Hello!
I just posted the latest edition of Trackside with Trains.com and it's a biggie. This week in Trackside with Trains.com Volume 84, Mike Yuhas is joined by Trains magazine managing editor Kathi Kube and they've combined for 14 photos! (In my opinion, some of the best photos we've ever shared are in this edition.)
Click here to vote then add your comments about this week's photos here.
Erik
Mike wins this one. Better luck next time Kathi.
50% when I voted.
Mike, I loved your shot. But it was staged and you had plenty of time to work a good photo out. Kathi's action shot wins out to me. You only get one try and it has to be good. But I agree that Mike's shot of 103 traveling through Random with that blossoming plume would have made the contest a lot harder to judge -- I'd still go with Kathi most likely though, maybe.
Kathi's shot wins it for me as well. Very hard call though. I prefered Mike's second shot at Plymouth using the vertical orientation rather than the one he chose to use. I was distracted by the odd effect the wind direction had on the steam plume.
The stone bridge action shot is just outstanding.
I don't post often but always love this feature so want to offer a heartfelt thanks for the enjoyment Trackside brings.
Tough decision.
For a poster-sized version to hang on my wall, I would have to go with Mike's steamer - it just fits the genre. A beautiful portrait.
But as a picture of railroading, I preferred Kathi's action shot, and she got my vote.
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...
Quite a delightful array of photos for this week's edition of Trackside!
Many of Mike's shots of the Soo Line 1003 by night were quite eye-catching, particularly with the shots of the steam plumes as the locomotive was at rest. Kathi's shots of the UP Marsh greatly appealed to me because they were quite relatable, in that that's the kind of action I typically see in my area along the BNSF (switch trains and such). These things were already tying into my vote decision.
This week, I think I like Kathi's low angle bridge shot of the Wisconsin and Southern a bit more than Mike's Soo Line 1003 shot (which is very mystical-looking, and for that reason, very nice). There is a lot more color to break the white snow in Kathi's shot, and the sky, against that awesome bridge, gives it a very inviting winter feel.
So in the end, Kathi won my vote for this week.
- Bryan
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 gave Mike my vote this time around because I like what he did capturing the Steam Engine. It was close though because Kathi's shot was excellent too..that Red engine against the snow was amazing as well.
Ron Dunning, Newmarket, Ontario
This one is was tough, both shots have some interesting qualities. I'm going to have to think about it before casting my vote.
Kathy, you may want to visit this location again during another season as well along with the other one you mentioned you would like to stop at again. But be careful, what is a clean shot in the winter can have some unexpected vegetation in the summer. WSOR's red really helped this shot out as it provides a nice contrast to the white and gray that is so prevalent in the photo. You timed the shot just right so the vegetation in the foreground did not distract from a solid view of the locomotives.
Mike, your shot is simply amazing. The long shutter speed gave a unique artistic quality to steam and smoke that is not normally seen in steam shots. I'm sure the cold temperatures helped as well. I would like to see this shot along with the last one you presented us of the 1003 going away in monochrome. If you still have the RAW images make the conversion and post them along with the color versions you submitted this week for a comparison. I think you'll be amazed at how much the two shots are the same, yet very much different.
Brian
WOW! Another tough choice. Both pics very well done. I had to switch back & forth several times before I voted, but Mike's shot won out. I guess it's the black & wite look with the little bit of color that won me over. Someone said it was a staged shot, but the result is still top notch. And, I like the billowy look. If the same shot was a daytime pic, I would have picked Kathi's shot.
Thanks for a great installment
Larry in Wauwatosa
RE: Rocket Man's posting
I voted for Kathi's picture because what drew you to Mike's shot pushed me away.
Mike, if you had shot that shot in B&W, you'd have won hands down. As it is, the color in it almost detracts from the quality of the shot.
And having had to do the snap shot myself, I can appreciate what Kathi went through to get her lucky shot.
That's what I love about art. Two people can look at the exact same picture / print / drawing / etc. and see two different things in it...and come out with two radically different opinions!
I must vote for the Lady. Any photographer that can catch a locomotive with a Number ' 9 ', will always get my vote. What really tops these pictures off is Kathi's picture of SOO 1003. 'What a Stack' photo. Now!, there is power at its best.
Wow...
Although the steam junkies will in the end probably out weight everyone, I really like Kathi's shot...
It just screams Mid West winter railroading.
The bridge, the tree limb and all frame, then focus the eye up to the locomotive...a big splash of red against a white and obviously very cold back ground.
Mikes shot is great, and I would most likely have voted for it, had any other shot been run against it, but Kathi's just catches the eye more. If that was an "off the cuff" photo, she needs to carry a camera with her all the time!
23 17 46 11
Wow. Unless there's a big swing in Mike's favor tonight (after everyone has read the Trains e-mail newsletter), this is going to go down as the biggest upset in the history of Trackside (in my opinion). I thought this was going to be the most lopsided victory in our history... just shows what I know!
Bergie
....Not really satisfied with the choice Mike made to submit...Personally, I like the night shot of 1003 {wedge}, looking back from the front along the right side of the train and exposing the station and lights in the left background. That one, I would vote for pretty quickly.
Kathi, I appreciate all your shots on display leading up to the one you chose with the train over the arched "bridge".....The red color does really contrast nicely, with the snow in your pictures.
The two photos in the contest.....I must call a draw. Even. I would have selected the night steamer photo if Mike would have selected the one I mentioned. Welcome to the contest Kathi.
Quentin
1st off, HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Sorry Mike, although MOST times a steam shot will win out over just about anything, I had to go with Kathi's WS shot approaching the stream. Your shot (to me) was taken from the wrong side of the trainset where it was backlit leaving all the myriad pipes and such too dark to make out. Kathi, your shot was perfectly done! I like the frozen stream in the forground, the middleground area snowcovered, then the approaching train huffing & puffing as it came closer all combined to make your shot the far better one to me. Congrats & welcome.
Voted for Mike's AWESOME steam photo... O.W.Link plus! Kathi's was not too shabby, but...
"A poor steam photo is far better than a good diesel photo anytime."
I agree. I would have chosen the shot coming through Plymouth, or the one with the engineer hanging out. Kathi got my vote.
Tom
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