Hello friends,
First, a big thank you to all our long-time readers who have provided feedback throughout the past few years. Without your enthusiasm, this feature would have never taken off.
This week, Mike Yuhas and I rejoin Trackside to celebrate our 100th installment, featuring 15 all-new photos!
Click here to read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 100 ...
... then click here to vote.
When finished reading and voting, add your comments about this week's photos below.
Thanks again for participating!
Erik Bergstrom
....Both photos appear similar in quality, so my judging must go on content. Like Erik's rendition with the rather dramatic RR shot and the glassy smooth water....Probably from a dam. Vote for Erik.
Quentin
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...
No fair putting photos from the west against photos from dreary Wisconsin.
Erik's shot had the scenery going for it, but the train seems out of focus, and the entire image is a bit hazy and lacking in color. I really liked the two photos he did not submit (Gas local and the Schilling local).
Mike's shot is rather generic in its location and equipment, but the image is much sharper (I can even read the locomotive number), and the colors have some vitality. I really liked the W&S shot at the rural crossing, as well as the Oshkosh Bridge shot.
Neither submitted image excited me much, but I voted for Erik's shot.
Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something a bit more elaborate for #100.
Had to go for Mike's shot. I wouldv'e voted for "ACe on the Bridge" had you submitted that one (I caught that train near Neenah shortly after you took that picture) but appreciated and liked the stack train against the water. I've tried for a shot like that for a while (probably from a similar spot) but luck never cooperated with me.
Congrats on 100 episodes!
Dan
I voted for Erik's. While I thought both pictures were well done, the reflection in the still water of Erik's was magnificent.
Enjoy
Paul
zardoz wrote: Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something a bit more elaborate for #100.
Any examples? We're all ears.
Bergie
I went with Mike's shot. They were both nice photos, but neither really caught my eye. Especially since Erik got all that MRL stuff, and posted a BNSF shot.
"Irregardless" welcome back Erik!
Sorry to pile on, but I voted for Erik's also. It has a more dynamic angle than Mike's shot--I didn't care for the nearly-broadside view of the CN train. Sort of hard to beat the reflection, the mountains and bridge on the BNSF image. I wish it had a bit more sky above the mountains-but that's a minor point.
Thanks for all the Trackside installments--it has been fun to read and interact with the staff of Trains in this way.
Lance
A mile from the tracks, but I still hear the whistle! Cleveland, Tennessee
The lake shot has charm all its own. Its a livable, comfortable place. The tree leaves are showing their underside in a hot end-of-summer breeze. Bad day for fishing but a great day to watch trains.
Montana has stunning scenary but it is not homey like the good old midwest. I'm voting for Erik's photo of the amazing, rarely seen Montana scenary along with our favorite machine. Who knows what's behind the photographer? Could be a Wal-mart and a Dunkin' Doughnuts for all I know. But I doubt it.
I thought Eric would have an edge with that magnificently captured moment...but I didn't expect to see the scale almost tipped at 82%, It's truly a breathtaking shot.
I'm not a professional photographer, or even an enlightened critic, but I know what I like when I see it and there isn't a thing NOT to like about the BNSF/MRL reflection shot in Montana.
Need more adjectives? How about STUNNING? SPECTACULAR? RIVETING? HYPNOTICALLY BEAUTIFUL? OK, you get the idea. I really liked it.
Just so Mike won't feel too awful, the CN shot was also attractive, but minus about 90% of the "wow factors" that Eric captured.
Tom in TN
Nashville
Mike's "comin' atcha" shot of the BNSF unit popping out of the antique 1899 truss bridge cropped a little tighter would have been a much more dynamic choice. The CN's on a double stack was just too "stock" and the need to wait until the units nearly reached the shrubbery in order to mask all the crap in the background just didn't make it. Congrats, Erik! This was a no brainer.
Dorf
Bergie wrote: zardoz wrote: Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something a bit more elaborate for #100.Any examples? We're all ears. Bergie
Hey, I'm not the one getting the big bucks to come up with nifty marketing ideas.....
However, since you asked......
* Multiple contestants
* "Battle of Champions"
* Themes (winter, people at work, weather, steam only, railroad structures, etc.)
* "Best of"
* Anything goes (post-processing, double-exposures, photoshopping, etc)
That's all I can think of at this early hour; if I come up with any more, I'll add them.
Perhaps others on this thread will come up with other ideas.
zardoz wrote: Bergie wrote: zardoz wrote: Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something a bit more elaborate for #100.Any examples? We're all ears. BergieHey, I'm not the one getting the big bucks to come up with nifty marketing ideas.....However, since you asked......* Multiple contestants* "Battle of Champions"* Themes (winter, people at work, weather, steam only, railroad structures, etc.)* "Best of" * Anything goes (post-processing, double-exposures, photoshopping, etc)That's all I can think of at this early hour; if I come up with any more, I'll add them. Perhaps others on this thread will come up with other ideas.
When Zardoz first made the comment I had the same general idea. I like the list. Maybe #101?
I went with Eric's shot...how can you not go for a train in mountians.
This made me wonder if it would keep the focus on the train photography if the locale for each edition were restricted to keep the submitted photos in similar terrain. This would keep those who can take a trip to somewhere exotic from dominating the competition.
This would, however, limit the variety of photos, so I am not sure that I even like my own idea. I do love seeing trains in locations that I can't visit. Perhaps some occasional special features would work: Trains in mountains; Trains on lakes; Trains in a tunnel; etc. This could provide for more fair competition with these special locales. And the rest of the competitions would be wide open, as now.
At any rate, I have greatly enjoyed all the work of all the photographers in Trackside. Keep it up!
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)
Since we had to vote on one Orange vs another Orange, I went with the reflection photo by Erik as it was "nicer". My actual favorite was "Northbound CN coal train, Oshkosh, WI." as going through that bridge looked like an awfully close clearance mandating a crawling speed I suppose. May have been shot angle and camera range and all those other digital "bells & whistles" adjustments available.
Nice to have some real competion to view.
"Trust God, but have a back-up plan."
First off, congratulations to Mike, Erik, and everyone else at Trains.com for reaching the milestone of 100 vols. of Trackside! Thanks so much for providing a view from the rails every week!
Mike's CN shot has great perspective and lighting (check out how blue that lake water looks!!), but it's pretty tough to beat Erik's picturesque BNSF shot, with its reflective water, towering mountains of green, and lighting. I must admit that one potential drawback is that the shot is a bit too far, making the detail of the train barely visible. However, this was necessary in order to get in every bit of that scenery. Mike's CN shot has the advantage detail-wise in that the detail of the intermodal consist is much closer and sharper.
Both are really nice shots, but I would have to say that Erik's is the more appealing, so he gets my vote for this week (sorry Mike).
- Bryan
Sorry Mike,
Even though I'm a big CN fan, Erics picture just kinda knocks the coal dust off!
Very fitting, Quality pictures from both of you guys for the 100th volume (not that the other 99 weren't equally comparable).
Thanks,
Chuck
Greetings to Mike and Erik.
Mike-85-90% of the time I've been unable to pick a favorite when you and Erik have gone head to head. This time I think you would have had to come up with one of your killer mainline steam, in winter,with splendid exhaust plume taken at night to beat the train in Montana.
It has been great fun to check in on all 100 editions. Here's to the next 100, whatever format.
Jay
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
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