Category: Canals

Throwback Thursday… A walk along the Caledonian Canal

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Toby… and Ben
Toby… and Ben
Nikon D100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4 AF-D at 34mm, 1/125, f5.6, ISO 200

What was I photographing on this day in previous years?

21 years ago it was whatever caught my eye during a stroll along the Caledonian Canal from our holiday cottage in Banavie, near Fort William.

Toby lived in the field between the cottage and the canal and was quite friendly (although not as friendly as ‘Mister Roy’ the cottage owner’s dog!).

I remember hearing a steam whistle as we walked down the flight of locks known as ‘Neptune’s Staircase’ and sure enough, when we were about half along a steam locomotive burst into view… (London & North Eastern Railway class K1 2-6-0 No. 62005 should you be interested.)

Neptune's Staircase
Neptune’s Staircase
Nikon D100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4 AF-D at 48mm, 1/160, f7.1, ISO 200

Monochrome Monday… Haywood Junction

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Haywood Junction
Haywood Junction
Nikon Nikkormat FT2, GN NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8, 1/500, f11 – Kodak Tri-X
Developed in Ilford Ilfotec DD-X at 1:4, 8 mins at 20°c.

A pic from a trip to Great Haywood in Staffordshire last year… Haywood Junction is where the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal meets the Trent & Mersey Canal and it’s a great place for a spot of ‘Gongoozling’.

I think this was the first time out for the quirky GN NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8 lens too.

Digitised using Nikon D5600 & AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8, Nikon ES-2 Film Digitising Adapter and Negative Lab Pro plugin with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Square Saturday… Leawood Pump House

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Leawood Pump House
Leawood Pump House
Mamiya C330f Professional, Mamiya-Sekor 80mm f/2.8 – 1/125s, f11, – Ilford FP4 Plus
Developed in Ilford Ilfotec DD-X at 1:4, 10 mins at 20°c.

Another image from a walk along the Cromford Canal at the end of April and another scene I’ve photographed more times than I care to remember over the years…

Leawood Pump House was built in 1849 to pump water from the River Derwent into Cromford Canal. I don’t think it still fulfils its original purpose but the pump is steamed from time to time and is well worth seeing in action.

Digitised using Nikon D5600 & AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8, pixl-latr and Negative Lab Pro plugin with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Monochrome Monday… Moored, Langley Mill Canal Basin

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Moored, Langley Mill Canal Basin
Moored, Langley Mill Canal Basin
Nikon NIKOMAT FT, NIKKOR-H 50mm f/2 – Foma Pan 200
Developed in Adox FX-39 II at 1:9, 10 mins at 20°c.

An image from a roll of film that’s been sitting in the camera for three years!

The NIKOMAT FT and NIKKOR-H 50mm f/2 combination is possibly the scruffiest camera I own and is definitely older than I am!

Digitised using Nikon D5600 & AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8, Nikon ES-2 Film Digitising Adapter and Negative Lab Pro plugin with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Square Saturday… Overflow

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Overflow
Overflow
Mamiya C330f Professional, Mamiya-Sekor 80mm f/2.8 + ND8 filter – 1/15s, f11, – Ilford FP4 Plus
Developed in Ilford Ilfotec DD-X at 1:4, 10 mins at 20°c.

An image from a recent walk along the Cromford Canal.

The Mamiya C330f really is a superb bit of kit and I love the square format!

Digitised using Nikon D5600 & AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8, pixl-latr and Negative Lab Pro plugin with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Monochrome Monday… Langley Mill Lock 14

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Langley Mill Lock 14
Langley Mill Lock 14
Nikon Zoom 310AF QD, Nikon Zoom 35-70mm f/3.5-6.5 at 70mm – Kentmere Pan 400
Developed in Ilford DD-X at 1:4, 11½ mins at 20°c.

I had this Nikon Zoom 310AF QD in the drawer for years but only in January did I put a roll of film through it!

I’m quite pleased with the results, the lens is sharp (or sharp enough) and the exposures all look fine…

A camera to use more often I think!

Monochrome Monday… Demolition, Sheffield 2025

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Demolition, Sheffield 2025
Demolition, Sheffield 2025
Canon EOS 30, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, 1/350s, f11 – Lomography Lady Grey
Developed in Ilford Ilfosol 3 at 1:9, 6½ mins at 20°c.

Another image from May 2025… and more industrial decay beside the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal.

Digitised using Nikon D5600 & AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8 and Nikon ES-2 Film Digitising Adapter with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Monochrome Monday… Footbridge Shadow, Sheffield & Tinsley Canal

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Footbridge Shadow, Sheffield & Tinsley Canal
Footbridge Shadow, Sheffield & Tinsley Canal
Canon EOS 30, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, 1/500s, f11 – Lomography Lady Grey
Developed in Ilford Ilfosol 3 at 1:9, 6½ mins at 20°c.

An image from May this year… I can’t resist a bit of industrial decay!

Digitised using Nikon D5600 & AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8 and Nikon ES-2 Film Digitising Adapter with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Slide Film Sunday… Colourful sterns, Langley Mill Basin

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Colourful sterns, Langley Mill Basin
Colourful sterns, Langley Mill Basin
Canon EOS 300, EF 50mm f/1.8 II, 1/60s, f5.6 – Fujifilm Velvia 100F (expired 2/2013)

Yet another image from Expired Film Day 2025.

These narrow boats are moored at Langley Mill canal basin at the junction of the Cromford and Erewash Canals.

Developed by AgLab. Digitised using Nikon D5600 & AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8 and Nikon ES-2 Film Digitising Adapter with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.