Bergie wrote: 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
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
It's currently 60% to 40% in Kathi's favor. Almost four years later and it still holds true... just when you think you know what the people will like, they jump up and completely surprise you.
My impression of Mike this morning...
Keep your chins up Mike.
dknelson wrote: Well I have to say that having been there for much of the 1003 action (and now that a full month has gone by, I have finally received my slides back from the processor!), that Ms Kube gave Mike Yuhas a genuine run for the money. I would not have thought that possible since I have been admiring that shot of Mike's for weeks. Kathi found a wonderful spot for a photo and that is a big part of what makes a train photograph great. And WSOR red does have a nice way of popping out of a snowy scene.A few comments. First, consider Mike Yuhas, the suffering artist. It was bad enough chasing the 1003 in the cold and snow that Friday night only to have the crew go dead. That's when Keith Schmidt and I and the rest of our group gave up. But to actually stay up for the arrival in Plymouth when the temperature really dipped is heroic. Someone above commented in their post that they did not care for the odd appearance of the smoke and steam due to the time exposure. I am here to tell you, that effect is not due to the time exposure. It was so cold the smoke and steam were freezing in midair and then falling to the ground like shards of broken glass. Second comment is that a friend who has NO interest in trains but is an avid photographer and has traveled the world to get the shots he wants reacted to Mike's shot by telling me that it was an example of how truly fine grained film still looks better than a digital photo. When I told him it was a digital photo (and he himself shoots digital exclusively) he was shocked at what could be achieved. Obviously based on the comments and the voting, there is something about Kathi's photo that people are finding appealing, something they can relate to. Perhaps they themselves have had the good fortune to meet the fetching Ms. Kube. If this competition is to continue, Mike Yuhas is simply going to have to get in touch with his feminine side .... Dave Nelson
Well I have to say that having been there for much of the 1003 action (and now that a full month has gone by, I have finally received my slides back from the processor!), that Ms Kube gave Mike Yuhas a genuine run for the money. I would not have thought that possible since I have been admiring that shot of Mike's for weeks. Kathi found a wonderful spot for a photo and that is a big part of what makes a train photograph great. And WSOR red does have a nice way of popping out of a snowy scene.
A few comments. First, consider Mike Yuhas, the suffering artist. It was bad enough chasing the 1003 in the cold and snow that Friday night only to have the crew go dead. That's when Keith Schmidt and I and the rest of our group gave up. But to actually stay up for the arrival in Plymouth when the temperature really dipped is heroic. Someone above commented in their post that they did not care for the odd appearance of the smoke and steam due to the time exposure. I am here to tell you, that effect is not due to the time exposure. It was so cold the smoke and steam were freezing in midair and then falling to the ground like shards of broken glass.
Second comment is that a friend who has NO interest in trains but is an avid photographer and has traveled the world to get the shots he wants reacted to Mike's shot by telling me that it was an example of how truly fine grained film still looks better than a digital photo. When I told him it was a digital photo (and he himself shoots digital exclusively) he was shocked at what could be achieved.
Obviously based on the comments and the voting, there is something about Kathi's photo that people are finding appealing, something they can relate to. Perhaps they themselves have had the good fortune to meet the fetching Ms. Kube. If this competition is to continue, Mike Yuhas is simply going to have to get in touch with his feminine side ....
Dave Nelson
Thanks for sharing more about that evening, Dave. I'm shocked you and Keith gave up so early... oh wait... I was probably at home, with a fire in the fireplace, watching Deadliest Catch.
Well Guys,
My heart is in steam, but, I love the red against the winter background.....Kathi gets this vote!
Chuck
I think Mike could have picked a better shot amongst those we saw. Unfortunately, Kathi's was much better and she got my vote. Way to go gal!!!
Doug Volk
Even though Mike's shot was 'staged', it still caught my eye due to its unique attributes: steam power, night shot, cold temps, good smoke, and the old coach behind. While I liked some of the other steam shots better, the entry was much more interesting (and difficult to produce).
Kathi's shot is certainly nice, as are her other shots. I especially like her use of 'portrait' mode. However, her entry somehow lacked 'punch'; perhaps it was the gray skies. And it seemed to have too much foreground, rendering the train a bit too small in relation to the bridge.
All in all, a very nice group of photos from the both of you.
Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com
I make it a point not to read any comments before voting or commenting myself, so I'm anxious to see what others thought.
Both photos were exceptional (my opinion).
I had to set aside my Soo Line and steam prejudices to vote for Kathi's stunning shot of the WS winter scene.
Had Mike chosen the grade crossing view of the Soo steam, I might have voted differently. His contest shot looked unnatural (almost airbrushed) with the steam and smoke drifting forward rather than back across the locomotive. Whether that's a valid criticism, I'm not sure...but it bothered me.
Another quirky preference of mine is landscape shots over portrait. Sure...there are a few occasions when the latter is preferable...but far fewer than landscape. Again, just my opinion.
Anyhow, both entries were great shots and excellent examples of winter rail photography.
TJB - Nashville, TN
Its good that you are now back again and Happy New Year toall. I voted for Mikes photo this time as the ghostly steam caught my attention more. Kathi your photo's are excellent but had to go with Mikes. Keep up the good work
Steve C
Wow. I'm stunned and tickled pink that you guys like my photo. I thought for sure that Mike was going to bury me with his nighttime steam shots. Thanks a ton for all the encouragement!!
Kathi
Modelcar wrote: ....Observation: I'm wondering why the caboose in Kathi's shot with the conductor standing on the "porch"....has lube boxes {on the trucks}, without lids to close them off. Have they been converted to tapered rollers and the lube not needed anymore....? And what is that round item that looks a bit like a pulley on the nearest truck....?
You've got it right, Quentin--in the early 1980s, just a few short years before most of them were done away with entirely, almost all CNW way cars were totally rebuilt with fewer windows, electrical power, and other amenities. This particular car must have been re-trucked, because it would have had roller bearings to begin with (no doubt all of them had roller bearings after the rebuilding). The electrical generator was powered by a series of belts connected to the axle; that's what you're seeing there.
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)
....Observation: I'm wondering why the caboose in Kathi's shot with the conductor standing on the "porch"....has lube boxes {on the trucks}, without lids to close them off. Have they been converted to tapered rollers and the lube not needed anymore....? And what is that round item that looks a bit like a pulley on the nearest truck....?
Quentin
I agree. I would have chosen the shot coming through Plymouth, or the one with the engineer hanging out. Kathi got my vote.
Tom
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."
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.
....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.
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
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.
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!
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
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
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