Hello,
The latest edition of Trackside with Trains.com is now live! This week's theme: "Abstract"
Click here to read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 106 ...
... then click here to vote.
When finished reading and voting, add your comments about this week's photos below. We'll be back with a recap next Monday, February 2, 2009.
Thanks for participating!
Erik Bergstrom
Interesting subject this week. It will require some deliberation.
Dan
Three out of the four are reflections! But Eric's is by far the most different in that it incorporates the "reflector" differently, to the point that it in itself is abstract!
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After I voted I discovered that Kathi's entry had no votes at all (and obviously I didn't vote for it either, having gone with Tom's rainy shot), yet it kind of personifies the kind of image I think of when I think of "abstract." It wasn't an easy decision.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I liked all of them, but the one that was that much more salient for me, as a sucker for still waters, was Erik's. I liked Tom's very much, and Drew's turned out very well...a real keeper to be proud of. But Erik's was more evocative for me.
My compliments, Erik.
-Crandell
A wonderful collection of off-the-wall type of railroad photos! Much more interesting than fog.
I went back-and-forth quite a few times trying to decide before eventually voting for Kathi.
I really liked Tom's shot (very well done considering what he had to work with).
Drew's reflection in the chrome was interesting.
Erik's shot might have done it for me if there had been some reference points in the image from which we could better appreciate the absurdity of the milemarker in the water. Without his description of the image, I could not figure out what he was trying to convey.
My question for Kathi is, "How did you get that shot without you yourself being in the reflected image?"
Anyway, nice job everyone!
Gee, don't you camera guys have anything better to do when the trains go by?
I think Drew's is the only one that I might have been tempted to try, were I a photographer. Kat, I enjoyed your "take" on your "take"! And one certainly has to admire your ability to find a picture in the most unusual of situations! Tom's shot is something of which I can't possibly appreciate the nuances involved--I probably would have said "The heck with it," and watched the train without shooting anything.
But, given that none of the photographers is likely to be looking and noting freight cars as the trains go by (that's what I do!), I'll have to vote for Erik's. As someone else said, it "spoke" to me.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
I have to go with Eric's photo as I'm in a "reflective period" in my photography myself but I think Tom's is the better photo. But I love this concept of many photogs contributing, it does open ones eyes to other posibilities. Thanks, John
.....I selected Kathi's photo for this weeks {abstract}, theme.
Adhering to this weeks theme almost all were well qualified.
Just thought Kathi's rendition brought out "abstract" very well.....
Quentin
Kathi's seemed to be the only truly "abstract" shot, so I voted for it. Everything else was, "Here's some <trees> <water> <chrome> with a train in the scene.
As is generally the case, all four of the photos were interesting and well executed. Tom's photo brought the thought "I wish I'd done that." I did admire the ability to fine chrome on a grill, however, since there is so little metal left on most vehicles.
I liked Drew's best, but being a dedicated Chevy gearhead, I just couldn't vote for a picture with a ford in it (shallow? opinionated? yeah, that's me). Voted for Tom's
It was a hard one this week. They are all good photos. It was a tossup between Tom's and Kathi's and I ended up voting for Tom's. Well done.
Stuck between Kathi's and Tom's...
Resorted to the old stand by judging tool...my 15 year old...she said Tom's photo made her think of trains more that Kathi's...I agree.
Kathi's is more into the "art" form photography can produce, Tom's imparted more of a basic train image...
23 17 46 11
Hey Drew...I voted for your entry this time. It was, in my opinion, abstract. Perhaps I don't know the difference between weird, bizarre, and abstract...but I thought your photo was clever and effective.
Kathi's wavy mirror idea was more on the bizarre side. Interesting, but bizarre.
Tom's blur was sort of a study in nothingness. Sometimes blurs are good...but this wasn't even a pretty blur.
Then there was Erik...a guy I've voted for many times. Um...what were you thinking? Weird is the best category I can come up with for yours...and I'm still not quite sure what it is.
TJB - Nashville, Tennessee
This was an interesting grouping.At first, because three were reflections, I tended to lean toward Tom’s “Train flashing by” picture. It seemed the most distorted of images . . .at least at first . . . I think Eric’s picture is really my favorite. The quiet serenity with the tragic hint of better times past really struck the melancholy and nostalgic side of me. I think it really is the best picture of the bunch. However, I can’t really consider it an “abstract” . . . Drew’s "reflection in the grill" portrait was nice. But as he said, it was a set-up. Certainly not abstract, but rather a very nice use of chrome and steel, showing the contradistinction of two types of transportation . . .If in fact we are dealing with abstractism - then Kathi’s distorted image is probably the best example of anamorphism in this group. So I voted for Kathi’s picture.Plus her “defiant shoutout against the governmental tyranny of passenger train iconoclasts and antagonists” was kind of cute . . .
I'm a sucker for revolutionary women.
A mile from the tracks, but I still hear the whistle! Cleveland, Tennessee
Once again Kathi had the most 'artistic' photo in the group, but I voted for Drew's clever use of one mode of transportation to reflect another. The semi-submerged ROW marker would have been my next choice, then Kathi's distorted view of Amtrak.
LU-Trains This was an interesting grouping.At first, because three were reflections, I tended to lean toward Tom’s “Train flashing by” picture. It seemed the most distorted of images . . .at least at first . . . I think Eric’s picture is really my favorite. The quiet serenity with the tragic hint of better times past really struck the melancholy and nostalgic side of me. I think it really is the best picture of the bunch. However, I can’t really consider it an “abstract” . . . Drew’s "reflection in the grill" portrait was nice. But as he said, it was a set-up. Certainly not abstract, but rather a very nice use of chrome and steel, showing the contradistinction of two types of transportation . . .If in fact we are dealing with abstractism - then Kathi’s distorted image is probably the best example of anamorphism in this group. So I voted for Kathi’s picture.Plus her “defiant shoutout against the governmental tyranny of passenger train iconoclasts and antagonists” was kind of cute . . . I'm a sucker for revolutionary women.
Modelcar .....I selected Kathi's photo for this weeks {abstract}, theme. Adhering to this weeks theme almost all were well qualified.Just thought Kathi's rendition brought out "abstract" very well.....
Quentin nailed it for my same feelings..
.Interesting topic and made me feel somewhat in the company of the photogs...Even my best pictures seem to have a note of abstractness..
I'm a gearhead that spends as much time watching racing as I do watching trains so Tom's 'speed' shot caught my eye.
The only truly abstract photo was Kathi's. Distortion or reflection by itself is not abstraction. Kathi's photo distills the essence of the Amtrak liners without actually representing them directly. The silvery fluted texture, the red, white and blue patterns all say "Amtrak" for those that understand the symbols. Otherwise, they are just pleasant squiggles that have an artistic appeal all their own. That is abstraction. Good job Kathi!
Karl Ruser
Two comments on this round.
First, was Kathi in a house of mirrors somewhere to get her shot, or in a department store fitting room down by the tracks? It struck me odd that the lettering on the car was not sdrawkcab.
Second, it must have been by some stroke of amazing luck that Drew managed to pop his shutter at the exact moment that the train was going by in one direction, and the Ford truck was zooming by the other. Amazing!
Nobody is running away from the pack this time! It was really tough deciding. We ended up going with Drew but Tom came in very close and Kathi's picture is the only "true" abstract but... Great shooting all of you!
Chuck
I really liked the "lightsabers" in Toms photo. Seams like something from a Star Wars movie (imagine how it'd looked if it been a NS engine!), so I just had to vote on that one!
Mattias
Kathi's photo: the sharp colors jump out, and the subject can still be identified. Great for anyone who rides a train into a city with all those windows next to the right-of-way. Great potential title photo for an article about passenger rail.
Erik's photo crosses railfanning with boating very nicely; if you're willing to hike for your unique shots, try boating for all those places where the rail follows the river.
I voted for Drew. This photo stopped me. This shot didn't find you, you found the shot. This photo combines the thrill of automobiles with the thrill of railfanning to get a shot that's American as all hell. The train is clear in the reflection, nothing else distracts from it; most rental vans have dings in the front surfaces (and most aren't that clean, hmm). I keep thinking of new reasons why it's a good shot, so that in itself means it's the best.
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