The latest round of our biweekly photo competition is now live. Twelve photographers submitted an image for the theme "Industrial scene."
This round's reader submission comes from Steve Carter of Gig Harbor, Washington.
View the selection, vote for your favorite, then return here to discuss vol. 153.
-Matt Quandt Online Content Editor Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Pretty representative stuff here....the two Mike's and Alex get it really good. But Reader Steve's shot tilts in his favor because there are locomotives, smoke and smokestacks, industrial buildings and the only shot with real street running/crossing not seen in the others!
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The Reader's submission also makes very nice use of the picture 'width' requirement!
Kept going back and forth between Steve Carter's and Drew's photos, both strike a cord with me, Drew's because I have used that old Santa Fe locomotive to spot what she is hauling, a grain train.
Used hard and put away wet quite a few times, but she still works hard.
Steve's photo could have been shot down here on the PTRA, threading in between buildings with no side clearance, hoping the truck drivers look both ways before they foul the track, and the way the smoke from the stacks blend with the high clouds...in the end, I went with Steve's shot, it fit's the theme better, at least for me.
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While technically excellent, in my opinion most of the photos missed the point of "Industrial Scene". Not so with Alex Mayes and Steve Carter's photos. Those two photographers captured the busy, gritty, smoky character of industry. For me, Steve Carter's shot said it best, however. That Tacoma area is an outstanding collection of industrial scenes, but Mr. Carter found one that is especially interesting and captivating. Congratulations to all, but to Mr. Carter, good show!
George Werkema, Lynden, WA
(I hope people use my thread in formulating their own responses, because I corrected the thread title to remove the computer-generated gobbledygook.)
I, too, chose Steve Carter's shot because it shows an industry, and industrial trackage. I liked Mike Yuhas' shot at Milwaukee, and the shot taken in Oregon, Illinois (can't go back and see whose that was right now), because of their big-industry feel, but those were basically pictures of mainline trains that happened to be going through an industrial scene (I know, that's what the title called for, but it's nice to see the scene and the train actually related to each other).
There were many different approaches to this topic, and all were good shots, but most of them, at least to me, fell short of the mark for one reason or another (my reason--nobody has to agree with me).
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)
Holy Cowcatcher Batman! Twelve Pictures to choose one!!! I’m out of breath just thinking about it. And starting the list, this wonderful tall scene from our reader, Steve Carter! I mean, the train is cool but LOOK AT THOSE BILLOWING SMOKESTACKS! Plus huge cumulonimbus clouds in the background. I think the rest of our photographers had better hit one out of the park to beat this one.My eyes tend to move toward “active” industry in this collection. Certainly, Tom Namos, Andy Cummings, and Tom Danneman have given us a nostalgic look at America’s yesterday. I appreciate the intrinsic value of their photos. These are certainly the “sad” photos in our collection today. Danneman’s the best one here.I also appreciate Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Winn’s photos, but although each photographer has written a good description of the personal emotion they feel about their shots, I’m inclined to set them aside.Admittedly, I have never seen a real life modern narrow-gauge railroad, and David Lustig’s shot, especially with his photo angle is really intriguing to me . . But not messy enough for me. Talk about messy, Mike Roque’s picture is certainly junky enough to pass muster, and I like the personal look past the engineer in Ken Fitzgerald’s entry.However, at last, I come to the ones that strike my fancy. Smokey industry and heavy trains. I love the background in Mike Huhas’ picture. And what the heck!?! A caboose. Be still my 1970‘s railroad-loving heart! I love Drew’s shot just because there’s an REAL Santa Fe engine at the lead. (Not this silly Halloween colored new BNSF travesty - Ask me how I really feel.)My selection finally comes down to Alex Mayes’ picture with NO SNOW and the original reader’s submission. And even tho I didn’t expect to say this, Alex’s picture pulls me in.I mean, Good Lord, look at that engine! We’ll never see something like that again in our country. Plus the dirt and grime of coal.Steve, I love your Tacoma Sky - But I think I’m going to Zimbabwe this week.
A mile from the tracks, but I still hear the whistle! Cleveland, Tennessee
I went with Steve's shot, although Alex actually had a very close second.
As noted, a number of the entries included trains and industry, but not "interacting."
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...
Wow. Talk about a fine selection of photos this week. I voted for Tom Danneman as his photo seemed to grab me. It tells the tale of a lot of cities and the industries that are no longer viable. I could have just as easily picked most of them as they were all on topic and nicely composed. My second choice would have been the readers submission from Steve. I like the composition with the tall smoke stacks as a backdrop.
I went with Mr. Roque's shot. Did you catch the kinks in the rail right in front of the loco?? How about the trash hanging over the edge of the hoppers!! Talk about nitty-gritty down and dirty!! For the most part "industry" is NOT pretty. This one said it all.
I went with Alex Mayes' shot. While I'm not a steam fan, Garratts are fascinating and the picture depicts an active industry. Growing up where I did, I'm partial to steel mills, coke ovens and similar industries which have a visual attraction of their own.
......I picked Steve Carter's very Industrial active photo. Took my eye as soon as I looked at it of being a very active place.....and it certainly looks Industrial. All the background structures and billowing steam / smoke really adds to the concept.
And others were showing good activity too....Just the same old story, had to pick one. That's the one that stood out to me.
Quentin
I usually vote before I check the results. I voted for reader Steve's shot....it's a great shot that meets the subject head on. I was surprised to see the results...way to go Steve.
Carl.....thanks for cleaning up the header.
Drew.....I loved your plug for votes with the war bonnet theme Hang in there......any day now we will be seeing red engines in white snow again.
Larry in Wauwatosa
I voted for Mike Roque's photo. When I saw the subject announcement, I had a mental image of what I would submit if I had the time to find and get to such a location during daylight hours - actually was at one in NE Philadelphia on Saturday, but others with me didn't have time to wait around - and it was pretty close to what Mike shot, for the same reasons already pointed out by others above. I'm certain that's because most of my railroad time has been spent in, at, and on the tracks at similar locations !
There are several others which are very good, and which also capture the subject and the relationship. Steve's photo is very dramatic - I'd seen it before over on RP.net, I believe - but it doesn't illustrate the 'service' relationship as well as Mike's, Dave's, Alex's, and Mike Yuhas'.
- Paul North.
I agree with many who point out that WORKING an industry is what this theme spoke for. Hence I went towards those shots that demonstrated such. The Tacoma item as well as Plaster City and lumber delivery shots show that. But, gosh, couldn't you just smell that coal smoke of that Garrett!! Now that is a classic "industrial scene"!!
I like David Lustig's photo. The narrow gauge train coming straight out of the plant. I thought that was a cool picture. David got my vote. There are not too many narrow gauge operations like this in this country.
All of the photos submitted were good photos. I think David's photo went very well with the theme.
King, NC.
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