Crossing the Avon Aqueduct, a photo from West Lothian, Scotland

Photographer's Note

Please click here for a larger version of this photograph on "beta" TE.

Another little picture taken three days ago during one of my regular weekly walks with friends. This day was misty and wet and here we had walked across the Avon Aqueduct by way of the cobbled towpath you can see on the right - and we watched as two young fellows navigated their narrowboat along the Union canal which crosses the aqueduct. We were heading east towards the town of Linlithgow about 4 Km away.

Here is a picture taken a few moments earlier as the boat approaches us.

The Avon Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct on the Union Canal near Linlithgow, West Lothian. It is 810 feet (250 m) long and 86 feet (26 m) high; it is the longest and tallest aqueduct in Scotland, and the second longest in Britain (after the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales). It was built between 1819 and 1821 after a design by Thomas Telford, there are twelve arches, and the water is carried in a cast iron trough on either side of which there is a cobbled towpath.

Here you can see a previous photograph of the Avon Aqueduct from below as it crosses the valley of the River Avon.

If you look at Map: view you can actually drag Google's little yellow man down to the towpath and take a virtual "walk" across the aqueduct and beyond.

ISO 400, 1/400 sec at f/6.3, focal length 18mm.

holmertz, snunney, jean113, Royaldevon, pajaran, jhm, macjake, annjackman, johnjmoe, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Tue (70234) 2019-06-08 6:23

Hello John,
A great photo in which you show the narrow aqueduct and the equally narrow boat so well from an excellent viewpoint. The green of the grass and trees and the blue of the boat looked very appealing on this grey and rainy day. Very good photo work.
Lars

holmertz (82088) 2019-06-08 6:41

Hello John,
After a long and perhaps sometimes tedious walk on this wet and misty day you were rewarded with some excitement as you came to this viaduct. There are not very wide gaps between the boat and the sides of the viaduct, so the skippers have to be careful, or they will easily bump into the sides. Not very damaging, I suppose, but what a disgrace to do that when there are people watching you.
Although the viaduct is worth a photo because it is what it is, I am also rather fond of the WS where the boat looks like it is going straight through the meadow. We also see the sailor's faces and the large green areas make the day look less dull.
But it's a hard choice between these two. They are both very well taken and enjoyable.
Kind regards,
Gert

snunney (130965) 2019-06-08 6:59

Hello John,
An excellent composition making good use of the cobbled path and the railings to draw the viewer into the composition. The drizzly atmosphere has had no effect on the colours, which seem to positively sparkle. Impeccable clarity.

jean113 (15523) 2019-06-08 7:57

Hello John, both shots from Wednesday's walk are worthy of a main post. I like them both very much.
The sharp quality is excellent; the grasses and wild flowers show so clearly.
It was a wet day and yet the colours are bright and vivid.
Your notes are very interesting. We went over Pontcysllte Aqueduct many years ago.
Thanks for including the previous picture with the group of ladies, it completes the sequence.
Have a good weekend.
Regards
Jean

Royaldevon (63185) 2019-06-08 8:35

Hello John,

You seem to be having some varied scenes from your Wednesday walks.
This aqueduct and narrowboat are great subjects for photography!
Both your photographs are very interesting and whilst this ones gives the impression of sailing in the sky, the w/s looks like sailing through grass!
It was a tough decision as which to post; this clearly shows the elevation whilst the w/s gives more indication of the scenery.
Though the weather was hardly the best photography you have achieved excellent clarity and colours. Oh, and the mood!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

ifege (19607) 2019-06-08 18:12

Hi John
A good photo in overcast conditions. Good timing at the entry to the aqueduct. Great colour and sharpness.
Cheers
Ian

jemaflor (124471) 2019-06-08 23:41

Hi John,
Interesting and original, good effect with this perspective, good depth for your photo, tfs.

lousat (119619) 2019-06-09 1:52

Hi John.You were really unlucky with the weather, a gray and rainy day but that didn't affect the quality of the photos. Truly original this navigable aqueduct, I had never seen before, and your main photo is really useful. Beautiful perspective in the WS of the same boat from the adjacent canal. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

jhm (189751) 2019-06-09 4:03

Hello John,

Notwithstanding very bad weather get we two fantastic picture.
Excellent through the rainy atmosphere.
Perfect presentation, good photograph work.
Excellent sharp and clear.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

macjake (91709) 2019-06-09 20:50

Hi John
nice ws photo, in all honesty I enjoy that one more than the main post. Why you may ask? because its just how I interpret it. In the WS the boat looks like an animal in the wild kingdom, trying to hide in the tall grass as it sneaks up on its prey hahaha, but its not doing a very good job because its so blue in all the green haha. And yes, I just finished watching a wonderful Nature show narrated by David Attenborough, what a fantastic voice he has. anyways, we all learn something new from viewing this post, and you show us 2 excellent shots in this misty rain. I get the feeling you guys go out for your walks no matter what the weather is :) Excellent TE post. cheers
Craig

annjackman (23019) 2019-07-04 9:40

Hello John,
The misty, wet weather reminds me of many a wet UK holiday! Somehow though it suits this image with the two hardy souls guiding the narrow boat along the aqueduct.
Beautifully composed!
Kind Regards, Ann

COSTANTINO (91952) 2019-08-17 8:41

Hello dear friend and have a nice time
what a beautiful place
a fantastic composition making
the best use of the cobbled path
making a curve
the sharp quality is excellent
regards
Costantino