My thanks go out to [link] "Babynuke" for featuring three of my deviations in his journal. Since Kamui and I are still busy trying to recover our old picture archives from a crashed hard drive and get the computer up and running, I figure it's time to continue the "game" in which I recently participated.

The rules are simple:

1:\ The first 10 deviants to comment on this journal entry will get three of their deviations (my choice) featured on said journal entry.

2:\ In order to continue the chain reaction of good will, those of us who have previously participated ask that you continue by creating a similar journal entry in your own gallery.


Winner Number 1
Shenanigan87 [link]

Death Row
[link]
There are lots of depressing pictures from the 1960's depicting retired steam locomotives queued up to get cut up. It's amazing to me that electric locomotives have begun to reach that age here.
Forgotten Summer
[link]
I can identify with the feeling of forgotten happiness depicted in this shot. When I moved back to my hometown of Kansas City back in 2006, I found that the pool where I learned to swim had been ripped out and turned into a grassy field.
Standing Tall Against Time
[link]
Big industrial machinery, especially older equipment fascinates me, and I really like the solarized effect achieved in this picture with help from Photoshop.

Who's next? (^_^)

It appears that my friend Markus has decided to join the fray. I actually met him when he was photographing trams from my front yard! He speaks fluent German and English, and he is a member of a local tram preservation club. I showed him my DA, then he joined up a few days later. As much as I like photographing the trams that run right by my house, I still feel my pictures play second fiddle to his. So, without further adieu, I present "TramwayPhotography" [link]

Derailment in Heddesheim Part 3
[link]
Although I've personally witnessed the process of re-railing a freight car, there's something still disconcerting about seeing that much weight and bulk suspended in the air with wheels dangling helplessly.

Eyes Like A Soccerball
[link]
This just goes to prove that even we railfans are capable of making beautiful photographs without a train in sight.

Changing a Train into Art Part 4
[link]
Most railfans shoot from bridges over mainlines, grade crossings, passenger platforms, and other iterations of public property. Markus though, has the rare privilege of access to a tram maintenance shop due to his membership in a tram preservation club, and he got a whole series of pictures showing the process of applying a one-of-a-kind paint job to a classic Duewag tram that runs in regular service now.


My first North American Deviant has decided to crash the party! LDLawrence [link] has a gallery filled with interesting motive power and classic automobiles. I've picked three lesser-known pictures in his gallery that have a certain panache none the less.

What Was That
[link]
Again, we have an example of a railfan shooting non-railroad pictures to great aplomb. Kitties are cute, and there's not much more to be said about this shot.

In Hiding
[link]
With a beautifully-exposed sky in the background, this composition really piqued my interest. Technically, it's more a roster shot than anything else, but the colors are vibrant, and the trees in the foreground soften the austerity of the engines.

Big Boom
[link]
With RJ Corman contractors cleaning up most derailments with truck-based lifts these days, very few railroads keep these gi-normous cranes around anymore. The subject combined with the frigid-looking sky and ground make me shiver.

Who's next?


So far, the score is: 2 Germans, 1 North American, and now a Brit! CJ Sutcliffe [link] has a wide variety of British railroading subjects in his gallery, including diesel, electric, and steam equipment of a wide variety of ages. He also photographs interesting automobiles, the occasional civilian and military ship, and once in a while, he shoots landscapes. I dug through the depths of his gallery to find these representative examples of his work and versatility.

Ark Royal
[link]
For an American who's used to Nimitz class supercarriers, this cute little aircraft carrier (used mostly for Harrier jump jets and helicopters) almost calculates an error message in my eyes. The reality is that there are more aircraft carriers of similar design to this British vessel than what the US floats over the seven seas.

Midland Mainline Class 42 HST
[link]
Even into the 1990's, these diesel-powered high speed trainsets maintained faster average speeds than the TGV and Shinkansen. Although their top speeds can't compare, their aggressive scheduling and long stretches of operating at maximum authorized speed allowed them to catch up while TGV's had to slow down to run on conventional routes into city centers. I like the composition on this one...placing the power car in front of an ancient stone wall. We rarely get such backgrounds in the 'States, and most of the infrastructure in Germany is postwar concrete.

Dovestones 16
[link]
Such a clear, blue sky is rare in England, and the composition here is really interesting with the lake shore in the foreground running almost in perfect parallel with the horizon, creating two triangles of blue. Yet another railfan has proven his ability to take good photographs without aiming at railroads.

Another Deviant I've met in person decided to show up. Brandon and I "met" on DA, then went on a fantrip together. Funny how we ended up posting similar pictures with similar titles on DA a little while later... So, I give you "Factorone33" [link] who currently works as a photojournalist for a rural newspaper. Although his first love is railfanning, he also has a soft spot for firefighting equipment. His fractal gallery and model work are also of good quality.

Angela XXVI
[link]
Though this is not a classic portrait of a supermodel, I like the overall composition of this portrait. The model has a friendly expression on her face, which is quite rare in most portraits these days. The background is beautifully exposed, and she just looks like she'd be a wonderful friend to have.

Vortechs
[link]
It's difficult to choose one fractal that Brandon's made and call it the best. This one caught my eye because of the aqua tones in it, and the lines of reflection running through the picture at odd angles to the edges.

Foreign Power
[link]
I love the storm clouds in this picture. There were several pictures from our joint fantrip that I liked too, but I don't want to plug the competition for pictures of Argentine yard...

Who will play next?