Hello,
Trackside is back with our second installment featuring multiple photographers. Eight of our 10 photographers are participating in this week's theme: Low Light.
I know I'm completely biased, but this edition of Trackside with Trains.com features some of the best photos we've ever shared. And because any of our ten photographers can participate in the new themed format, you have more photos to enjoy (although choosing just one this week might be a challenge!).
Click here to read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 102 ...
... 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
Oh man, this one is as hard as fuzzybroken's TWP on some weeks!
This will take some thought before voting...
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
I like the "theme" idea!
A difficult decision for me between Kent's coal train silhouette and Andy's C&NW train.
I liked Andy's location, with the train emerging from the darkness in all their Yellow and Green glory. Even the "Look for Trains" sign gave the image a slightly whimsical touch.
Unfortunately for Andy, the use of available light in getting the coal train situated perfecly below the virga and backlighting makes for a very dramatic image. Additionally, the windmill really added something to the image (similar to the above-mentioned sign).
The other images were all well done, but these two are the ones that evoked the most emotional response from me.
Voted for Kent.
I liked Andy and Kathi's photos. When choosing, I look at all pictures as something I would hang on a wall and enjoy. But it needs depth and a feeling for me to like it. Andy's was a good static photo. It was a pleasant picture to look at - and after a minute, you could shiver because of the snow and "feel" of cold.
Kathi's was the one I chose, however. But not because of the engine - which was a nice shot - but because of the sun on the old buildings. I was immediately drawn from the engine to the sunset and could feel the "warmth". It triggered something nostalgic - a cold afternoon with a warm sunset. The engine was just an added benefit
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
BergieWhen finished reading and voting, add your comments about this week's photos below
I must say up front, my vote went to Kent Johnson.
Now....What to say....First, I like the "low light" theme. Always have liked photos taken under such conditions.
This was the best group of photos on this thread that I've seen committed.
It was not easy to select just one....! But that was our parameter to work with.
So many, were just about on equal par in my eyes.
When clicking on the small photo and then have them expand into a full screen expanse....They were for the most part, very dramatic....! Enjoyed them all.
Quentin
I let Pat put the vote in this time, and she voted for Kent's silhouette shot. I had a little difficulty narrowing my choices--I was wavering between Kat's Deval shot, the shot of the Three Amigos, Kent's shot, and Mr. Danneman's, which had the most awesome colors, in my opinion. I finally had to admit to a little prejudice in both Kat's shot (familiar equipment and location) and the Amigos shot (definitely familiar equipment!), so I let her Kent vote stand (she did say that "Kat's is nice, too.").
Erik, your shot made us both shiver! And I think Kat's was the best capture of "sweet light."
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)
It was a tough call, really... but I voted for Bergie's, his shot just evoked such a response from me, that I couldn't pass it up.
All of the photos were well done, Kathi Kube's photo was my second choice, but, the almost eerie feeling from Bergie's photo put it over the top.
Matt, Tom, and Kent presented similar pictures (in the good sense) and selecting between them took most of my time. Bergie's shot didn't present well in thumbnail, but certainly acquitted itself full-sized.
In the end, though, that bit of sun peaking out from under the train in Matt's shot won me over. The other three I'm not going to rank - but they were certainly worthy.
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...
Tough choice...having to pick betwen Tom and Kathi's shots...Like Mookie, the buildings in Kathi's photo look "warm"...someplace a cat would like to curl up on the window sill...but the sky in Tom's photo...wow...and he has all the right elements, trains, signals, great skyline....hummm
23 17 46 11
I voted for Tom's shot. The sky is awesome in that photo.I also liked the low light on the oncoming train,and the way you could see the handrails on the loco in the foreground.If future contests are this good,I will have to clone myself several times,so I can vote more than once!
I must say that I really love the colors and the halo effect in Matt Van Hattem's picture. I just wish it was a little higher resolution so i could use it as the background on my desktop w/o it looking blocky & pixelated.
An embarassment of riches. Wonderful job everyone.
AgentKid
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
That's why I voted for Kathi's shot. The building flaming with the late sun,which you can't get at midday, caught my eye. I was blown away by all the backlit evening shots, too, but that brick on fire was too much to ignore. Congratulations to all the photographers for dramatic images.
I am tied to some states before others as well as signals bracketing/instilling a picture; so therefore I had to go with Tom for his Montana sunset. I must say it was very close timing before they turned out the light. Your group is making it tough to choose, but we do like the talent behind it all.
Whoa....I know someone's going to grouse that we can't see all the rivets, but I'm THRILLED! It's great to have it all about the photography--we ALL win! Thanks for a great theme and a terrific bunch of photos. I was captivated (again) by the elegance of Kent's shot and the haunting shades of sky. I loved how Matt gave the sky so much play while still keeping the train the main subject (although my eyes keep tracking back to the actual sun beneath the train--for me, something of a distraction, perhaps). I think Kathi definitely caught the warmth of the scene (and has a pretty steady hand for 1/40th of a second!). A very difficult choice, but I finally voted for Tom's photo which, while incorporating similar elements to Kent, Matt, and Drew, added a nicely unbalanced composition and the dynamics of the meet. Heck, though, I'd be happy to have taken any of them.
First, I meant to comment last time that I like the new format, but submitted my remarks before doing so. The multiple choices really make me THINK before deciding.
Next, I should note some prejudices. I don't care much for low light shots in the first place, and those that are so dark (to the point where it's almost impossible to discern what I'm seeing) are definitely out. I'm not into shadows and silhouettes, so the artsy-fartsy stuff doesn't get much consideration, either. That said, I need to state that I enjoyed Kent's video...just because it was so different.
But, back to the voting. My personal quirks eliminated all but three shots. Should I vote for Andy because he had a nice shot...once lived in Moorhead...and was shooting near my sister's place in Mankato (I was born in Fargo)? How about Aaron's WSOR...mainly because I could tell what it was?
Both were tempting, but in the end, Kathi got my vote simply because the late afternoon colors were so striking, and the rail action was superb.
Thanks to all who contributed. I'm anxious to see what the next theme will be.
TJB in Nashville, TN
No losers, but having to chose I voted for Tom's pic. Good colors and action.
Thanks as always,
PE 3&4
My comments are:
I loved Kathi's photo. While not truely "low light" it offered the most detail of all the photos and like the others said the warmth of the light on the bricks can make me "feel" like I am there.
Kent's video was fantastic! Nothing like some heavy weights rattling your eardrums in the evening. I also like his photo. The thumbnail does not do it justice, but when you blow it up its a great shot.
Tom's shot was nice, but the lack of detail just does not catch my eye. If the photo was just a little bit lighter to detail out the engines some more, I would have voted for it.
Got to hand it to Matt for trying to balance the two most extreme elements in nature for lighting. Personally I would tighten the photo up via cropping to bring out the front of the train more. The back is all one blob and detracts from the front of the train. Still, well done.
Erik's shot is off center and the brightness pulls your eye away from the front of the train. Visually I find it a distrubing use of the rule of thirds. But what can you do when your working around water I suppose. Nicely exposed though.
Aarons shot is nice, but it looks like a standard roster shot and really doesn't appeal to me personally. The lighting is nice. Pink and orange to go with red and white is also nice. Again hard to get a good angle without trespassing, so well done under the circumstances.
So many choices this week, it was hard to keep them all straight! I resorted to making notes:
Kent: best silhouette, windmill adds a nice touch.
Drew: 2nd best sky, reflection of sun & lights on rails adds to bottom of shot.
Tom: best sky, 2 trains working and waiting a big plus.
Andy: 2nd best use of golden hour lighting, but almost a daylight shot.
Kathi: best use of golden hour lighting, great balance of all elements (train/tower, rails/wires, buildings/snow) - 2nd place.
Matt: WOW!
Bergie: great photo, didn't really need the train - 3rd place.
Aaron: almost a daylight shot, hint of sunset reflected in cab windows a nice touch.
After reviewing my notes, Matt got my vote for the best themed photo this time. What an incredibly lucky choice of locations, and incredibly good timing to not only silhouette the train but also catch the setting sun just above the railhead under the locomotive. Well done to all; you make these decisions so very difficult!
Matt Van Hattem's photo is nothing short of glorious. As he says, light can not get much lower than that. The light is practically underneath the train. That photo is something that inspires people, whether you're into trains or not.
Angela Pusztai-Pasternak, Production Editor, Trains Magazine
Aw Shucks... It's got to go to Andy. Its a great photo, good composition getting the fence in the photo, and excellent light. I'll have to admit I was the local fan who saved the day. I'm not biased. :-)
Loren J.
Mkto_CMNAw Shucks... It's got to go to Andy. Its a great photo, good composition getting the fence in the photo, and excellent light. I'll have to admit I was the local fan who saved the day. I'm not biased. :-) Loren J.
Wow...what else can I say? Some excellent shots here.
The picture that grabbed my attention and held it was Matt's silhouette shot. Hard to time right and get to look that good. Kent's shot My 'heart string' vote would have to go to Andy (duh, CNW power) but it was almost a daylight shot. Very nice color though.
Dan
As Mark Twain said, "in all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane."
I thought Bergie had the best shot, with Ms Kube (who always seems to come at railfan photography with a highly idiosyncratic eye) a close second. But I would also say this: The shots all look very very different depending on what kind of monitor screen you are using to look at them. My older home monitor turns all but the most brilliantly lit photos to mud. My laptop makes everything vivid, assuming I have the top open at just the correct angle. The computer at the cyber cafe at work makes all the pics look good. I think this particular competition, where varieties of light are the main theme, implicates these screen quality differences more than most.
Dave Nelson
I'll add my own insanity to the mix.
I thought that Tom Danneman's shot stood out, and I remarked on it immediately. I also liked Erik's image, although I agree with an earlier comment that it could have benefitted from some minor cropping....hard to say without actually fooling around with it myself to see. But you have to admit it has some not insubstantial drama juxtaposed by both nature and technology.
The other images were all fine (in the literal sense); I enjoyed them and would like to compliment their owners.
-Crandell
Erik Bergstrom's photo combines the best of all that makes rail photos appealing. There's a rail line conquering the wilderness without appearing to ruin it; a train operating in unusual light (typical sight if you work the rails); a scene that non-rail-fans can appreciate; a scene you might see on a typical morning when working for a railroad. What made Erik's photo really stand out for me is that it doesn't have to be compared to train photos; it can be compared to photos in any collection.
Wow, a number of great views for this edition of Trackside, but in narrowing it down I went with Matt Van Hattem's view of the UP coal train. Nice color in the sky and a good silhouette.
A close second was Kent Johnson's shot of the SD70MACs with the windmill, certainly a view worthy of the theme.
I'd have to rate Andy Cumming's view of the C&NW "three amigos" next, the scene is nice with the fence, even if that poor 8575 has seen better days.
Tom Danneman's image has a nice sky, but it needed something more.
Erik Bergstom's shot looked a lot better blown up, but the lack of detail in the sky hurt the overall scene.
Drew Halverson's picture of the CP train needed less background to left, the shine on the rails is nice but the train just blends in with the background too much.
At least that's my take on the installment. I like the new format and keep up the good work.
Lance
Good Lord folks! If this is any inkling of what’s to become the new photo contest, ALL OF OUR BRAINS WILL EXPLODE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS!!!!It’s days like this when you wish you only had TWO photos to pick between.My elimination process went like this - Even tho I consider Kathi the “Queen of Silhouette Lighting”, I’m afraid that I eliminated Kathi, Aaron and Andy first. The long shadows of late afternoon are great, but amid the other competition, I didn’t think they made the grade. Hey, bring on “Late Afternoon Sun” shots, and they’re all back in the fray!Erik Bergstrom’s picture was the unique one - The reflection was classy, but we’ve already been here with that theme, I think . . . Finally the Johnson, Halverson, Danneman, Van Hatten quartet drew upon the natural allure of the darkening sky and the palette of setting sun colors. Each was stunning.However, there is a reason that you call an ART DIRECTOR an ART DIRECTOR. Danneman’s photo was like a painting. I set it up on my big screen monitor and just stared at it for a quarter hour - sensing the power, the silent sensitivity of the darkness, the loneliness of the terrain, the promise of the meeting . . . It made my imagination dance. And that’s why I voted for it.
*******
BTW: My picture is of the Santa Fe/Wabash Station in my home town of Hardin, Missouri,taken in 1966, only a few months before it was razed.
A mile from the tracks, but I still hear the whistle! Cleveland, Tennessee
This one was really tough, they were all good, but I had to narrow it down and voted for Tom.
That was an unusual shot with 2 trains and the darkness.
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