Florida Railroad Experience

Remembering the Railroads

The Photo Exhibition and Contest

Railroads have a long and storied place in American History.  Innovation and invention is one of the foundations of American society and culture.  The railroads were leaders in the Industrial Revolution which brought America into an age that continues today through major technology advances.  Railroad technology is rooted very early in American history.  Nearly a century before the industrial revolution in 1802, Thomas Jefferson said “The introduction of so powerful an agent as steam to a carriage on wheels will make a great change in the situation of man.”

Since the dawn of the iron horse, photography has always been a vital element in capturing progress and history.  A noted piece of this hits history is America’s railroads.  Professionally, seeing the works of H. Reid, Otto Perry and O. Winston Link bring admiration for the level of their work.  To this day many railfans continue to be inspired by these artists and their art.

Though professional railroad photography as a specialty is rare, many amateurs continue the traditions established by former generations capturing the spirit and excitement of railroads through still photography.  On any given weekend, you will find rail fans near rail lines capturing the excitement of rail transportation through still photography and other visual art forms.

“Remembering the Railroads”, a Railroad Photo Exhibition presented by The Florida Railroad Experience is an annual event to preserve a portion of the visual history of Florida railroading.  This rich and varied exhibition will surprise and delight even those who have already experienced railroad photography as an art form.  Artists will bring their own unique artistic interpretations to the exhibit.  Visitors to the exhibition can expect to see Florida railroad history presented in all its glory, from the days of “locals” moving people between towns to the long double stacks of intermodal service of today, from the early days of unpredictable passenger service in the 1800’s to Amtrak’s sleek and modern service today.

Florida Railroad Experience is now accepting entries into the photo contest, part of the exhibition.  Enter photographs in any of our categories – Motive Power, Freight Service (including Freight Cars, Caboose and Shoving Platforms), Passenger Service (Including Passenger Trains), Stations, Railroad Maintenance Facilities and Model Railroads.  Compete to win some pretty great prizes.  After reviewing the contest rules and list of frequently asked questions, you will be fully prepared to enter the contest.

Entries will be accepted until October 21, 2011.  Finalists will be announced on November 1, 2011.  Final judging will take place November 5, 2011 at 5pm.

All finalists will be included in the photo exhibition and will be notified of their acceptance as a finalist via email.  The exhibition will be on display at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in downdown Bradenton, FL from November 5, 2011 through November 27, 2011.  All entries will be avialable for viewing on the Florida Railroad Experience website through December 2011 and all winning photographs will be displayed on the Florida Railroad Experience website through October 2012.

All photographers entering the contest are encouraged to attend the exhibition's opening night reception but Florida Railroad Experience is unable to provide complimentary tickets to contestants.
 

Click here for the contest rules (PDF) or Right Click here and select "Save As" to save a copy of the contest rules.

Photo Contest Prize Sponsors

Photodex - the Makers of Proshow, the award winning slide show and video creation software	The O. Winston Link Museum	The Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Airline Historical Society

Photo Contest Prizes Announced

Here is the current listing of photo contest prizes

Best of Show

·        An External Blu-Ray DVD Burner to take your video presentations and share them with friends and family.

·        A copy of Award Winning, Proshow Gold by Photodex.  This software will let you turn your photos and videos into fun, animated video presentations with hundreds of effects. Easily add transitions, motion effects or fancy pre-made slide styles and musical scoring to your show for emotional impact.

·        Trains That Passed in the Night (on DVD), the film of the story of O. Winston Link's documentation through film and sound of the last days of steam railroading in the United States.

·        Railfan for Life: The Photography of Hal Carstens, Edited by Carstens Publishing with a forward by Phyllis Carstens

·        Best of Show Engraved Crystal Trophy

1st Runner Up

·        A copy of Award Winning, Proshow Gold by Photodex.  This software will let you turn your photos and videos into fun, animated video presentations with hundreds of effects. Easily add transitions, motion effects or fancy pre-made slide styles and musical scoring to your show for emotional impact.

·        What A Picture I Got! - The Documentary of the life of O. Winston Link and his passion for steam train photography

·        Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast Railroad by Larry Goolsby

·        1st Runner Up Engraved Crystal Trophy

2nd Runner Up

·        A copy of Award Winning, Proshow Gold by Photodex.  This software will let you turn your photos and videos into fun, animated video presentations with hundreds of effects. Easily add transitions, motion effects or fancy pre-made slide styles and musical scoring to your show for emotional impact.

·        The MTH Story, the history of Mike’s Train House

·        2nd Runner Up Engraved Crystal Trophy

Category Winners

The top three winners in each Category will receive a ribbon and certificate.  The top winner in each category will receive a plaque with their name on it and the year of the contest.