FANTRIP

Bruce Barrett, Trey McDowell, Zach Green, Larry Green, 2008 Grand Prize Winner Sam Dickey, Kathi Kube, Canon’s Brian Matsumoto, and Joe Brice gather for a group shot in the Feather River Canyon following Winterail 2009. Above, Bruce Barret t; r ight, Trains: Kathi Kube

Mind the gapTrains and Canon’s 2009 Photo Contest: Bridging the Gap

By KATHI KUBE

Railroads and railroading bridge many types of gaps, land and water being the most obvious. But there are many other exam-ples. An overnight passenger train bridges the gap of time, and rail transit connects people of different socio-economic demo-graphics. Older equipment, whether run-ning on main lines or resting on museum rails, can transcend time, and railroading itself, both as profession and passion, can bring generations of friends and families closer than most other jobs or hobbies.

Speaking of friends, the railfan com-munity itself draws together people of in-numerable backgrounds. The point is that railroads and railroading bridge many gaps that can be clearly and artisti-cally represented in photographs, which is why we chose “bridging the gap” as the theme for our 2009 photo contest, co-sponsored with Canon.

The rules are basically the same as last year’s: Send five of your best images de-picting the theme and taken between Nov. 1, 2008, and Oct. 31, 2009. We wel-come original color slides (35mm or larg-er, preferably in clear plastic pages), black-and-white prints, and digital im-ages on CDs with accompanying prints. To be considered, digital file entries must be at least 300 pixel-per-inch resolution and 4 x 5-inch size or larger with accom-panying 81 ⁄2 x 11-inch prints. Please be sure to include your name on your CD or slides, and print it clearly on the back of any prints — but not on the front, or they will be disqualified.

Like last year, you may adjust the image slightly in a photo processing computer

program, but elements of the image (such as power lines) may not be removed. Like-wise, elements may not be altered to add to the image, such as “turning on” a head-light, or introducing “props.”

Color manipulation, burning and dodg-ing, and adjustments to highlights and shadows are permitted. Just remember: We’re looking for an artistic yet realistic representation of the theme, and will be judging accordingly.

When submitting your digital images for judging, please send an original, un-modified JPEG or RAW image, as well as a JPEG with your desired manipulations. The print should look exactly as you’d like, since that’s what we’ll be judging.

As far as prizes go, Canon will send the grand prize winner an EOS 50D 15.1-megapixel digital camera with an EF 28-135mm zoom lens. This year Brian Matsumoto from Canon and I had such a great time with 2008 winner Sam Dickey at Winterail that we’ve decided to do it again. Canon will fly the winner to Stock-ton, Calif., to attend the 32nd Winterail on Saturday, March 13, 2010, and spend Sun-day railfanning with us.

The first-prize winner will receive Can-on’s EOS Rebel T1i, a 15.1-megapixel digital camera with full HD video capture, and an EF-S 18-55mm lens. The second-prize win-ner will receive $300, and five runners-up will receive a three-year subscription to Trains magazine.

Complete details will be in an ad in next month’s issue, so for now, consider the many gaps railroads and railroading bridge, and send us that winning shot.

FANTRIP