Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 61

[asnjoe24]

I think both of the pictures chosen for this week's voting are awesome in their own ways. Grabbing "stealth mission" (the term I personally like to use when referring to nighttime train runs) shots can be pretty tricky because of poor lighting conditions, which can really screw up a shot. Erik's BNSF yard shot is an example that every once in a while, some of those shots, when carefully taken, can be invaluable. 

The one thing that I think gives Mike's UP shot a slight upper hand is the lighting, like he said. With the autumn time change comes an almost surreal feeling to the afternoon and evenings, particularly when the sun is partly obscured. More light also gives more detail, which admittedly can be a big thing for me in judging, and the fall background in Mike's shot is quite fetching. In my opinion, fall is one of the best times to take shots while railfanning because of the lighting.

- Bryan

[dante]

Neither photo - although good - is the best choice of those posted: should have selected the overall Galesburg yard shot vs. the Geep triple-header! Dante

[Anonymous]

I voted for Erik's Night Yard Shot - the contrast between the Light and Dark - and the Yard Scene really drew me in.

[broarthur]

Tough choices, tough choices, which one do I choose this week? The one that takes me back home, with the silos and farming and the trees. Or the night shot of a train coming through the yards, with tracks full of cars on both sides. Well, after looking at both pictures for a good while I went with the night shot. Not being around trains that much it was a shot that I don't see in the area that I live in. As always I enjoy both pictures greatly, thank again for the opportunity to enjoy your work.

[CNW 6000]

I voted Erik.  I've seen, it seems, too many shots of a couple spartan cabs on a mainline.  I never get tired of yard shots.

[fuzzybroken]

Well, I'll have to watch a freight train go by and count cars. Erik-Mike-Erik-Mike... Erik wins!

Wow, Erik really seems to have the luck of the draw this time...

[virogue]

Hi Everyone!

Not a big fan of the UP... but does it matter?  Mike, as you describe very sharply, I really felt the atmosphere of your scene.  Feels like I were there too, and that's the cool thing about photography in my humble opinion.  A real sense of season and place, lots of memories.  And the yellow Geep really stands out!

Erik, you got the artistic shot.  I suppose, since I am not a good photographer, that you had the right eye at the right time, and used your camera's abilities at their best.  The result really is unusual in terms of colors and feeling.

Mike, you get my vote this week! 

Thank you both for allowing us to travel trackside with you AND letting us post comments, that's unique!!!

Vianney Roge

France

[espeefoamer]

Hmmmm. When I saw Erik's night shot,I said to myself,I'm voting for that one. Then I saw Mikes rural photo of a manifest freight.Well, I'll have to watch a freight train go by and count cars. Erik-Mike-Erik-Mike... Erik wins!

The night shot was great.I also enjoyed the transformer load on the train to the left.How many times do you see four trains in one picture?

[gemotor]

Ah yes, it's Erik's night shot for me this time. It doesn't do well in enlargement, but I can enjoy a smallish photo such as this one. Just loaded with mood! I can almost hear the locomotives sneaking along in Run 3 (or whatever the throttle positions are called these days). Technically, Mike's shot is sharp in spite of the haze. Nice work. The vehicles off to the right are a distraction, though. Last week I wrote that I enjoyed seeing a train in the landscape. Well, I do, but I've had enough experience with trains in a yard at night where the sound is enhanced by the cool, moist air. The sound and the sight are synergistic. I just had to go with Erik's photo.

[winnipegtrainguy]

A beautiful, moody, haunting photo. I had to reply to this one! You should go out at night more often.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Boy, talk about a tough choice! I like both photos, and it's really hard to decide. So I flipped a coin, and as I was fliping I was hoping for Mike's to come up, so I decided that was the one I should vote for. They are both awesome shots though!

Noah

[da Milwaukee beerNut]

One for de nudes  - butt barely.
The whole palatte of empty November envelops Mike's countryside shot. The dormant farm equipment keeps my eye from staring like a deer at the ditchlights.
Of interest in Eric's yard shot - the depressed load left of the engine appears to be equipment built by Waukesha Electric. A tough vote to cast this week, guys.
Wear your blaze orange and keep on shootin !!!

[jgfuller]

I spent most of my Operating time in large terminals, so I'd have to vote for the Galesburg hump yard shots!

[Anonymous]

With being a fan and active in railroad and night photography.. I think that with both combined makes a great picture!! Nice job!

[lhtalbot]

Once again, both nice shots. Have to go with Bergie's this time. It jumps out at you. I love the little touches of color to remind you it isn't a b&w shot.

Very well done, both of you.

Regards

Larry in Wauwatosa

[Anonymous]

Always enjoy your photos, both of you, but thought Erik's photo was just a little unusual  so he gets my vote this week.  Thanks again to both of you for sharing your photos with us.

[fuzzybroken]

Mike -- you shoulda used the Lebanon shot, or the Clyman Jct. shot!!!   Actually, all three of 'em are awesome... but Erik's night shot edges your entry out very well!

[Anonymous]

Amazing Shot Eric!! I cant beleive how crisp this is esp as it was done in low light with your camera set at ISO 200. It gives a night-time grandeur to an otherwise fairly common occurance. Did the sepia tone happen from the sodium vapor lights or did you adjust the colors to sepie to further enhance the surrealness due to low light? I liked the other two shots you showed prior to the one you put out for the vote. Truth be told, I liked the nearly empty yard throat with the 2 engines threading their way through even better than the vote photo. Is there a site separate that u perhaps have all the shots from that night? Great work!!!

[fuzzybroken]

Awesome shots, both of 'em!  But there's just something about that night shot...  It's so dark it's almost B&W, with just a hint of color making its way to the camera -- a much more interesting shot.  Great job, Erik, you got my vote!

[route_rock]

 Gotta go with Erik as I was at work the night he was there ! (Almost went with Mikes cause I didnt get my picture took lol)

 

[walthuston]

Oh! How I love night photos. Keep them coming.

Keep those photos of the 38-2s coming too.

Walt

[kuschi]

I went w/ Mike this time. Erik's picture would have made it if the headlight of the engine hadn't be so bright and cover up all the details around it.

[DICKK]

Voted for Eric.   Just something about the picture.

[UnionPacificVic]

Erik's shot shows true creativity. It's not your typical, mindless "run by," or other standard railroad pix. This one really shows some thinking and artistic style and thats what gets my attention. With due respect to Mike's shot, we've seen that picture 100 times. Erik's shot is different, it's fresh,-- kind of like Mike's shot of the Milwaukee Road steamer at night a few months back. Personally, that's what I look for in this weekly challenge.

[Rocket Man]

I like Bergie's better this week.

Mike, are you planning to return to the same place around the first week of October, 2007???

[Chris Owens]

I Really enjoyed the night shots!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Ry.

[LVJJJ]

Love the monochromatic composition of Erik's nite shot, also very unique and all railroad.  Up here in at the end of the earth (Blaine Washington) rite next to Canada, saw one of the new GP-38's leading red-silver & green-black.  While a few thru trains use the big six axle units, we have mostly GP-38's (actually GP-39M's) switching local industries (Alcoa, BP Refinery). We have some rebuilt GP-9's and GP-30's too. Thanx to BNSF we get a lot of color on the tracks which helps in this drab, dreary, wet, end of the earth excuse for a town (I loved living in Las Vegas but my wife wanted to be with the kids and grandkid, go figure).  However, right now we have 15" of snow, 13 degrees and brite sunshine thanks to a northeaster.  Next week, back to 49 degrees & rain.  Larry in Blaine 

[zardoz]

I really liked both this week.  Mike's farm scene is very nice and well composed, and the signal by the crossing is a nice touch.  But the haze, for me, is a turn off. 

However, Erik's photo invoked much more of an emotional response from me.  It is almost like a model railroad photo!

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As an aside note--Mike, is that A-file load (the transformer) in your 5:59pm shot of the GP-38's the same one as in Erik's entry photo (just in front of the locomotives on the track to the left)?

If so, what a coincidence!!

[mandelswamp]

While Mike's entry is a pleasant composition, I found Erik's entry to be much more interesting and an excellant example of what the Canon is capable of.  So my vote this week went to Erik's photo.  Hope you both had an enjoyable Thanksgiving!