection I saw the details of #2 and was torn. #1 is a very artistic shot, and it is very hard to get the exposure correct, but the small details (i.e. the reflection and the fallen flag engins) were very compelling. I think for me it came down to me picking the more unusual shot of the two, #1. Though #2 was a beautiful picture, it just seemed like a more standard shot whereas #1 I would expect to see in a magazine or on a calender.

Either way kudos to both for two excellent pictures!!

[Anonymous]

Gotta like #1. That GE silhouette just looks cool.

[fuzzybroken]

I liked photo #2 -- there is a train, clearly visible, in it! I couldn't tell what the train in #1 was, and the giant flaming ball of hot gases in the background doesn't really help either.

By the way, #2 looked a little dark to me. Or am I crazy? Well, of course I am! But I mean, about the picture... [}:)]

-Mark
Compare to my photos at:
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken/pictures2.html

[Anonymous]

I like photo #1 . The composition and the lighting make it very artistic. Photo 2 is very good especially with the pond reflecting the train, but thew composition could be better.

[Noah Hofrichter]

I liked photo one better. Photo two may have a good subject, but it's too "zoomed out," it was taken from too far away. It's hard to see the detail in some of the engines and such. For me, photo one just smacked me when I first saw it, so that's what I'm voting.

Noah

[Anonymous]

Both photo's used the enviroment as to make one look as think.

good going

David

[081440]

I'm going to vote for #2. [bow] It's an incredible shot that seems to make the train move, while in picture form, it's also well composed and flowing. #1 is just not quite perfect. A lower sun with more orange and a little more engine would make it just right.

[JoeKoh]

like the reflection of the train of the pond.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

I agree, it's a no brainer. Everything about # 2 is kewl! Nothing much to see in #1 as far as I'm concerned, unless you like looking into a bright light.

[Anonymous]

I voted for No. 1. No. 2 was nice but it didn't talk right out loud to me the way No. 1 did. The drama of the photo was great. I love it when I could get a serendipity shot like that. I haven't done trains much. Haven't been around them as much. But I have gone out on photography trips around home - out West (Az)- wherever. I've found you can get some decent pics almost anywhere but my best are usually happenstance. I was lucky to be there and have a camera with me and the light was right etc. etc. Thats why I like Mike's shot.
Irish Pat (I know it takes a little planning but one must also be alert)

[gannbb1]

WOW!! I give y'all heck for shooting the same pix twice then you throw these two pix at us.
Well they are two of the best in the contest. #2 belongs on a calendar. Its just a plum pretty train picture. The ripples on the pond just allow attention to go to the locos. The exposure, the framing, and how the *&&^%$ did you get everything in focus from the grass in the foreground to the trees in the background?

But pix #1! The strength. The light under the frame (like a steamer). A bit of detail on the loco. And that sun dog on extreme right. A raiload shot in the elements. Pix one got my vote.

TOUGH CALL! Both of you did NICE WORK!

gannbb