Gatun Canal Lock, a photo from Colon, East

Photographer's Note

Lighttower at the Gatun Canal Lock.

We reached the entrance of the canal in the early morning. It was a little bit misty, but it was impressive to see all the ships waiting for the passage through the canal. In three steps the ship was lifted up 26m. It tooks about 2 hours and it was a really impressive event.

Wikipedia:
The Panama Canal Locks lift ships up 25,9m to the main elevation of the Panama Canal. From the outset, it was considered an important safety feature that ships were guided though the lock chambers by electric locomotives, known as mulas (mules, named after the animals traditionally used to pull barges), on the lock walls. These mules are used for side-to-side and braking control in the rather narrow locks (narrow relative to modern day ships). Forward motion into and through the locks is actually provided by the ships engines and not the "mules". A ship approaching the locks first pulls up to the guide wall, which is an extension of the centre wall of the locks, where she is taken under control by the mules on the wall before proceeding into the lock. As she moves forward, additional lines are taken to mules on the other wall. With large ships, there are two mules on each side at the bow, and two each side at the stern — eight in total, allowing for precise control of the ship.

The mules themselves run on rack tracks, to which they are geared. Each mule has a powerful winch, operated by the driver; these are used to take the line in or pay it out, to keep the ship centred in the lock while moving it from chamber to chamber. With as little as 60 cm (2 ft) of space on each side of a ship, considerable skill is required on the part of the operators.

Exposure Time: 1/256
F-Stop: f/11.0
ISO Speed Ratings: 250
Focal Length: 66/1 mm
Date Taken: 2010-01-14 06:36

snunney, buscape, jhm, Budapestman, pierrefonds, Vasa, Amaz, Docarmo, pajaran, xuaxo, Jakab has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snunney (59111) 2010-03-22 5:37

Hello Achim,
A very impressive piece of engineering you show us here. The shot is very well composed with good light and colours. Clarity is excellent. Very good documentary image complemented by a useful explanatory note.

buscape (6199) 2010-03-22 5:50

Hallo Achim,
ein imposantes Bild dieser Kanalschleuse in Panama. Das Licht ist sehr schön und auch die allgemeine Qualität gefällt mir ausgesprochen gut. Zusammen mit dem informativen Kommentar ein sehr guter Beitrag für TE.
Viele Grüße aus dem Donautal,
Helmut

Sergiom (26867) 2010-03-22 5:53

Bonjour Achim

On peut réellement voir la dénivellation sur cette photo. Ce que peut faire la force de l'eau pompée et le génie de l'homme.
Très beau point de vue.

Serge

jhm (112100) 2010-03-22 5:54

Hello Achim,

You took these picture out of a low angle this gives a wonderful image.
The boat is the real eye catcher.
Sharpness and clarity be superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Budapestman (77077) 2010-03-22 7:31

Hi Achim,
great shot, the composition of the photo is very spectacular, the details are effective, superb colours and POV, Tfs! Have a nice week! Kelemes hetet kívánok!
George (György)

Nicou (83142) 2010-03-22 8:14

Hello,

Très belle compo, impressionnant le passage de l'écluse, ces monstres de mer qui traversent le canal, amngigique iamge et compo.

Bravo et maitié

Nicou

pierrefonds (42620) 2010-03-22 9:57

Hi Achim,

The point of view is taking my eyes toward the hill which is giving depth to the composition. It is also showing the details and colors of the lighthouse, of the lock and of the ship. The light is well managed it is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Fis2 (65944) 2010-03-22 13:11

Witaj Achim!
Your photo is interestng.
A very curious place.
Good frame and light.
Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

Vasa (15217) 2010-03-22 15:52

From your position Achim, the most efficient composition is offered. So informative image. Danke sehr feund,

Branko

Amaz (11475) 2010-03-22 18:53

Excellente capture, my dear Achim!!
Wonderful composdition and fine colours!!

Very well done!!

TFS

Kind regards,

Docarmo (9631) 2010-03-22 21:42

Hi Achim,
Interesting note! And I like a lot this composition, and the light.
Thanks for sharing,
Docarmo

Graal (82166) 2010-03-23 0:04

Hi Achim,
unusual place. Good presentation and reportage from famous canal. An interesting details. I like it.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

pajaran (26912) 2010-03-23 0:34

Dobar dan.
Pocelu si i tankeri da idu drumovima ...
Odlican trenutak, dobro prikazano lepim bojama i fotografijom, moc vode i ustava.
Lep dan, Paja.

Google.

Guten Tag.
Sie Pocelu und Tankwagen weiter zu ...
Ausgezeichnet Punkt, gut präsentiert und schönen Farbfotografien, die Kraft des Wassers und der Verfassung.
Nice day, Paja.

Velera (237) 2010-03-23 0:39

Hi,
wonderful morning view at the cnal. Well seen
best wishes
Velera

Longroute (19350) 2010-03-23 10:55

Very good and interesting this one too of this canal.
It's both an impressive and lovely sight. The lighthouse with the green lawn at the right is the most lovely part and the huge ship on the lock is quite impressive, all together they make a very balanced and original composition.
TFS,
Donato

xuaxo (6828) 2010-03-24 12:54

Hello!
Outstanding! Really impressive. I'd love to see this in reality, but the photo presents it already very well.
It recalls some dikes and canals in the Netherlands
Greetings,
Francisco

AiresSantos (55943) 2010-03-25 1:59

Hi Achim
Great picture of this place
Amazing light and colors
Have a nice day
Aires

mafegan (8340) 2010-03-25 2:03

Hello Achim
I will always enjoy seeing photos of this most amazing engineering achievement. I travelled through this canal in 1970 and I will never forget the day. Your pov from a lower chamber is interesting and the early morning light is well managed. Tfs, Marlene

jmdias (39212) 2010-03-29 8:15

achim

perfect and very informativa photo (the note too) about this part of the canal. we can see how the big ship is located in a higher level. perfect light, framing and sharpness

hugs

jorge

Tukan-T5 (4317) 2010-04-22 9:19

Hallo Achim,
this is fantastic capture and very interesting note.
30 m es ist aber hoch!!!
Habe gesehen Main-Donnau Kanal in der nehe Nuernberg.
War aber nur,weiss ich nicht,8-10 meter.
Danke fuer dieser Photography.
Gruess Tomas

rikko77 (10847) 2010-04-22 9:23

Hi Achim...now we know something more on Panama Canal and we have a beautiful pic that shows us perfectly what you wrote on your note. Thanx for sharing!
have a good day
Rikk

Jakab (3861) 2010-05-07 16:21

Hallo Achim,
so etwas sieht man auch nicht täglich: ein riesiges Schiff mit Wasserlinie in der Augenhöhe und ganz dicht in die Schleuse eingepresst! Und zusätzlich noch die tiefen, warmen Lichter der Morgenfrühe - wieder ein Bild, was von einem einmaligen Erlebnis erzählt.
Viele Grüße
Laszlo