Panama Canal (1970) Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another photo from my travels in the 1970s. I decided to post this image when I noticed that there were very few photos in TE of the Panama Canal and only a couple of others taken from a ship as it travelled through the locks.

This photo was taken in the Pedro Miguel Lock - a single chamber lock and the second set of locks which lift ships from the Pacific up to Lake Gatun. The first set of locks on the Pacific Side is the two chamber Miraflores Lock and 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 (as shown) 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.

This is a repost. I have adjusted the sky. My original posting showed a regular cloud pattern which I inadvertently created in an attempt to remove fungi on the scan.

bj40, fanni, windosil, shevchenko, robjol ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

bj40 (1245) 2009-06-29 1:11

Hi Marlene, Like the feel of being on board the image conveys, and you are correct about the scarcity of this view , it is further enhanced with the on coming ship in the background.There is so much detail including the 70s fashion.Your travels have provided such interesting images ,you must have rarely been without your camera.Tom.

fanni (8737) 2009-06-29 1:14

Hello Marlene,
really, the sky! :)) Frankly speaking, last time I didn't even pay attention to the sky to see that the same pattern appears in the sky a few times! Now I see it. At that time I was much more concentrated on other objects and the overall impression.
Yes, NOW the sky looks different :) And I confirm my previous comment: it's a very impressive photo: grand perspective from the point of view of the one who sees this from the ship!

Very best wishes from already cool Moscow (yesterday it was about +30C here, and now it's only +18... What a change!)
Elena

ribeiroantonio (21949) 2009-06-29 6:43

I did not notice it the first time. But now it is obvious!!! Anyway, your photo skills were already there.. Well done.
Antonio

Greg1949 (8511) 2009-06-29 6:48

Marlene,

This is great, it shows a really unique moment in time at a truly unique place and the people standing around on the deck give it a very routine feeling. Great stuff.

Greg

windosil (804) 2009-06-29 13:16

HI, Marlene,
This tells us a lot about the Panama Canal 'dual carriageway', at the same time being a pleasant pattern of white, grey/blue and a single shade of red.
I can relate to your problem with the clouds! Thanks,
Winifred

AKITA (5425) 2009-06-29 21:53

dear Mariene,
wow! this is a superb shot!
this composition and POV are excellent.
I can feel just I am here on the boat bridge.
the canal and distant dramatic cloudy sky make wonder perspective for this boat.
thank you for your precious shot,
Akihisa

batalay (21028) 2009-06-30 11:07

Hello Marlene,

This is a wonderful symmetric perspective, demonstrating effectively the mechanism of the famous canal and its locks. The distressed sky makes a dramatic backdrop.

In January of 1976, I took a train paralleling the Panama Canal, indeed with the canal in sight most of the time. I had been giving talks on the "Sea," a ship belonging to the Royal Viking Line, when it made port in Colon, Panama. We took a train along the side to Panama City for the day, then returned in time to sail out in the evening.

PS you are one of the three featured photographers today.

Warm regards,

Bulent

TopGeo (21931) 2009-06-30 11:21

Hi Marlene! I know the process of passage of Panama, but I have not seen him never in pictures! They is a splendid experience I thank you!
Georgios

wolf38 (12897) 2009-06-30 23:26

Hello Marlene. A ship trip by a world-well-known lock. A photo really worth seeing. When I was last year with a ship on the Danube on the way, I did not have an opportunity to photograph also only one lock because of the bad weather. Regards, Wolfgang.

shevchenko (9970) 2009-07-01 20:30

Hi Marlene,
Good pov to show the famous canal with including part of the ship, exposed their life, nice to see people in casual wear at daylight, distinct scanned photo, well done.
Ally

robjol (2047) 2009-10-05 15:40

Hello Marlene,
I have not looked your photos before, sorry bout that, but sometime I cannot look all that are here.
This one took my interest, because of the Panama Canal.
I am so glad I looked.
A lovely photo of these times, the ships back and forth to Australia.
Your scan came out very well,with good colours and sharpness. Lots of details.
The view from the ship would be very impressive.
I hope you enjoyed the voyage all these years ago....
Best regards
Robert

Greetings from Scotland.