Photos like this is why RP is losing credibility in certain circles

jdirelan87 · 06-03-2013, 04:54 AM

I'm not normally one to call out other photographers (at least without just cause) or complain about a photo being accepted, but this photo is just plain BAD. I mean seriously, I don't think the screener even looked at the thumbnail let alone the full sized image!

PhotoID: 438574
Photograph © Julian L Hull

And its already making the rounds on other social media sites, I originally saw someone complaining about it on Facebook first.

If you claim to be the best railroad photography site on the net (which I think RP still is), you can't let stuff like this slip through the cracks. All credibility goes flying out the window!

jnohallman · 06-03-2013, 05:09 AM

Really? What's so bad about it? The focus and sharpness are good. Some people may not like the heat distortion, but it's a fact of life, and doesn't bother me much. Based on the signals, it looks to be level - the train is moving downgrade and into a superelevated curve. The nose is well lit. What were they supposed to reject it for - "we don't like BCRail pics?"

Jon

MDH · 06-03-2013, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnohallman

Really? What's so bad about it? The focus and sharpness are good. Some people may not like the heat distortion, but it's a fact of life, and doesn't bother me much. Based on the signals, it looks to be level - the train is moving downgrade and into a superelevated curve. The nose is well lit. What were they supposed to reject it for - "we don't like BCRail pics?"

Jon

'cause it's a high sun harshly backlit boring wedgie where the photographer let the front of the train run into the foreground bush. The BCRail leader isn't *that* rare and that train at that time/day could have been shot better. I wouldn't mind the poor light nearly as much if it was a more nosey tele-mash or shot from the sunny side. A well composed version like that probably would be worth being here, but this is just a poorly lit wedgie (tons of which get rejected every day here).

More to the point though, letting this on is just a screener "oops" and we all know those happen - though it does tend to annoy a person when a much better shot (than this one) gets kicked for a nit picky technical reason and then you see something like this show up in the photostream. I don't get worked up over this sort of stuff because a) the screeners are human too and b) this is all very subjective - even when it's "against the usual rules". It would only become problematic if too much lower quality stuff started slipping on but I don't think it's anywhere near that. If anything, the standards seem pretty tight in general (although there have been a few more cloudy NKP 765 & heritage shots than necessary - but that's personal taste

)

My 2 cents,
Michael

Ween · 06-03-2013, 06:06 AM

Probably the fact that it's backlit, but it's hardly the worst example one could use to illustrate lack of consistency among the screeners. There are a couple that get by ever 100-200 shots or so, so I'm not sure that there's been an uptick over the past in poorer quality shots getting in...

Mgoldman · 06-03-2013, 06:35 AM

Well - at least it's a BC Rail. You don't see them to often these days, especially in that paint scheme. And while the trucks are completely shadowed (a reason others would find a rejection e-mail), the nose is lit.

John - choose better examples! They abound!

No disrespect to these two photographers, one a good friend, but - really?

PhotoID: 438513
Photograph © Chris Wallace

PhotoID: 432910
Photograph © Steven Jensen

/Mitch

Mgoldman · 06-03-2013, 06:59 AM

Credibility aside, I spoke with quite a few photogrpahers along the photolines while chasing NKP #765. I'd say it was an even mix of annoying ads /spam and poorly worded rejections which typically imply "you suck" instead of something more supportive and less vague. That and to your point - consistency. You see poor photography slip through... fine. But then don't bash good photography for petty reasons or via vague and poorly worded rejections. Admin needs to better hone in on what is acceptable and what is not - and not have it vary so much from one screener to another (what's too dark, what's level enough, ect). Yet, offer a little more leeway as prudent - rare * hard to reproduce * historical * newsworthy * and, I'll say it - if you want to keep established photographers posting, give them a little extra leeway - where's Steve Crise? Mike Valentine? Michael Allen? Some stopped shooting, some got distracted but many of the "where are they now" that I've kept in touch with told me they simply got tired of the hassle. Or, only pop in so as to keep their blood pressure in check or, as a testament to the site, to keep their name out in the public eye. Has anyone checked Steve Crise's site lately? Or tried to find a specific photo on FLICKR? It's quite cumbersome.

It's a real shame as the potential of this site is astronomical. A one stop shop for what is still the best quantity of the best of the best in one place and a database still - currently - second to none in regards to who, what, where and when in regards to all things railroad related.

/Mitch

troy12n · 06-03-2013, 11:23 AM

Wasnt there some post recently about someone's "much better than that" photo with similar lighting conditions?

JimThias · 06-03-2013, 12:17 PM

Let's all vote it to be a PCA. That would piss everyone off!

magicman_841 · 06-03-2013, 02:15 PM

Great consist, indeed, but nothing unusual on the CN transcon.

Life goes on.

Holloran Grade · 06-03-2013, 03:21 PM

This one, while not that great was not as big a joke in my opinion as a certain photo from NS that recently made top 4 of 24.

People don't submit because the screening process has become completely anal.

It must be almost comical for a screener to reject one of Steve's images because it isn't cropped right.

I am getting tired of having photos on here the way the screener wants it.

That is not how I took it, and that is not what I wanted to show you.

Vindication for this premise is when BNSF contacts me because they want to use an image that RP rejected.

JMC · 06-03-2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

This one, while not that great was not as big a joke in my opinion as a certain photo from NS that recently made top 4 of 24.

Which "certain photo from NS" are you referring to?

Joe

Holloran Grade · 06-03-2013, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMC

Which "certain photo from NS" are you referring to?

Joe

PhotoID: 438347
Photograph © Norfolk Southern Corp

Joe the Photog · 06-03-2013, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

I am getting tired of having photos on here the way the screener wants it.

Then stop submitting, Dan.

troy12n · 06-04-2013, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

This one, while not that great was not as big a joke in my opinion as a certain photo from NS that recently made top 4 of 24.

Watch it buddy... forced vacation awaits those who speak such blasphemy

JimThias · 06-04-2013, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

Vindication for this premise is when BNSF contacts me because they want to use an image that RP rejected.

Where did they see your photo in order to contact you?

Holloran Grade · 06-04-2013, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimThias

Where did they see your photo in order to contact you?

Friends of BNSF.

troy12n · 06-04-2013, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimThias

Let's all vote it to be a PCA. That would piss everyone off!

Last time we did that, they revoked it. "The Letter"

Coloradorailfan · 06-03-2013, 07:32 PM

Here's a quote photographers should refer too. "Shoot photos the way you want them to be, not what somebody else wants".

Mgoldman · 06-03-2013, 08:23 PM

Here's a better quote - accept the vision of others work instead of attempting to transform it into your own vision. This, of course, would have merit proportionate to the skill and longevity of the photographer.

(Not that a second set of eyes is not beneficial - 2 degrees unlevel, dust spots, and poor color, ect. are not always apparent at first sight - these are technical flaws worth a second review. Crop and PEQ - those, however are far from right and wrong).

/Mitch

JRMDC · 06-04-2013, 12:28 AM

What's the problem with the NS shot, do you think it should not have been accepted or are you surprised it made ToL24? I've no problem with it, it's backlit but so what the subject matter isn't a wedgie but an event, nicely captured. Maybe a bit over-adjusted on the white t-shirts, my only complaint.

Mgoldman · 06-04-2013, 12:53 AM

Yup - proof again that not all photos on RP are accepted as strict examples of only the BEST railroad photos on the net.

Sometimes other factors rightfully tip the scales - sometimes.

Not a dog on a train... of course. Or a rarely seen steam engine display slightly obscured by a perrmanent fence. A train at a passenger station with an iron rail fence... but y'know, those other times.

/Mitch

Holloran Grade · 06-04-2013, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRMDC

What's the problem with the NS shot, do you think it should not have been accepted or are you surprised it made ToL24? I've no problem with it, it's backlit but so what the subject matter isn't a wedgie but an event, nicely captured. Maybe a bit over-adjusted on the white t-shirts, my only complaint.

If you can't see it, albeit, if it doesn't scream out at you, then I can't help you.

Perhaps I am too influenced by Disney and Hollywood, but I just look at that and go "wow."

As why it made top 4?

Same reason I clicked on it.....

WTF?

JRMDC · 06-04-2013, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holloran Grade

If you can't see it, albeit, if it doesn't scream out at you, then I can't help you.

Perhaps I am too influenced by Disney and Hollywood, but I just look at that and go "wow."

As why it made top 4?

Same reason I clicked on it.....

WTF?

Maybe you can't help me

but could you please tell me what I am missing?

JimThias · 06-04-2013, 02:46 AM

I always delete the "Friends" emails that I get. I signed up for that thing years ago and just haven't bothered to unsubscribe from the list yet. I was just wondering if you had a link to a site where your photos were displayed.

Ron Flanary · 06-04-2013, 05:01 AM

I've missed this forum. Reading this thread reminds me of this list is mostly like a dog chasing its own tail. I could lay out for a year, and miss absolutely nothing. When I return, the topics and the content are the same.

By the way...there isn't a thing wrong with the shot. Kudos for accepting a shot without full sun on the side. There are more ways to kill a possum than screwing it to death (....that's an Appalachian thing: most of you guys won't get it...).