Trackside with Trains Vol. 304: "Passengers" is open for voting

[Murphy Siding]

K. P. Harrier

...............  It has been my experience in life that there are two types of people, (1) focused and theme conscious people, and (2) rattlebrain types that have an inability of stay on one subject.  As far as Tracksides go, it would go a long way if themes were emphasized and instructions were to vote on the photo that best brings the theme forward.  Without that emphasis and everyone being on the same wavelength, conflict is destined to occur.  Just look at all the sort of cats here at the forum with backs hunched up and meow-screaming.

K.P.

 

Meow? Huh?

      If you set up an American Idol type of voting contest without the world's most specific, narrow-minded instruction/rulebook how can you demand perfection? If this is supposed to be a black & white, technical, by-the-book, perfect photo journalism contest, then you need an elite group of experts to judge things. Forward your resume to Kalmbach.

    On the other hand, if the contest is to simply to give forum members something to enjoy and to talk about, then they should just have a theme and ask voters to vote on their favorite photo of those chosen to be within the theme. ‘Sounds simple enough to me.

 

[Murphy Siding]

K.P.- Have you by chance submitted photos to the Trackside with Trains contests and had your photos not make the finalists on a theme?

[Dakguy201]

I believe all of the photos were sufficiently close to the announced theme, even the waiting room scene.

Part of the fun of these contests is seeing how various entries make interpretations of the theme that I had not considered.  Another part is learning from better photographers than I am.      

[edblysard]

Wow again K.P.,

Losing your favorite forum has you wound up a tad.

I would opine that the Astrology forum went away because it is such a specialized hobby that that public participation and discussion is almost zero, and to understand even a tiny bit of what they discuss you have to be a heavy duty math junkie.

 

As for two types of people, I find that there are laid back mellow yellow folks, and up tight panty wads.

 

Seriously, it sounds like you have (or are creating) an issue with there being themes for the contest.

From the tone of your post, I gather you want either specific, pin point themes, or no theme at all.

 

I would imagine the “theme” concept came about to limit the sheer volume of photos the staff must pick thorough and preview, and narrow it down to a general type of image.

 

First consider the concept of there being several types of theme…

The general theme, such as this week’s theme, “passengers”, which could and did encompass everything from passenger equipment only to the people on platforms.

 

Or, a totally specific theme…such as “Three people on a NYC subway platform, one wearing a red knit watch cap and another with a Starbuck’s cup in their left hand”

 

I would imagine the reason Brian goes with the “general theme” concept is it is simply easier and ensures and allows a broad photographer’s interpretation, therefor creating a broad image choice in submissions.

 

To be too specific would severely limit the submissions.

 

As for your worry that the effort of the photographer to capture the theme of the contest is being wasted because Mookie doesn’t care about themes, you should note that not one of the photos in the contest were specifically shot just for this contest, in fact, only two of the photos were taken this year, one in January and one in April, long before the theme was announced.

One in fact, is from 1971!

 

So it seems your concern is both wasted, and false, just a reason to argue.

 

As for Mookie not caring about the theme, why should that matter one wit to you?

She likes railroad photographs, theme or no theme, she enjoys looking at them, and when she is asked to judge, she goes with whatever strikes her fancy.

I would surmise that most of the people here do the same, after all, the idea is to entertain and enjoy, not nit-pick.

 

The only time I ever consider the theme when voting is when every single photo is so zeroed in on the theme that I am left to choose the one that most closely fits, or when so many of the submissions seem to have nothing to do with the theme at all, and choosing the one that does or comes the closest is all that’s left.

 

So my criteria for choosing, and I bet most folks here use the same, whether they admit it or not, is which photo captures my eye, which one makes me keep coming back to it over and over, which one evokes an emotional response, because it strikes a familiar chord, or I have been there or seen something like the image that make me feel good.

Simply put, I pick the one I like best, regardless of anything else.

 

Now, most of us here are sorry your other favorite forum is gone, but if you have such a issue with that, then take it up with Brian and the Kalmbach staff

Just because your favorite forum is gone is no reason to try and ruin this one for the rest of us, and no reason to dump on the folks here.

 

To offer you the same advice you have offered others, if you don’t like the trackside contest, then don’t read the trackside contest!

 

Either that, or take your ball and go home, but quit trying to piss on the rest of us, trust me, there are more of us than you, and you will end up awfully wet! 

[Murphy Siding]

 

Holy cow! One of the submissions is from 1971? They should probably tighten up the rules to specific time frames and ambient temperature ranges.

 

[K. P. Harrier]

Murphy Siding (5-26):

Trackside hasn’t been pursued submissions-wise.

edblysard (5-26):

Understood!

Take care, everyone,

K.P.

[Mookie]

K. P. Harrier

Murphy Siding (5-26):

Trackside hasn’t been pursued submissions-wise.

edblysard (5-26):

Understood!

Take care, everyone,

K.P.

 

And Mookie?  

[K. P. Harrier]

Mookie (5-26):

Understood also!  Thanks.

Best wishes,

K.P.

[CandOforprogress2]

How do I vote? Mitch Goldman I am expecting a GG1 to come out of the mist