Lock Lane Castleford and the Suicide Bridge: I got out of the car this morning a few miles from where I live and what I hoped to be blue hour followed by sunrise shots was very much not happening, I had thick mist coming off the canal and river that runs almost parallel. I love a challenge and photographing in mist certainly is a challenge, mist can make or break images for sure…
The first photo opportunity I came across was a big disappointment, the old rusty ‘Sunbeam Alpine’ (car) on top of the canal bardge that I had been told about by a friend had been re-covered with an ugly tarpaulin and lots of random ugly items had been dumped around it, walk on Tim…
The video shows the start of my walk, the birds were singing and it was cool but not cold, photography wise I had a challenge, but a challenge is always good and an opportunity to learn a little more in different conditions as I went on.
Time to break out, test and learn the new Samyang 12mm f/2.0 lens which has no internal electronics so manual focus only. I used in camera focus peaking for a guide to what was in focus and what wasn’t. Happy with this one (above), it captures the mood of the morning.
The other end of the lock joins the River Aire and marks the end of the canal. The stonework dividing the canal and river looks a little worse for ware but I dare say might last another 20 years, maybe many more?
On to the Suicide Bridge…
The sun did try to burn through the mist but in the end the mist won, this light did not last long.
All the way up to the banking in the distance the bridge is more or less over land, after the banking the bridge crosses the river Aire and is a more substantial structure.
Time to be stupid, naughty and irresponsible…
This bridge is weak, full of holes and dangerous. I would deserve anything that happened to me for ignoring signs and finding a way past the steel fence that blocks each end of the bridge. I walked on the wooden railway sleepers to better support my weight, just in case, I was careful but stupid for doing this.
Stupidity aside, have any of you seen the TV programme ‘ Life after People’? The programme shows what would happen to the world we live in if people just vanished over night, starting on the first day and ending 1000 years after people. The bridge really did remind me of the programme and shows nature starting to dominate again with no interference from Humans.
At first, I was not happy with the above shot, I never like a white sky but it was very misty/foggy, much more than it looks in this image so the sky should be white as should infinity. I now very much like the shot and think it’s one of the images I took yesterday morning that’s a keeper.
I could not decide if I prefer monochrome or Sepia processing so I added both, why not!
Most images in this post have been scales down to 10 to 15% quality to display OK on the net π
Check out some of the holes in the bridge below. Oh and I had a Mink at the side of me while I took this shot, he/she was very inquisitive and kept looking me up and down, this is the first time I have seen a mink, which I believe originally came from the US. I did not photograph the Mink, I was busy π
Anyone reading this, please do not be as stupid as me, entering places like this is very dangerous, remember you have families at home. I will not go back on the bridge.
Lock Lane Castleford – Comments welcome π
31 March, 2019 Author Alberto Romano
Nice experience dear Tim. Very interesting, engaging and informative. Fantastic photos (as always, yours). I wish you a wonderful evening dear friend. Alberto Romano
31 March, 2019 Author Tim
Thank you very much for taking the time Alberto, perfect English! I have just fixed the post, there is now a video at the top. I am enjoying the weekend, I hope you are also my friend π
31 March, 2019 Author Chris
Fantastic atmospheric images Tim. Great work and I’m glad you kept safe. It’s always worth being out there and the dodgy bits make it all the more memorable too! π
31 March, 2019 Author Tim
LOL, I agree but dodgy is not always good π I have fixed the post now there is a video at the top, cheers Chris π
2 April, 2019 Author Esperanza
What fantastic pictures, Tim!
Impossible to choose one: incredible cold and mysterious atmosphere, super original focus angles and very appropriate editing.
It was worth the risk … I would have done it too!
2 April, 2019 Author Tim
Hi Esperanza, thank you for your kindness as always, dear friend π
It was nice just driving 5 minutes down the road in the car and still photographing somewhere I have not been before. I really enjoyed it but felt very alone at times in the mist :-S I’m sure you would have loved it!!
Kindest regards and thank you again!
1 April, 2019 Author Esperanza GimΓ©nez
What stunning photos, Tim!
I can not say which one I prefer. You have created atmospheres full of mystery with framing and sensational processing!
2 April, 2019 Author Tim
Thank you again π I think this first comment was held for moderation because you logged in with Facebook (or a different email address), now you should be fine to log in any way you like and have your comment show straight away without moderation.
Thank you loads for dropping by Esperanza! π
3 April, 2019 Author Esperanza
Ok π
4 April, 2019 Author Chris
Great atmospheric video too Tim, I liked the bird singing as they added a bit of reality to quite an unreal scene. Very useful as stock for future video projects!
5 April, 2019 Author Tim
I’m like you Chris, I think video adds a third dimension to a photo set/blog post, I will do much more now I have sussed this video lark out using the Fuji X-T2.
Have a great weekend Pal and thank you for dropping by π
11 May, 2019 Author Isabelle Cardinal
Dangerous as hell, but I must say these are just AWESOME shots. Of course, not worth dying for… π Don’t do this again!!! (but thank you for posting these, still… and surviving!)
12 May, 2019 Author Tim
I know and lesson learned Isabelle, I will not be going on there again I promise. Thank you for the lovely comment, really appreciated!