???????

[Scooterb]

WTF??????

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 2&nseq=449


Maybe someone can tell me why?

[~Z~]

WTF??????

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 2&nseq=449


Maybe someone can tell me why?

i know how they got it...cranked up the fstop, long exposure, but jesus, that picture blows.

[Brian_F]

Ideas:

1. The crewmember was hyper-cafinated and could not be caught by the shutter.

2. The photographer was using about a 2000mm lens and panning with the loco when the crewmember showed up in the shot.

3. Camera on a tripod with an exposure of about 1/2 second while the crewmember turned around.

As for the why, who knows...

[Scooterb]

I just cant believe they would accept that!!!!!

[sd70accsxt700]

I dont know Scott, I know its kind of funky the way he blurred the crewman, but how often do you see photos of crew changes. I mean how many people have photos of me lugging my bags off the loco, anyone? It is not that bad, with the way he used the loco number to frame it. I would say its exelent, but I can see it.

[GP9R]

I agree WTF??? Why would they accept a picture of that ugly engine

[conrailmike]

Ideas:

1. The crewmember was hyper-cafinated and could not be caught by the shutter.

2. The photographer was using about a 2000mm lens and panning with the loco when the crewmember showed up in the shot.

3. Camera on a tripod with an exposure of about 1/2 second while the crewmember turned around.

As for the why, who knows...

I'm gonna say #3 is the correct answer. Still not sure why they accepted it though...

[AARR]

If it were dark it would look like an episode from Ghost Hunters

[MDH]

I just cant believe they would accept that!!!!!

They almost seem to be getting even more 'photography first - trains second' over there between the "Three points of light" and "Find the train" type of shots accepted lately - not to mention some of the more 'artistic' shots of track, signs, signals, etc that don't even feature a train. Of course I got this one in the DB so I probably shouldn't complain to loud!:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=241922

I do find it *very* subjective though as I've had a few rejects that I think are far more worthwhile sujects than some of this type of stuff...

Like this one, (for as long as it's still available):

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreject. ... 1415&key=0

Regards,
Michael

[conrailmike]

Whatever their reasons for choosing that shot and many others are, we may never know.

What everyone has to realize is that they are a "Railroad Photography" site. Which means their focus is on the "photography" side and not just a place for your run-of-the-mill, 6ft. high, 3/4 wedge shot of a manifest freight. If you read the "About Us" they even tell you that only 30% of the submitted images make it in.

They are looking for a properly exposed, in focus image with good lighting, and a interesting view or different "vision" doesn't hurt either. As for the signs, track, signals, etc. that's part of railroading and that's part of "Railroad Photography".

It's just like submitting your images to Trains and Railroads Illustrated (what used to be CTC Board). They have to be of a higher standard.

I would guess that most of us are just out shooting photos of trains because a good number of us are just railfans and not really into the "photographic/artsy fartsy" side of things. However, a little more of the "artsy fartsy" stuff might help your chances of getting in.

Want a great example of "Railroad Photography"? Pick up a copy of "Rolling Thunder - A Portrait of North American Railroading" by the late Gary J. Benson

I leave you with his closing remarks in his book "The Art of Railroad Photography"

"With safety being your first priority, be as aggressive as you can in your photographic endeavors. If necessary, borrow or rent a boat to get an unusual view of a commonplace rail scene. Try shooting up at trains when everybody else is shooting down. Use a telephoto lens when your buddies insist that a normal or wide angle is the only answer. Experiment with slow shutter speeds that may transform a routine photo into an extraordinary image. Climb that cliff you've always thought about shooting from and make, perhaps a photo that's never been made before. Work at making each of your train shots special. Learn to be selective about the tools and techniques you use, as well as the weather conditions and locations in which you work. What you get out of railroad photography is directly related to the time and effort you put into it. Lastly, in your quest for great images, don't lose sight of the primary goal of railroad photography - just having fun."

[BerkshireKid]

All i can say is WOW!!!!! I don't even try anymore.

[RailCanon]

I find that shot interesting, but I would not have accepted it had I been a screener.

[Racer]

I'm getting my photos rejected to this? Up your's Railpicky!

[BerkshireKid]

i'm with ya chris!!! BOYCOTT!!!!!!!!!!!

[conrailmike]

lets make our own site gregg will call it "Foamer-R-Us.com"

www.railfanphotographs.com and www.railfanphotography.com are available. Domains are only 9.99 a year.... why not?

www.midwestrailfanphotos.com

www.michiganrailfanphotos.com

both are available....

and wouldn't you know it..... www.foamers-r-us.com is available!

[J T]

I dont know Scott, I know its kind of funky the way he blurred the crewman, but how often do you see photos of crew changes. I mean how many people have photos of me lugging my bags off the loco, anyone?

I'll keep my eyes open for you, Matt.

I leave you with his closing remarks in his book "The Art of Railroad Photography"

"With safety being your first priority, be as aggressive as you can in your photographic endeavors. If necessary, borrow or rent a boat to get an unusual view of a commonplace rail scene. Try shooting up at trains when everybody else is shooting down. Use a telephoto lens when your buddies insist that a normal or wide angle is the only answer. Experiment with slow shutter speeds that may transform a routine photo into an extraordinary image. Climb that cliff you've always thought about shooting from and make, perhaps a photo that's never been made before. Work at making each of your train shots special. Learn to be selective about the tools and techniques you use, as well as the weather conditions and locations in which you work. What you get out of railroad photography is directly related to the time and effort you put into it. Lastly, in your quest for great images, don't lose sight of the primary goal of railroad photography - just having fun."

No truer words to live by! I could have written some of that myself.

[LSRC]

Instead of complaining that the photo got in, why not try to go out there and improve your own photography? I've probably had over 1,000 rejects. No I have not agreed with all of my rejects. And, of course, I don't always agree with some of the accepted images. But screener's are humans too. They have their own tastes and do make mistakes. With that said railpictures has made me 1,000,000 times the photographer. Railpictures is what shaped me to be a decent photographer which I currently get paid for (shooting weddings). Railpictures is one of the best thing that has happened to me as far as trains go (others include this site, being blessed with having a railroad with great power and extremely friendly crews, etc.).

For the record I like the shot. However I do not think that it's a railpictures type of shot and if I was a screener I would have most likely rejected it. But in all honesty I don't care. I'm not much of a "how come his/her photo got in but not mine". That's childish in my humble opinion. The decision to accept that photo was that screener's choice, not mine. I have no business commenting on that. I should be thankful that I have 70 photos in there and, most importantly, my work is getting slowly but steadily better.

All in all I'm not meaning to bash any of you guys. Please don't take it that way. You are all probably the best group of railfans out there and I just love this site! I just think that it's not any of our business weather that photo got accepted or not and rather than whine about it we should try to come up with our own creative angles.

-Jim

[conrailmike]

Instead of complaining that the photo got in, why not try to go out there and improve your own photography?

+1

I'm not much of a "how come his/her photo got in but not mine". That's childish in my humble opinion.

+1

...and rather than whine about it we should try to come up with our own creative angles.

+1

[GreatLakesRailfan]

What an awesome photo. I never would have thought to take something like that. On the other hand, the artistic value of the shot seems (to me) to be quite high. I can see non-railfan purchasing a copy of that shot for the artistic aspects rather than the fact that's the CNW Heritage unit...

[cmhfan]

I have to disagree with the above poster; I don't feel that the artistic vaule of the shot in question to be very high at all. The photo looks like a mistake. Plus, the lighting is terrible, and besides that, it barely has any sense of direction or focus. I know that the blurred crewmember *should* be the subject, but it's too faint and too blurred out to attract enough attention compared to the dominant presence of the locomotive in the background.

That one should have been rejected for "Poor aesthetic quality" without a doubt.