Forum Competition #148 - Machines

[Gordon Armstrong]

We have had a lot of lovely flowers and fluffy pets so I fancy something a bit shiny and powerful.

I imagine powerful trains or cars,and gleaming chrome or industrial machinery, perhaps proud relics of the industrial revolution. You might go for something smaller.

I look forward to your pictures.

Closing date - midnight 16th June.


Gordon

[melbarnes]

Here's a powerful passenger train - taken in Goa. You cannot see the number of coaches on the train, because of the bend in the track, but the train took a few minutes to pass me, so I reckon there were at least 30 coaches on it. The driver blasted me with his horn because I was low down near the track - made my ears sore!

IMG_1460.jpg (60.09 KiB) Viewed 10769 times

[bazzasmeg]

Leander in full steam, a great British machine.

[yachtsman1]

I have literally 100's of run of the mill pictures of machinery, so I thought I would go off the wall for my entry. This engine is in daily use would you believe? full marks for identifying its current use.

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,
Eric.

[Mrs Yachtsman1]

This picture was taken at Hunton Steam Fair, Hunton North Yorkshire. Made me smile.
Margaret
Mrs Yachtsman1.

2009 09 14_0855.jpg (279.38 KiB) Viewed 10748 times

[John]

013 The Machine Shop.jpg (351.34 KiB) Viewed 10739 times

The Machine Shop.

[al c field]

Here is a small tank

eastern star2.jpg (209.93 KiB) Viewed 10707 times

[Tracey McGovern]

Tram-1.jpg (179.4 KiB) Viewed 10679 times

[mikeaspinall]

DSC_7844 copy.jpg (225.09 KiB) Viewed 10652 times

[Janice Freeman]

Classic Cars

Classic cars.jpg (163.55 KiB) Viewed 10620 times

[Gordon Armstrong]

Thank you for all these pictures.I have never publicly judged any else's work before so this is a bit daunting. I will try and say what I think about each picture but I do like all the images and it is only my opinion.

1. This is a powerful engine emphasised by the low shooting position and the line of carriages disapearing into infinity. The driver is clearly visible and there is a bit of jungly background to place the image. I like the slightly muted colours and there is a bit of smoke to the side to demonstrate that it is moving. I like this image.

2. I have never been a train enthusiast but this sort of shot makes me understand why other people are!! This is a great image. The name and number make it a record shot for people who understand these things. The train is to the right but balanced by the round sign on the left. The curve through the image works well. The best bit, and the main strength in the image for me is the fabulous layered smoke and steam as this great beast builds up it's power to accelerate towards us. The only distraction for me is the straight line across the tracks but that might be an important part of railway stuff!!
.
3. I can't work out what this is for. The gear box is still on so could be driving something or the fan could be keeping the lady of the house cool while she enjoys a G&T in the garden. It might be just there to annoy the neighbours in the houses at the back. I like the textures and the rusty metal but the frame distracts from the engine and the background is cluttered but that is part of the context.

4.This is a lovely image of a typical British summer event taken away from the main arena. everything says hot Sunday afternoon -the grass is parched, the people look hot and bothered and the background is quiet although the plume of smoke indicates that there is someone else behind the vans.I like the fact that the wife and dog exude boredom and she has brought a sponge to sit on. There is a bit of red repeated across the image but it is a shame that the front of the engine is lost against the dark car. I like this image but the machine is irrelevant, this could equally be a dog or horse show.

5.I like this image a lot. I like the monochrome palette and the bright and darker bands leading me down the room (even the light shades alternate black and white). There is loads of texture and pattern and lots to keep me interested. I did wonder whether the middle was a bit empty with all the interest around the sides but on balance I think that it works.

6.This is a nice engine. Again I don't know whether it is a particularly interesting example but it has no signs or markings to catch my interest. I like the wet platform and the shiny engine but there is quite a lot of empty sky. I want to know what the two men in orange are looking at!

7.Nice picture of a tram. The driver is well seen and looks the part. I like the conductor hanging of the back which gives some interest at the back of the picture but putting the driver at the centre has left the conductor a bit close to the edge. The slightly sepia monochrome treatment is appropriate but for me it doesn't work with the crisp sharp image produced by your modern lenses. I think that the whole image would benefit from some treatment to mimic older optics.

8. This is certainly shiny and powerful and the jet ski is captured in a strong position in the frame. I like the image of the man on his machine but the background doesn't quite work for me (although I am not entirely sure why).

9. I don't enthuse about trains but I do like cars and I really like this one! It is difficult to isolate cars at shows but this uses the surrounding cars to advantage. There is enough of each car to give context but not enough of any one to compete. The only area where they get in the way is along the top of the MG's bonnet towards the front. I like the tents and the group of men which tell us what is going on. I especially love the monochrome treatment.


I hope that I haven't rambled on too much or written rubbish but it wouldn't be the first time!

At the end of all that my judgement is:

3rd equal (because I can't decide) the two trains from Mel and Bazzasmeg

2nd Machine shop from John

1st Classic cars from Janice.

[Janice Freeman]

Well I never!! Thanks Gordon for al the constructive comments. I love machines - which is quite unusual for a lass! My Father was a motor body specialist and I used to spend hours with him watching him work. There are some great images in this comp and I wouldn't have like to have chosen. Better get my thinking cap on now. Watch this space for the next subject.

Jan

[John]

Well done Gordon, you did just fine! And well done Janice, what are you going to challenge us with next?

[yachtsman1]

I thought my rusty engine would be confusing, obviously the judge has never been to Deal in Kent, if you walk along the foreshore there are a number of examples in varying state of decay, with warning signs to keep clear, they are used to pull the fishing boats up onto the steep shingle beach

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, I found it amusing, if a little sad.
As I said on my entry, we have literally hundreds of machine images, so I compiled a short list of about 20, into an AV show, but instead of a sound track, I added the appropriate sound effect, it's on YouTube so the images are a little degraded, so for the AV enthusiasts, here it is.
Eric
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQlI6pfidBE

[Gordon Armstrong]

Eric, you have found out my guilty secret.......

.......I have never been to Deal in Kent (or Deal anywhere else for that matter).