Trains.com

What's next for Trackside with Trains? Share your thoughts

5375 views
71 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 9:51 AM

Euclid

 

So I guess that proves that a theme acts as a firewall to prevent a flood of ¾ wedge shots from throwing the contest. 

 

 

Historically, it means whatever you want it to mean.

 

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 10:12 AM

Note to Brian:

It aint broke. Don't fix it. My 2 Cents

Norm


  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 1:09 PM

Just got my new issue of Trains.  It includes the annual photo contest, with a theme of "water."  The winning images that were published included a great variety of approaches, all of which somehow managed to involve water, including the grand prize winner, which did so in a spectacular, and unique manner.

There were over 400 images submitted by over 100 photographers (the rules allow up to 5 submissions per).

Next year the theme is "lucky 7."  

About the only difference between the print contest and "Trackside" is that they had a year (more or less) to gather their images, vs a couple of weeks.

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    August 2016
  • 3 posts
Posted by mtnclimberjoe on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 2:01 PM

Has this weeks theme been announced? I'm interested in starting to contribute but seem to always miss the theme announcement. It would be great to include it in the weekly newletter. 

Moderator
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,532 posts
Posted by Brian Schmidt on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 3:28 PM

It is in the Monday newsletter, about 2/3 down. When there are enough qualifying entries, there is a new theme every other week. Look for one on Sept. 12.

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

  • Member since
    August 2016
  • 3 posts
Posted by mtnclimberjoe on Thursday, September 8, 2016 12:20 PM

Ah every other week, I guess I assumed it was weekly. Thanks for calrifying. 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Friday, September 9, 2016 10:05 AM

Specific themes are a good idea as they provide focus and direction. Maybe photo essays instead of single photos? 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, September 12, 2016 10:58 AM

Ulrich
Maybe photo essays instead of single photos? 

We're working on a good mix here.  Perhaps a quarterly event, announced well ahead of time, which would be for a photo essay.  Continue the theme concept - submitting your five best general images opens things up a bit too wide for my tastes.

Whether from one's archives or from a special effort (road trip!) to build an essay, folks would have a chance to showcase more than one image - probably three or four, anyhow.  It should still be on a theme.

The open competition lets folks simply find/take a picture they're proud of.

And the regular themed contests provide the same focus we've been seeing right along.

When you think about it - the open competition will really be the toughest.  The image has to be really good in order to please the judges (us).  Technically "OK" but best illustrating a theme is far different.

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 6:19 PM

I thought this was an unsual winner of a photo contest.  The theme was "It's all in the details."  Are the other sumbissions in this contest shown on line?

http://trn.trains.com/railroads/2014/08/trains-2015-photo-contest

Moderator
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,532 posts
Posted by Brian Schmidt on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 9:16 AM
The three-photo sequence was the 2014 winner; the 2015 theme was details. We always include the previous winner with the next contest, regardless of the theme, to avoid suggesting ideas to potential entrants.

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 10:36 AM

Brian,

Okay, I see that the theme for the three-frames of the switch throwing was "Sequence," which explains the use of the three frames.  Are the other entries to that contest available for viewing on line?  That is an interesting theme because it seems more like a technique of compositon rather than a subject theme. 

Moderator
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,532 posts
Posted by Brian Schmidt on Thursday, September 15, 2016 10:19 AM

The 2015 contest winners are available here: http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2015/09/14/2015-trains-photo-contest-winners-it-39-s-all-in-the-details.aspx

I think that the 2014 contest is not available online.

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy