Yes, I saw it today, even in 3D. What can I say, all those CGI animations cross over to scenes with "real" actors in a rather seamless manner, quite baffling! Very enjoyable to watch, and the acting was decent as well. Technologies of the future are portrayed in a logical fashion, we could all imagine stuff from the film being standard in our future some day, nothing was overdone to the point of being unrealistic here. The CGI characters were also of an excellent design, they look foreign, but not unrealistic, and the way you can see the "real" actors facial features being included was also pleasant. Not to mention plants and wildlife having recurring distinct features, showing that some thought was put into their appearance. Generally speaking, it's quite a good movie, I can recommend it.

However, there was one big flaw, at least to me...


SPOILERS AHEAD

A detailed synopsis can be found on Wikipedia, here's just my short version:

The story, and the characters were very, very foreseeable, almost stereotypical. There is a foreign planet, humans want to mine for "unobtanium" (yes, an intended play on words), and naturally, a clash with the indigenous inhabitants of the planet arises. The "Avatars" are hybrids of humans and the indigenous beings, controlled by human operators, to interact with the inhabitants, called Na'vi. The original plan was to get to know their way of life so they can be tricked or forced to leave their home, which happens to sit above a particularly large deposit of unobtanium. Of course, the protagonist adopts their way of life, and becomes one of them, but unable to stop the inevitable from happening: Humans destroy the tribe's Hometree with their advanced mechanized armada, mostly helicopter-like gunships. The next step is too clear: The protagonist, banished at first, regains the tribe's trust, and calls in other tribes to take up the fight against the invaders. The ensuing battle seems lost, but at the last minute, the indigenous inhabitants prevail, the humans are expelled from the planet, and the protagonist stays with the tribe, happy ever after.

It wasn't just the story that was rather lame if you will, but also the "evil" character, who was so stereotypically evil it almost hurt. Not to mention the ruthless businessman in charge of the entire operation, etc. etc. and so on. In a sense, the plot made me think of the one from "The Last Samurai", except for the ending. And to be quite frank, if there was such a planet as shown in the film, and if humans were really after some valuable mineral, and if there really was an indigenous tribe of humanoid beings that seem very in-touch with their surrounding... And if it really came down to a fight between them and humans... And if they would have actually won this fight, which is unlikely, since humans were and are masters of waging wars... If all of this would have happened...

Do you really think the humans would have just walked away, accepting their shameful defeat, abandoning their even more shameful goal of wrecking that beautiful ecosystem for some minerals? Hell no! They'd be back! Not with some shuttle converted to a bomber that was taken out by a measly hand grenade on one engine's intake grating, or gunships with exposed rotors. They'd come back with new and deadly war machines, adapted to this different world and the fighting techniques to which they lost earlier. They would shoot and bomb the shit out of everything and get their hands on those minerals, no matter how utterly worthless they seem when compared what that foreign world has to offer. They might even just nuke everything and have remote controlled machines mine the minerals for them, who knows. Humans apparently never learn from their mistakes, we've had shitloads of wars in the past, all were devastating, and we still have wars going on. Go figure...

If I were the director, I would have chosen the less family friendly and more realistic ending, as seen in "The Last Samurai". Humans prevail with their advanced technology, shoot the tribes up, wreck the place for that precious mineral, and presto, bad guys win. That might have made people think, as thinking went out of style in the last few years... But viewers apparently want to see a happy end that made me think "Yeah, right, who didn't see that coming?".


Just my two cents there. I might have been too harsh, it is one great movie, but I couldn't help thinking that the story offered little when compared to the visual effects.

Anyone else seen it? If yes, what did you think of it?

Since I lost interest in photography for the time being, I thought I'd make another little feature. Here are some photos from deviants that I got to know just recently, and from some that didn't make train shots their specialty. Some that I just randomly stumbled over, and some that I remembered and searched for on DA. I hope I'm not bothering anyone with this, but as long as my subscription lasts, I want to make use of it by presenting as many (to my mind) very awesome photos to the community as I can.


Here we go!


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Very moody pic, love that stark look of the engine against the sky, which is enhanced by the low angle. That ghostly red glow of the taillights also adds to it, the background being filled with interesting little details. A pic I could stare at for minutes, even though I have absolutely no idea about what kind of locomotive this is exactly, or where this was taken.






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A historic E18 electric from the 1930s, which was among the fastest engines of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. Top speed: 150kph (94mph). Only the E19 with her top speed of 180kph (113mph) was faster, the four engines of that class having been built for even higher speeds around 225kph (140mph). However, the braking distance was too long to safely allow that.






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Every railfan loves cab shots, but this one offers even more than jus the unique point of view. The apparently cold weather with that snow, the ice near the windshield, offset by that clear sky and amazing skyline... A great photo, and not only for railfans!






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Great composition, lighting, and mood! Need I say more? Well, I could tell you about how the train on the left is a class 628 DMU, which has replaced the class 218 diesel we see on the far right here in my region. But as you may have guessed it, the exact information about the trains is more or less superficial here.






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I really love the lighting on this, how only this one small part of the class 111 locomotive is lit by the sun, with the driver leaning out. Add to that the nice texture of Cologne Central's station roof, and you got yourself an interesting pic with an unusual perspective.






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While the speed of this race is admittedly low, all that steam and the sound of them rambling along will more than make up for it. Somehow proves that in order to look dynamic and epic, one doesn't even have to go that fast.






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Chris is a street photographer, so public transport does appear in his gallery on a regular basis. This station shot however is one of the best I've seen so so far, with all those people in dark clothes running around on the lightly colored floor. No better way to show a busy day I think, and the view down this amazing station roof is also quite awesome.






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Despite this account being abandoned, I want to feature this shot here, as I really lik the idea of having the train out of focus. The rails in the foreground are nice and sharp, reflecting the light from the approaching train's headlights. An interesting combination, I must say.






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Very, very epic in many ways. The steam, the colours, the lighting, everything seems to fit very well. The user in question also has other shots of the train, with more of the engine being visible. But again, I think the train isn't so much the main object of interest here. It's the atmosphere it creates, a piece of a well made puzzle.






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I really like this shot because it shows such a very small section of the rolling stock in question. Even so, the standard German railfan would still immediately realize that this is in fact one of the awesomely powerful class 103 electrics. Even more so, looking at the facts that it was shot in Munich, the photo having been taken in 2009, and the DB logo being the new rather than the old Bundesbahn one, we can deduce the following: This is 103 245, the last 103 ever built, still in service with the DB. I love mysteries!





Thanks for your attention.

As for new stuff from me, I might have some after the 16th of January. A fellow railfan and me will be going to Hamm, where a rather large amount of unused rolling stock has been parked. We're of course looking for shots of oldschool DMUs and old "Silberling" coaches, some even in the old mint-green livery. Who knows, we might even stumble across the Bombardier Talent trains that have lost their jobs after a line was taken over by a private operator. As the area is unguarded, we can drive right up to the rails and start shooting, but this also means that everything will be covered in graffiti... I might need to take my Mag-Lite with me, in case we need to chase some sprayers away.


Also, I wanted to share something else with you, something I also stumbled across today: A DSO thread about a very scenic branchline in France, which had been abaondoned. It was only used for tourist trains in the last few years of service, with a number of historic DMUs. The trackwork was in dire need of maintenance, which couldn't be financed by the small group of enthusiasts who operated the line, so it had to close. Most of the rolling stock is now standing around outside, rotting away. However, there is one little exception, check out this thread, especially the last few photos. Amazing find, huh? If you're wondering, yes, that thing on the roof is the cab, and the engine is sitting where one would usually expect the driver to be. Here's a photo of the unit's better days.


Thanks again for reading, and until the next feature!

EDIT: Rob just reminded me that I forgot the icing on the cake so to speak!





As I want to make use of my short premium membership, here is another "proper" thumbnail feature, though this time without any text to accompany the pictures. I want to show you something that has a brand name status in Germany, with a 100% of the population having heard of and knowing what it means, while in the English speaking world, it just sounds funny. I'm talking of course about the InterCityExpress of the Deutsche Bahn, known in short as ICE. These trains have become a ubiquitous sight on German rails, accompanied by the "slower" InterCity trains, with the typical white livery with a red racing stripe running down the entire lenght of the train.

Here are some selected photos of our most top notch trains, the latest model having a top speed of 330kph (206mph), with a power output of 12800hp. Starting off with Marcos, aka =o-l-pixel, the biggest fan of these trains on DA, with many great shots of them in his gallery. Then moving on through the ranks of well known deviants in the railfan community, on to less well known ones, who might only have one or two shots of these striking machines in their galleries.






































































































































If you read this, you must have looked through all of the pics I selected, for which I thank you! I'm sure the selected deviants will also appreciate the attention you gave them!

Until the next feature.

As some of you may have noticed, I got an unexpected Christmas gift of sorts, namely a one month premium membership from =robertbeardwell, after capturing his page with exactly 5000 pageviews displayed. Now, I can finally do something I always wanted to do, my very own railroad feature journal! And I mean proper features, with thumbnails instead of links.

I wanted to feature some photos from deviants who not only take great railroad shots, but offer kind comments and helpful critique. I think the latter part shouldn't be underestimated, as we're a community here, not just a bunch of rail fanatics who throw the occasional photo or two onto DA. I chose one photo from each deviant's gallery that I somehow remember and associate with the user in question, be it for its artistic merit, quality, historic backstory or because it features my favourite locomotive class of course.


On to the feature!


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Very lovely lighting, crisp image quality, and a very tranquil background! I'm all for artistic railroad photos, but a well crafted and simple head on shot like this one really makes a railfan's mouth water.


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Another very high quality photo, showing the nose of an iconic DB class 601 power head in TEE livery. Hoyt must be the only one who has a photo of these beautiful DMUs on DA, and I loved how prominent the metal TEE emblem looked on this.


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Probably one of my favourite shots from Britain as far as DMUs are concerned has got to be this one. I really liked how the front with the driver if in focus, while it gets more and more blurred when one looks down along the lines of the train. A very artistic shot!


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Something one doesn't get to see often around here, a very green railyard so to speak! While it is of course not a good idea to neglect the ballast like that, it does look quite striking and pleasant.


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Bob doesn't shoot trains exclusively, and it often shows in the fact that his railroad shots aren't just standard train photos, but often reveal the people behind preserved engines. Either through portraits of the said people, or by photos like this, with the helping hands rolling around in the dirt to get everything right.


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This was one of the first photos I remember seeing from Torsten, and I like it for several reasons. The tranquility of a snow covered town, the little details like the obviously heated switch, and finally the beautiful class 218 diesel that I don't see here any more.


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Now this is quite a Christmas gift, I urge you to read the story behind this magnificient engine, if you haven't done so already! The lighting may not be optimal, but in this case, it really brings the jet black engine in the center of attention, along with the white snow.


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The former ET 403 was the first high speed EMU Germany ever saw, with only three such trains in existence. This shot shows the gruesome fate these suffered, and still suffer now. The fine sprinkle of frost really fits here, a sleeping beauty that will hopefully be saved before it's too late.


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To this day, I hope that Tom will return to DA, but I fear that something might have happened to him... I really liked his shots for their immacualte quality, tight crop, and great colours. He really inspired me, so I hope that he's doing well, despite disappearing from DA.


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Double headed steam is always quite epic, but I also like to see the little helpers behind all of it, in the form of volunteers. As always, I liked the crisp quality on this, low ISO and an 8.0 aperture are also my usual choice for stationary targets.


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There are only three locos of the class 113, a subclass of the 110 that have an increased top speed of 100mph. Not only is this a rarity, as the title states, but the unusual aspect ratio and the nice composition with the station roof really add to it.


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I had a really hard time choosing a shot from Sam because he always has very high standards of quality, being among the few railfans who still shoot analog. I liked this one due to the nice colour contrast between the locomotive, the right of way and the landscape surrounding it. But seriously, how can one choose one favourite from his photos? They all show professional craftsmanship, I don't think I could point out any "bad" shots...


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Chinese railroad shots aren't widespread on DA, so I'm always interested in how things work there. This shot isn't only interesting because of the foreign train, but due to the nice perspective, showing a proud railroader at work.


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Veselin doesn't only take great shots, but always gives very helpful feedback. What I really like about his photography is how he always gets more into the frame than just the train. Even though I find the depicted EMU rather boring, the striking contrast between the bright red train an the winter landscape just blows me sideways!


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Amazing how much a low perspective can change the looks of an engine! Having taken a photo of myself standing next to a class 143 electric, I know how tall locomotives are when you are not standing on a high platform. This shot conveys their sheer size quite well.


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This was one of the first photos I saw from Josh, and I remember it to this day! Steam is always an interesting element to add to a photo, and combined with a sunset, it's a real feast for the eye!


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An amazing shot on many accounts. Black and white photos are not that common, and this one is a great example where the emotion carried within a photo are amplified by taking away the colour. The smoke being kicked up from the tracks, the diesel exhausts and the reflecting railheads of a siding, a very well composed shot.


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A great shot of a great train by a fellow physicist! I don't only like the photo, but also the detailed background story of a very long railfanning trip to get as many shots of this beauty as possible. I'd suggest reading through from the first photo on, it's quite entertaining!



So, this was my first ever railroad feature. I know I couldn't have included anyone, so please don't feel left out if your pic didn't appear here. It is quite a bit of work to get this together, as those who regularly do features know, and in addition to that, I also wanted to write a little something about each photo. There were some more deviants and photos, but I felt that it shouldn't get too long, as the longer something I write is, the fewer people get through to the end of it.

Also, because I really want to make use of my premium while it lasts, I'll include almost all of my class 143 shots that I have below because I can! For those of you who don't know that number: It's a four axle electric locomotive, built in the former socialist GDR from 1984 till 1991. 646 units have been built, which is quite a lot, and they can be found all over Germany. Sadly though, their low top speed, a legacy from the badly maintained Reichsbahn network, and the fact that multiple units are taking over everything could very well kill this class in the near future. That's why I shoot them whenver I see them, which leads to me having quite a few photos of these boxy ole guys on DA.

Thanks for visiting, and until the next feature!

Here's my tribute to the DB 143, former DR 243:

Yes, I have to wish everyone a Merry Christmas as well! Also, I uploaded a handful of shots from the last two days, see the links down below for that. I probably won't be around that much during the holidays, though I guess that goes for pretty much everyone here. But before I set off to help my mom prepare for the festivities, I have one small question I wanted to ask: The members of #The-Railfan-Nation have probably heard about the photography contest underway at the moment, and I took part as well of course, with this photo. I preferred that one to my most most popular deviation since that one doesn't have much photographic value besides lots of steam, while the one I submitted for the contest has a nice composition, lighting, and colours.

However, one of my newer submissions, namely this one, got quite popular in a short time as well, and I really like it for its dynamic feel and the sense of speed it conveys. I thought about changing my entry, but then again, I end up not wanting to do that, despite the "Snowblind" pic being more popular, at least statistically. What would you do? Or would you think another pic of mine is more suitable? I know it is a bit odd to ask this, since it wouldn't really be in the best interest of other participants if they suggest a photo of mine that they consider better than my current submission. Still, I thought I'd ask you all what you would have to say to this.

With this question off my mind now, I wish you all a very happy Christmas, enjoy the festivities, the family, the presents, and so on, have a nice time! We agreed not to give ourselves anything this year, since I don't have any wishes, and neither does my mom. I thought about wishing for some photography equipment, but as far as I'm concerned, I got everything I ever wanted.

2009-12-23 Caught a "Bügelfalte" 110 hauling an IC train, and some bonus photos (3 pics)

2009-12-22 Rode a replacement train with oldschool carriages (3 pics)

2009-12-21 Snow in Leverkusen, Duisburg & Düsseldorf (30 pics)

2009-12-20 Night tour, class 103 and misc. snow photos (6 pics)

2009-12-20 Heavy snowfall in Leverkusen, open track shots (17 pics)

2009-12-19 First snow, open track shots (9 pics)

2009-12-18 Getting colder, shots from Duisburg and Leverkusen (15 pics)

2009-12-16 First visit to Dortmund (12 pics)