Heavy Traffic Photo

Photographer’s Note

After three weeks of quite hectic travelling around and visiting people in London, Manchester, Lyon, Toulouse and Annecy, a day or two of free time in Paris has arrived, and a decent internet connection. Thanks to those friends who have left critiques on some of my photos; I have not been able to acknowledge them for a while.

My first upload continues the theme of waterways, which somehow seemed to develop of its own accord recently - it wasn't planned!
It shows a subject I have already featured in an earlier photo - the Grand Union canal, which stretches the 220km (with 166 locks) from Birmingham to London. This time, the subject is the Batchworth Lock, very close to the suburban village of Rickmansworth, about 30km from the centre of London. I spent some hours walking up and down several kilometres beside the canal and watched numerous boats being navigated through this lock and Stocker's Lock close by, and others parking to do the shopping at the mooring point outside Tesco's supermarket!

Here, in this shot taken from the road bridge about 1km from the Rickmansworth High Street, several subjects converged at this moment, just as the two boats were released from the lock after negotiating the drop of about 2 metres. The rusty old barge on the right was being worked on all day, but had been moved when I went back a day later. The two single boat owners seemed to know each other quite well and conversed while winding the lock gates open and closed and during the time their boats were being lowered. At the same time the casual looking bystander came down to watch the boats' progress. Beyond the lock, many dozens of boats were moored, some so permanent looking and decrepit they could hardly be called boats or even houseboats. But by and large the boats make a colourful impression in the summery sunshine.

If any members living in or near Paris, or also visiting, have read this, and they have some free time, I might also have some free time from the 23 June to 1 July, and would love to meet up if its possible. My spoken French is not all that good, but I can 'get by'. Anyway, if you contact me maybe we can work something out by email.

ribeiroantonio, snunney, ChrisJ, trekks, dareco, Kielia, gunbud, jlbrthnn, stego, jhm, alftrek, ellelloo, lctan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (21701) 2009-06-17 4:22

Looks like some pretty girls use the lock too! It is a nice shot with good action on it. Well done.
Antonio

snunney (33910) 2009-06-17 4:39

Hello Andrew,
A good composition of this busy scene. There is quite a lot going on but it is not overwhelming and the composition hangs well together. Very good colours and clarity.

ChrisJ (69368) 2009-06-17 4:46

Hello Andrew

I'd agree with Stephen. Plenty of interesting details to look at & ponder, but not overwhelmingly busy. I like the natural looking pastel colours & good sharpness. Excellent fg reflections, in this tranquil harbourside scene. Tfs!

trekks (14260) 2009-06-17 6:08

hi Andrew

How I envy your holiday trip 5 weeks or more to places mentioned and with Tamron 18-250mm you do not need anything else :)

I imagine you have a few memory cards to sort out when you return home, but it seems you are able to post during your trip, so it must be some casual schedule in between.

I thought this would be Netherlands or Germany with the canals and locks but Hertfordshire! A nice capture and what a way to travel. Informative note and plenty of details to see in this photo.

You are lucky to be away from Melbourne for 2 reasons, the cold and the flu. Meantime enjoy you stay.

tfs, bill

saxo042 (14998) 2009-06-17 8:37

Hi Andrew,
A very pleasant scenery and I understand that a lot of people spend their holidays on a canal boat. I only thought the boats usually were longer (and narrower). Still, this is a very attractive picture with aqll those white "details" framing the boats here!
Kind regards
Gunnar

dareco (17024) 2009-06-17 8:44

An interesting post and the lighting, colors and detail are very good. Nice pov. I do hope you'll find some TE friends while you are there. TFS

Buin (36744) 2009-06-17 9:24

Hallo Andrew!
A wonderful, a beautiful scenery - caught in a very favourable light! The whole atmosphere here is so relaxed and somehow cosy and the picture's title fits very well here ;-) I like this one!
Greetings from warm and sunny Germany!
Frank

Kielia (8111) 2009-06-17 11:53

Hi Andrew,
I remember very well your last post, showing us the other side of the lock. This time you were luckier with the weather. It is a very pleasant impression of the busy lock, excellently composed. I also enjoyed reading your fascinating note a lot! TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

wolf38 (12435) 2009-06-17 14:00

Hello Andrew. Really a good and very alive shot with many details......During the hasty running over the TE pages I see your beautiful photo. It pleases me very well. Best regards, Wolfgang.

MarcT (20981) 2009-06-17 23:28

Hi Andrew,
Very nice daily life on the water picture.
A tiny one... from old times.
Well done
Cheers
Marc

gildasjan (23235) 2009-06-18 0:50

Bonjour Andrew
Une scène très bien cadrée de l'activité à cette écluse.J'ai hâte de retourner en Bretagne pour photographier les écluses.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
gildas

kschanna (2573) 2009-06-18 3:27

Hello Andrew,

Must've felt like seeing mini Panama or Suez canal!. Its quite an interesting shot with a lot going on in it. I really like the subtle colors.

Cheers
Kamran

gunbud (27467) 2009-06-18 17:49

Hi Andrew,
These lovely little canal boats must make for a very laid-back slow paced vacation
The colors here are very clear and true as your lead barge makes a stunning reflection in the canal.
The second boat seems prepared for alternative mods of transport.
Regards, Tom

jlbrthnn (36702) 2009-06-20 5:29

Hello Andrew,
The sight of this lock in activity does not give desire for working, but for leaving as fast as possible on vacation. The image quite enlightened, is agreeably coloured and trs clear.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

delpeoples (5260) 2009-06-21 7:01

Hi Andrew, it looks like you are well and truly enjoying your European Vacation. I am enjoying your waterways theme. The image is so crisp and I like the composition with the 4 people giving us dynamism. Have a wonderful and safe trip and we look forward to your posts when you have a more permanent base to upload from. Warm regards, Lisa

stego (22304) 2009-06-22 10:35

Hi Andrew,
An interesting scene that would look banal too many less attentive and inspired eyes. The perfect compo results in a very attractive visual arrangement, with many lines to follow. The light, colours and sharpness are also remarkable, but maybe what makes it even more special are the looks of the three persons on the left that contrast with the absorbed pose of the man on the right and somehow combine well with the graphics. The fact that the looks of the two man point to an attractive woman isn't unimportant also...
Regards,
José

jhm (81561) 2009-06-23 4:22

Hello Andrew,

This is one of the old passages for small ships.
You show this on a wonderful manner, also a lot details.
Perspective and depth are perfect.
Very well composition and good presentation too. TFS.

Best regards,
John.

alftrek (2687) 2009-06-23 9:07

Hello Andrew,
Excellent sharpness for F/14 and handheld at 1/30 sec. All the four people in the framing are well placed seemingly interacting with one another. The barge does seem to be on the way hindering the passage of other boats. A very well considered composition.

Somehow, I am viewing this with the old TE format which makes me feel a lot better.

Enjoy you stay in Paris.

Alfred

TopGeo (21335) 2009-06-23 12:12

Hallo Andrew!
A wonderful, a beautiful scenery It is picture that gives always this impressive place with traffic wondered that him they accomplish a impressive place and a framework that has interest
Regards
Geotrgios

rodgerg (22885) 2009-06-23 12:49

Hello Andrew,

Excellent shot with this scene of life well collected. Excellent framing and good balalnce in the composition. The peoples give an interesting element of life. Good and interesting photowork.
Have a nice evening,
Roger

ellelloo (4626) 2009-06-28 2:28

Hello Andrew,
An attractive shot with a very good composition, which caught my eye already in the thumbnail. Excellent control of light and beautiful, natural colours. It would be a great experience to travel along the canal in one of those boats. Thanks for sharing!
Greetings from warm and sunny Finland,
Lasse

Waylim (10645) 2009-07-01 10:41

Hello Andrew,
It is a fine shot, not a typical tourist locations, more of a daily life shot, which is good and refreshing to see from this part of the world, since of the daily life shots are from the third world. Much going one here and yes, heavy traffic for such a small chanal, hard to navigate somewhat at least for me anyway, the boat would be so bang up by the time I get out :) or I would be too nevous that I barely move an inch. It is a very well balance composition that take our vision from one person to the next and start all over again. Have a good day.
Way

skippy007 (6717) 2009-07-02 20:05

Hi Andrew, not little Venice in London by any chance ;-), I think it's the excellent quality of this image & interaction of the people that makes scene work well, with your well written note enhancing it.
Enjoy your holiday.
Take care
Santo

lctan (1045) 2009-07-25 0:31

HI Andrew,
YEP. no doubt about it. a lot of story being told by this one single shot! congrats! tfs,
LC

Photo Information

Copyright: Andrew McRae (macondo) (12933)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-01
Categories: Daily Life, Transportation, Decisive Moment
Camera: Pentax K200D, Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DiII, Cokin 62mm Circular Polarizer
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-17 4:11