Panama Canal again (1970) Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another photo from a journey through the Panama Canal in 1970 and my second posting of an unforgettable day.

This photo was taken as we approached the Miraflores Lock which is a two chamber lock and the first set of locks on the Pacific Side. The single chamber Pedro Miguel Lock follows and completes the process of lifting ships from the Pacific up to Lake Gatun. On the Atlantic side the three chamber Gatun Lock lowers ships to the Atlantic. All three sets of locks are paired - that is, there are two parallel sets of locks at each of the three lock sites. In principle this allows ships to pass in opposite directions simultaneously - however large ships cannot cross safely at speed through the narrow Calebra Cut, so in practice ships pass in one direction for a time, then in the other, using both lanes of the locks in one direction at a time. Water enters and leaves the locks by means of gravity only - there are no pumps or other man made devices that assist in this process. For large ships assistance is provided by electric cars (mules) which run alongside both sides of the Canal attached to the vessel by long cables. These mules help guide the vessel through the locks - but the ship at all times moves under it's own power.

This photo was taken from the 'Australis' of the Chandris Line which from 1964 to 1978 regularly carried British migrants from Southampton, UK to Australia - and on its return journey carried young Australians and New Zealanders who were eager to experience to Europe.

A scan from a kodachrome slide.

holmertz, Kielia, shevchenko, ktanska, windosil, alvaraalto, fanni, startacked, robjol has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Greg1949 (8507) 2009-07-20 7:06

Nice shot again, I wonder if you can even do this sort of traveling since 911. Nice composition and I love the people showing great interest in their surroundings. Great work.

Greg

jmdias (19115) 2009-07-20 8:00

marlene

nice job you did using the scan, perfect colors and details. The image is full of information and I liked this pov and framing too

hugs

jorge

holmertz (9586) 2009-07-20 8:18

Hello Marlene,
Another good scan and a very interesting view. I have gone through locks like these in Sweden, but the dimensions here are quite different. This must have been a truly fascinating experience.
Greetings,
Gert

Kielia (8401) 2009-07-20 9:44

Hi Marlene,
an excellent scan and what a nice image of this fascinating canal and what a document! You are giving us a great idea of the locks. Very nice light and wonderful natural colors. YOur note is also very interesting. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

AKITA (5277) 2009-07-20 16:58

dear Mariene,
a very nice shot of there at that time!
figures and ambience of people on the bow are well captured in this,
and the view ahead of the boat is widely taken with the climate there.
the triangle head and canal's perspective make wonder panorama indeed.
(once the "cinerama" movies was like this)
1970 is special year to me,(I was 20 years old student, haha!)
thank you for your excellent shot,
Akihisa

shevchenko (9872) 2009-07-20 18:56

Hi Marlene,
Suprise with crowd on the ship, lively shoot to show how do people enjoy their journey by ship, this is a great canal at 1970an even yet, interesting composition, thanks for sharing the value old photo, it just look like new, good scanning work.
Ally

ktanska (16530) 2009-07-20 23:44

Hi Marlene,
Impressive view of a big ship entering canal lock. All the passengers are alert at this critical moment. Good persceptive and nice light. England to Australia by ship, that's quite a journey. I did'nt know such was done as late as 70's.
Kari

windosil (768) 2009-07-21 9:43

Great composition and colours, Marlene. I like the white lines diverging from the base and the small white patches in the middle distance framiing the nose of the ship and the lock entrance. Interesting note, too.
Winifred

fritzi007 (2507) 2009-07-21 11:17

Hi Marlene!
Interesting landscape (Austrians) with a good comment!
Many greetings
Wolfgang

bukitgolfb301 (4588) 2009-07-21 12:28

Hello my dear Marlene

What a nice angle and good location you get!
I remember the first one clearly, almost same pan-focus, calculated composition and vivid color management. I cannot imagine this photo was taken 30 years ago---.
Congratulation on your good job !
Thanks for sharing and best regards,

Takero

alvaraalto (5231) 2009-07-21 13:33

Hi Marlene,

This must be an exciting moment of this trip through this famous canal, when I look at the crowd assembled on the front of the ship.
Excellent digitalized almost 40 year old picture. Congratulations.

Groet Rob

fanni (8735) 2009-07-28 12:42

Hello Marlene,
I like both this shot and the previously posted photo which show the locks along the Panama Canal! very good scanning job! And I really like the POV - this view from the top; and I have an impression that the shape of the ship's bow (or whatever it is called?? :)) seems to fit in with the shape of the lock itself and other objects ahead. (excuse my English!)
Very impressive, interesting perspective view!
I wish you a nice day!
kind regards,
Elena

ilDottore (4002) 2009-08-15 4:11

Hi Marlene,
Impressive shot of this miracle of engineery.
Very good composition.
Best Regards
Chris

startacked (1286) 2009-09-28 13:16

Hi Marlene,

Fantastic image, I love the angle. Great detail in the picture but I''m not so sure about the colors. I guess I'm more used to digital colors. :)
I just came back from Egypt and the bus went from awful Hughada to Cairo not far from Suez. Unfortunatly I didn't have time to visit the canal so I must go back soon. I would ofcourse love to see Panama canal too. TFS, Gilbert

robjol (2047) 2009-10-05 15:52

Hello Marlene,
Again a lovely photo of the ship "Australis" on passage through the Panama Canal.
You done well in the scanning.
Like this photo, from all these years ago, you kept this moment alive, Congratulations on this.
Good focus and fine details here.
The inclusion of people add to the excitment as she get close to the Lock.
Lovely photo,
Thanks very much for showing
Regards
Robert