I like the terrain in the background in Mike's photo.
From the purely "I like/don't like what I see" gallery: Mike's photo is especially good. You can get very "lost" in it just studying it for a few minutes. Lots of details both up close and far away.
But for a dramatic effect, I liked Erik's photo. I am partial to night photos and the almost eerie, quiet look of the engine.
Voted Erik this time.
Mookie
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Didn't think either photo was particularly noteworthy, but Erik's is worth discussing further. As a night shot afficionado (my cover of Railfan, September, 1977), I found the train too dark and not very crisp in detail. This may expose one of the basic limitations of digital night photography. I still do night photography, but on film only (Kodachrome), as it gives me ample time to do the necessary fill-in flash when required (as would have been helpful in Erik's shot). I'll deal with the troublesome color shifts either by using filters or having the lab correct it. I have a Canon EOS Rebel, but I haven't taken the time yet to try to figure out night in the digital mode. Maybe it's time for a good technical article on doing night photography with digital cameras in Trains???
As to Mike's shot...an interesting concept that just didn't make it for me.
Don Dorflinger
Bergie wrote: ... Especially this time of the year; we're just coming out of winter and into a wet spring. It's not always easy to come up with new material every other week
That's spring in Wisconsin: various shades of brown.
I haven't even bothered to go out for train photos since the snow melted.
Holy cow!!! I think this week's vote is the toughest I've had to face yet! Both pictures are absolutely stunning, gentlemen!
Mike's BNSF Powder River Basin shot encompasses so many eyecatching things that I could stare at it for hours! I especially like how it was shot over the loaded coal hopper and the silver BNSF engine in the foreground; that gives me a kind of "right in the middle of the action" feel. The background of the coal industry with its wide range of colors evokes an image very much like my scrub desert home here in the BNSF NM Division, west of the Sandias (kinda reminds me of the Gallup Sub and everything west). Capturing a good deal of the approaching DP unit coal is not the only thing good about this shot, that's for sure!
On the other hand, Erik's BNSF "stealth mission" shot is holding its own. Not only is it a magnificent shot of a Heritage 1 BNSF Dash 9 (those always appeal to me, as they are rather uncommon in my area), but it is set against a breathtaking twilight sky that actually looks like the break of dawn to me. I also like the bits of debris lying trackside in the foreground; they seem to add to the shot, in my opinion, giving it a "long night haul over a barren stretch of track" kinda feel for me.
Because of the background sky and the Heritage 1, Erik's shot has the slightest edge for me, and after a long moment of deliberation, I finally chose it.
- Bryan
I liked Mikes shot. While it lacks in technical qualities it more than makes up for those deficiencies by capturing the mood of todays railroading in the Powder River Basisn. It looks like it could be a shot for RR publicity maybe on an annual report. Good shot.
Doug
DS25 wrote: In defense of the guys.....It is my understanding that neither of them is a "professional photogrepher". This feature wasn't meant to be TRAINS MAGAZINE photos put out here for people to critique. Rather it is a feature of 2 ordinary guys who happen to work at TRAINS MAGAZINE & on their own time, like to photograph train related scenes. Their employer has graciously consented to foot the bill for this forum & sponsor it. I liked both pics this week, & have not yet voted. This is totally out of sync for me....normally I vote before I read any comments. Also I usually read all comments before I respond to any one, but this just caught my eye & I acted on impulse. So if other responses have already been made, I apologise in advance for clogging up the forum. Nuf said!Larry in WauwatosaActually, I'm dissapointed with just about all of Erik and Mike's photos.Simply put, for these to be published photos through Trains Magazine, I'd expect a little more quality. Maybe a better camera or film or both.Most of the pics have bad lighting and poor contrast.
In defense of the guys.....It is my understanding that neither of them is a "professional photogrepher". This feature wasn't meant to be TRAINS MAGAZINE photos put out here for people to critique. Rather it is a feature of 2 ordinary guys who happen to work at TRAINS MAGAZINE & on their own time, like to photograph train related scenes. Their employer has graciously consented to foot the bill for this forum & sponsor it.
I liked both pics this week, & have not yet voted. This is totally out of sync for me....normally I vote before I read any comments. Also I usually read all comments before I respond to any one, but this just caught my eye & I acted on impulse. So if other responses have already been made, I apologise in advance for clogging up the forum. Nuf said!
Larry in Wauwatosa
Actually, I'm dissapointed with just about all of Erik and Mike's photos.
Simply put, for these to be published photos through Trains Magazine,
I'd expect a little more quality. Maybe a better camera or film or both.
Most of the pics have bad lighting and poor contrast.
DS25 wrote: Actually, I'm dissapointed with just about all of Erik and Mike's photos.Simply put, for these to be published photos through Trains Magazine, I'd expect a little more quality. Maybe a better camera or film or both.Most of the pics have bad lighting and poor contrast.
Nine days later, and still only 1 post. We veterans of Trains Forums have short memories. And we've all goofed, some of us FAR worse than you have, DS25.
You've learned your lesson. Come back, delete your post, and get active in the forums.
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