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[LVJJJ]

#1 IS JUST DIFFERENT AND CATCHES THE EYE, AGAIN ITS THE LIGHTING THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. Larry in Las Vegas (so that's what fog looks like)?

[Sterling1]

No contest this time:

Photo #1

Fog + gray CN w/ orange stripe . ... . cool.

[stewartgg]

[:)] I went for Photo 1, so atmospheric. Photo 2 was good, but much like a roster shot

[Bevrog]

Do not know much about photography, point and click is me, but I voted for #2 as being more of a railroad photo, even though I thought #1 was a more interesting photograph.
Great photos either way most of all the time.

[Anonymous]

I voted for #1 because of the Canadian content and the special effects of the early morning fog. Have a great Thanksgiving. We as you know had ours back in October. Keep up the great work guys.
Mark from grimsby Ontario[tup]

[Gwolfe]

In a typical edtion both of these shots would be winners. #1 is a true calendar shot, however -- the light especially makes this a stunning and provocative images. It just stands on its own as one of those "moments" when everything came together.

#2 is also excellent -- the angle, and resulting strong composition so compelling the loco could almost have been spotted for the shot.

Could job men.

Glenn Wolfe - Taipei, Taiwan

[Anonymous]

Photo #1 is awesome and introduces me to yet another permutation of CN graphics, though personally I wish CN would have kept the supergraphic black and pale gray "sergeant stripes". Apart from the the paint sheme, the mood and the juxtaposition of railroad and highway makes for a very dynamic shot. Staring at it makes me feel as though I can feel and hear the very rumble of this huge mechanical beast as it cruises slowly over a highway populated by comparatively puny-looking vehicles. It is this contrast, plus the ominously dreamy air of the fog that is so captivating.
Some of the posters have expressed a wi***hat the CN shot would have shown the loco crossing over a river instead of traffic. This would dimini***he perceived strength of the locomotive and its barely seen mate. A river is a mighty force in its own right. It would eliminate the dynamic tension between rail and road seen so clearly in the photo. It might make the scene more "postcard pretty", but it would look as clichéd as the UP photo.
The UP shot is razor sharp and well-composed and might even serve as a typical Trains Magazine cover photo, but I think the art director wouldn't choose it because of the operative word: typical. It reeks of been-there-shot-that. I like the poster who did some detective work on the UP shot and deduced that it's a view of former CNW territory, owing to the left-hand running and the pink lady ballast. This is only something that a rail conoisseur would know, but does not add to initial visual impact.
The CN shot almosts suggests that the train lives in the forest and is making a necessary dash across an unfamiliar patch of "civilization" in order to re-enter its natural habitat. Note how most of the vehicles have moved on down the road, unaware of the beast that lurks behind them. Or perhaps they have seen it and are scampering away.
In this round of the photo contest, there is no contest – it's photo #1 all the way.

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by murnge

Photo #1 is awesome and introduces me to yet another permutation of CN graphics, though personally I wish CN would have kept the supergraphic black and pale gray "sergeant stripes".

FYI, the locomotive in Photo 1 was originally a CN engine, sold to Alstom and repainted in that paint scheme, and bought by the "WC" to replace the SD45s that CN didn't "understand".

[Noah Hofrichter]

Erik,

In the Recap, You forgot to tell us where your photo was taken from(or at least I don't think I missed it...)! I'm assuming it was in the greater Milwaukeeland area, but where more specfically?

Noah

[Anonymous]

hi ever one amtrak

[Leestoermer]

At first it was a vote for the better picture, than it became a vote against UP and their practices....

[Anonymous]

I liked photo number two better because their is lots of stuff going on. And the picture is good speed caching the leafes in action. Great photo!

[Anonymous]

#1 no contest. Both might be a delight for railroad people, but #1 can be appreciated by anyone.

[lhtalbot]

Erik....
Where was your photo taken, please? Somewhere along the former SOO/WC/now CN?
Larry