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A very big Trackside with Trains, Vol. 84

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Posted by StephenDx on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 6:10 PM

Q Bergie or Mike: Would it be possible to have the graphical representation of the votes included on the voting page?

StephenDx: Computers and trains are my greatest interestsWhistling GMT +12hrs (+13 in summer)

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Posted by StephenDx on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 5:59 PM
 jimmyjam58 wrote:

did you all vote  for her side because she is a women  or  you dont like steam engines. I'll take a photo of a steam engine any day,,any day as compared to a diesel electric!!!!

                                                            jimmiyjam58

My vote was for a red engine in the snow over a night shot of a steam loco. And that was initial gut reaction from the email for the voting and confirmed by viewing the post and larger shots.

Gender? ... Zzz [zzz] Sigh [sigh]

And, as was revealed in the recap, the bridge shot was on recommendation of Mike, so what's your thought now jimmiyjam58?

Further, I like steam. Cool [8D]Did I say "... I like steam."Approve [^] I actually meant to say "... I LOVE steam! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]"

In this situation, as someone else mentioned, Mike's shot might have been a more appealing shot if it had been in B&W. Somehow I do not think that the result would have altered much if any.

Was there any thing I "did not" or "did" like about Mike's shot? ... Um? Cannot say. If the voting had been two 1003 shots, then things might be different. My nomination would be for Kathi's shot vs Mike's "racing" shot. Then I would probably go with Kathi's shot as its a country shot vs a town shot.

StephenDx: Computers and trains are my greatest interestsWhistling GMT +12hrs (+13 in summer)

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Posted by 5eswitch on Monday, January 14, 2008 2:04 PM

I picked the steam photo as best becuse as I sat in my overly warm apartment the steam loco sent a cold chill thru my body.

A Great Shot on a cold night!

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Posted by ReimanTrainfan on Monday, January 14, 2008 12:31 PM
Hey Kat!  Great Photo....sorry Mike.  I could not pass up the red engine with all the snow.  Keep up the great work!!
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Posted by Riverside on Sunday, January 13, 2008 1:45 PM
Best group of pictures I have seen to date!
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Posted by Rocket Man on Saturday, January 12, 2008 12:35 PM

 LU-Trains wrote:

Red engine got my vote.

 

Ahhhh... back to the comfort of almost entirely mono-syllabic words.Laugh [(-D] Just kidding Lu-Trains, I like reading your comments!

The Rock Island Line is a mighty fine line...
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Posted by emmar on Friday, January 11, 2008 9:49 PM

Great photos this week. You just gotta love the live steam shots, but oh that red and white loco in the snow was just perfect. I just had to go with Kathi. Good job to both!

And to whoever brought up the issue of gender, my decision had nothing to do with it and you should be ashamed of yourself to think that the people here are biased. The rules are pretty simple, two people submit thier photos, everybody votes and may the best shot win.

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Posted by emddd40x on Friday, January 11, 2008 12:23 PM
 jimmyjam58 wrote:

did you all vote  for her side because she is a women  or  you dont like steam engines. I'll take a photo of a steam engine any day,,any day as compared to a diesel electric!!!!

                                                            jimmiyjam58

Given the quality of the discussion here for the last few years, I am appalled that anybody would even suggest that gender would factor into our decissions.  I think you owe us an appology.

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Posted by Modelcar on Friday, January 11, 2008 11:08 AM

...I understand the question of whether gender entered into our decision....But, I believe the question at hand in each of these photos to judge....is to pick out the most appealing and attractive and perhaps difficultity of the shot.  And then the final result.  Not whether it's a steam engine and or a diesel or even whether it was a lady that took said photo.

Quentin

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, January 11, 2008 9:51 AM
 jimmyjam58 wrote:

did you all vote  for her side because she is a women  or  you dont like steam engines. I'll take a photo of a steam engine any day,,any day as compared to a diesel electric!!!!

                                                           jimmiyjam58

I'll bite.  Hardly anyone who posted a comment left without praising Mike's shot and noting that it was a tough decision, myself included.  I think that for most people, Kathi's shot just caught their eye moreso than Mike's. 

To reiterate my original post - to frame and hang on my wall, it's the steamer, hands down.  But as to which shot got my attention, it was Kathi's.  Gender was not an issue.

 

LarryWhistling
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Posted by jimmyjam58 on Thursday, January 10, 2008 7:54 PM

did you all vote  for her side because she is a women  or  you dont like steam engines. I'll take a photo of a steam engine any day,,any day as compared to a diesel electric!!!!

 

 

                                                            jimmiyjam58

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Posted by WSOR 3801 on Thursday, January 10, 2008 2:24 AM
 Partsman_ba wrote:

"Good" is indeed in the eye of the beholder! I voted for Mike's shot! Reasons:

Kathi's shot is of a bridge (main subject) with a train on it. Maybe a smaller aperture would have brought the train into better focus  - you had some room at 1/1000! Not knowing the location, I'm not sure if you could have gotten a higher vantage point to put more emphasis on the engines as well.

Mike's shot is of a train engine, and the effects possible when shooting at night with a tripod. The main subject is most definitely the engine.

Not sure that Mike's shot required greater skill, just perserverence, experimentation and a good tripod. Beautiful work! 

 

That bridge is 10-20 feet higher than the road that runs there.  Need a cherry picker to get a higher angle on it.   The tracks run on a good size fill/ridge there.

Here is an older shot on the bridge.  The circus train is following the E-units, heading north.  Must have been a little warm that day.Wink [;)]

 

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Posted by Bob Watt on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 1:26 PM

I found MIke's photo, and all of his 1003 shots, to be at least equal to what I would expect to see in a transportation, science and/or art museum.  Simpley awesome!!  Kathi's photos were also excellent, but seemed to be more from real life than from a museum.  I only wish I was able to have my photos turn out as well as any of these. 

My vote went to Kathi as I feel hers is more representative of what I would see in real life.  MIike's is a dream come true, and something I may never see in person.  While I will continue to pursue my dreams, reality wins this week.  And who said steam was a sure winner?? 

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Posted by Kathi Kube on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 10:55 AM
 WSOR 3801 wrote:
Where exactly is that bridge?  I've probably been over it a thousand times by now.  There is a decent bridge between Iron Ridge and Woodland, right on Highway WS, that might make for a good picture as well.


Actually, you're exactly right. I checked with Ryan, and we were actually on WS a little south of Iron Ridge. (I tend to lose track of exactly where I am when I'm not driving.) But that is, indeed, the bridge that you've seen.

Ryan also says, though, that you can't really get the shot outside of winter because the weeds grow too tall and too quickly. I'll try for early spring, at any rate.

Kat
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Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 10:16 AM

....Thanks Carl, for your answer on the CNW caboose....{Sorry for the delayed response back to you}.

Quentin

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Posted by CopCarSS on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 9:54 AM

 LU-Trains wrote:
I could go on, but last month Chris in Denver got so peeved at my expository remarks, I fear I spoiled his day - and not wanting to cause any unnecessary agitation in this new year, I shall sum up my choice as simply as possible . . .

Red engine got my vote.

Is the patronization really necessary?

-Chris
West Chicago, IL
Christopher May Fine Art Photography

"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams

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Posted by LU-Trains on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 8:52 PM

And some months, the railroad gods tend to smile on BOTH photographers!  I’ve been watching these pictorials for over a year and this has been one of the best “historical panorama” choices for us in months.  We get “psuedo-O. Winston” at one vector and “If-Norman-Rockwell-painted-railroads” Saturday Evening Post cover on the other.   Blowing Steam versus Winter Stream.  Congratulations to both Mike and Kathi for “heartfelt” picture -taking this month!

I could go on, but last month Chris in Denver got so peeved at my expository remarks, I fear I spoiled his day - and not wanting to cause any unnecessary agitation in this new year, I shall sum up my choice as simply as possible . . .

Red engine got my vote.

A mile from the tracks, but I still hear the whistle! Cleveland, Tennessee

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Posted by espeefoamer on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 8:35 PM
I love snow shots! Living in a place it never snows,I can only imagine the shivering you both must have done in getting your pictures.This was as close to a tie as I have seen in a long time,so I had to get picky.I couldn't miss the pole growing out of the cab in Mike's photo,while I saw no drawbacks in Kathi's.
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Posted by dixieswitcher on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 7:59 PM

I went with Kathi's shot. Good work!

I would have voted for Mike if he would have used the going-away shot. That is *classic* stuff!

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Posted by Partsman_ba on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 6:59 PM

"Good" is indeed in the eye of the beholder! I voted for Mike's shot! Reasons:

Kathi's shot is of a bridge (main subject) with a train on it. Maybe a smaller aperture would have brought the train into better focus  - you had some room at 1/1000! Not knowing the location, I'm not sure if you could have gotten a higher vantage point to put more emphasis on the engines as well.

Mike's shot is of a train engine, and the effects possible when shooting at night with a tripod. The main subject is most definitely the engine.

Not sure that Mike's shot required greater skill, just perserverence, experimentation and a good tripod. Beautiful work! 

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Posted by Railfan1 on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 5:46 PM
I went with Kathi's pic. simply a great winter photo.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 4:13 PM
Nice shots by both of you!!! Very seldom would I not vote for a steam shot especially in the snow!! But, my eyes were drawn to the red loco in the snow with a stone bridge!! How picturesque can one get??? Unless it were a steam engine in the snow on a stone bridge perhaps... Anyway Kathi gets the nod this week.
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Posted by mikeyuhas on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 4:03 PM

 CopCarSS wrote:
Mike, I really liked the good range of tone throughout your shot. Not only was the shot exceptional, the post-processing brought out the best of it. Nicely done.

 

I appreciate the compliment, Chris, but should clarify that there was virtually no post-production work done to this shot. Adjusted the white balance slightly, nothing else.

 

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Posted by misko on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 2:45 PM

For me Kathi is a clear winner. There it is - the atmosphere, good angle, good composition... Even her shot of the #1003 is the best of all steamer shots - action, smoke, no railfans in sight - a classic shot of the steam! Bravo!

Misko 

 

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Posted by zardoz on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 2:28 PM
 CopCarSS wrote:

....the post-processing brought out the best of it. Nicely done.

WHAT?  I thought these shots were supposed to be "right out of the camera".

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Posted by CopCarSS on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 1:03 PM

Now this is what it's about. It's nice to see awesome photography making a comeback in Trackside. There have been some really great shots in the recent editions.

It was really tough to pick this week, but I really liked Mike's #1003 shot. Kathi, yours is a great example of winter railroading, but it seemed a little soft to me and didn't draw me in like Mike's shot. Mike, I really liked the good range of tone throughout your shot. Not only was the shot exceptional, the post-processing brought out the best of it. Nicely done.

-Chris
West Chicago, IL
Christopher May Fine Art Photography

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Posted by DICKK on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 10:55 AM
The steam Loco almost looks painted.  Good effects.
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Posted by nanaimo73 on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 10:24 AM

 D-Halv wrote:
I am still speechless...completely stunned...did not see this coming...

Perhaps the people that work for magazines look at the skill required to take the picture, while the people that buy the magazines judge photographs by how good they look. Kathi's picture looks better. 

Dale
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Posted by D-Halv on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 9:50 AM
I am still speechless...completely stunned...did not see this coming...

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