While we're picking on RP......

John West · 11-11-2011, 11:28 PM

I noticed this shot by David Crosby

PhotoID: 380760
Photograph © Dave Crosby

was a Screeners Choice.

Nice image, but Dave posted seven very nice images from this trip and I would suggest ANY of the other six would have been better choices for an SC. The scenery in the SC is not all that attrative, and while it is a decent shot of a runby, the main thing that sets it appart is a way too dark plume of smoke that screams railfan runby.

Guess I'm cranky today. But I really think RP could do better.

JRMDC · 11-11-2011, 11:40 PM

To me, John, the other shots are just steam/charter wedgies, cool to see but not notable in any way. I would put this one a notch above, but not exemplary either (but wish I had been there to take it myself!), too tight left and right for one:

PhotoID: 380755
Photograph © Dave Crosby

I would like to see more on the left on the SC, so I don't think it is excellent. And the plume is dramatic in its own way, which is artificial but helps the photo be a better photo, albeit not a better record of what steam usually is, perhaps. But I would not say the others are better choices for an SC.

nikos1 · 11-11-2011, 11:42 PM

I'll be damned.....I guess I should have sent my shot from that location in....
Its by no means a runby, the train actually is working hard up the grade but alot of people have gotten that shot, why this one got SC I dont know but its nice regardless.

Ron Flanary · 11-11-2011, 11:47 PM

It's a nice shot....but not even close to being "Screener's Choice" material. It's a well-lit, sunny day "burning of Rome smoking wedge" (to quote Lucius Beebe). The shots of this trip are all predictable and quite formulaic shots (albeit "pretty"). It's like shooting fish in a barrel (or a smoking 2-8-0 in Georgia on a sunny day).

If you want to be considered a "photographer"---show me me something fresh and exciting to make me cry!!!

JRMDC · 11-11-2011, 11:47 PM

First one in gets the SC!

PhotoID: 341929
Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

No, wait, second one does...

PhotoID: 361239
Photograph © Chase Gunnoe

Since the last time I complained about this, I have learned that a different shot, just three before me in the queue, got an SC, greatly reducing my changes. That, plus the fact that Chase's shot is stronger, makes it understandable.

But, generally, either submit first, or if is good, hold back until the charter wave of submissions has past.

bigbassloyd · 11-11-2011, 11:49 PM

I thought it was kind of normal for an SC as well.

And no, I'm not just saying that because my crappy image no longer leads the list..

Loyd L.

troy12n · 11-12-2011, 12:13 AM

There is certainly a lot going on against that shot, but it's certainly not a bad shot at all.

John West · 11-12-2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy12n

There is certainly a lot going on against that shot, but it's certainly not a bad shot at all.

No, it is not a bad shot. The issue I'm trying to raise is not whether or not that shot or any of the others David took should or should not be SC's, simply that the one shot the screener chose was rather obviously (to me at least) not the best of the bunch. I'm picking on the screener not David's pictures!

bigbassloyd · 11-12-2011, 12:21 AM

There's nothing wrong with the photo(s) at all. I just didn't think it was SC caliber of the bunch either.

Loyd L.

troy12n · 11-12-2011, 12:28 AM

Who knows what they are thinking when it comes to this stuff, but I looked through all of today's shots and this one I thought was great. Even though it's just a wedgie, it's a very well executed one with fairly rare units and killer scenery and reflection. I at least PC'ed it.

PhotoID: 380733
Photograph © James Belmont

Joe the Photog · 11-12-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Flanary

It's a nice shot....but not even close to being "Screener's Choice" material.....

Yes, it is. Or at least a screener thought so. It's not a POTW, but rather a Screeners Choice, which I suppose means it struck a screeners fancy when they were screening it.

Hatchetman · 11-12-2011, 01:20 AM

I liked this one:

PhotoID: 380416
Photograph © Till Mosler

Ron Flanary · 11-12-2011, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe the Photog

Yes, it is. Or at least a screener thought so. It's not a POTW, but rather a Screeners Choice, which I suppose means it struck a screeners fancy when they were screening it.

Semantically speaking, you're correct.

What part of a screener's anatomy is his "fancy," because I might want to strike it myself....

Mgoldman · 11-12-2011, 02:06 AM

Ha - y'all disagreed with me when I suggested a new "badge" highlighting some of the best of the best, the more unique, hard to capture or simply lucky submissions and now we're left with everyone expecting a screener to give such an award when in fact the SC is nothing more then one man's favorite(ing) of an image that HE alone simply found appealing. It's not an award of merit, in fact, it's simply an "award" of preference.

An "award" that puts that image a head of the pack and on the front page, for some reason in equal standing to a PC, if not more (time on front page). C'est la RP.

/Mitch

Joe the Photog · 11-12-2011, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Flanary

Semantically speaking, you're correct.

What part of a screener's anatomy is his "fancy," because I might want to strike it myself....

I believe striking a screener's fancy is still illegal in the South.

davecrosby · 11-12-2011, 05:31 PM

I'm surprised it got on to begin with, wires and all. I just liked the industrial setting, smokestacks etc... Go figure.

It's not a runby, or even done for show, as the fireman needs to coal up pretty good here while drifting on level track for the steep grade that starts just behind me. This is just another Summerville run. Even stumbling on the car in Rock Spring was astroke of luck. It's owned by the son of one of TVRM's founders if I heard correctly.

lock4244 · 11-14-2011, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRMDC

But, generally, either submit first, or if is good, hold back until the charter wave of submissions has past.

Or don't bother to submit if a screener was there shooting the same subject.

JRMDC · 11-14-2011, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lock4244

Or don't bother to submit if a screener was there shooting the same subject.

He wasn't a screener at the time ...

Just a good photog who knew a good thing when he saw it (aka, me away from the line at that spot first!) and then ran with it.

If you have nothing big to take pride in, take pride in small things.

Freericks · 11-14-2011, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRMDC

He wasn't a screener at the time ...

Just a good photog who knew a good thing when he saw it (aka, me away from the line at that spot first!) and then ran with it.

If you have nothing big to take pride in, take pride in small things.

Story of my life, and the reason I live off crumbs.