N Hampshire Digital Photographic Practice: Assignment 5 Personal Project

Personal Project- Bridges of the Navigable River Trent (Nottingham to the Humber Estuary)

Context

I have always been fascinated by bridges and living near the river and having parents who owned a pleasure craft made me appreciate bridges from different angles. Most people I know have not had the opportunity to travel the River Trent by boat looking at the underneath of the bridges. There is the issue of headroom and clearance as the river levels start to rise in winter and when the river floods, the bridge may be inaccessible to road users leading to lengthy diversions. Historically the River Trent has always been shallow and susceptible to flooding. Fords and ferries built through the ages are remembered in place names. Before the concept of the Midlands, the River Trent formed the north south divide across the country. Through research on the internet and visiting Nottinghamshire libraries, I was able to see how some of the bridges had changed over time. I concluded that if postcards had been made showing the bridge 100 years ago or a publication made showing the bridge, it must have been important at the time.

The navigable River Trent flows northwards through Nottingham, Newark and Gainsborough into the Humber Estuary covering a distance of 151km (94miles). Once past the lower lock at Newark on Trent (Cromwell lock) it becomes tidal. From Nottingham to the Humber Estuary, 23 bridges cross the River Trent, and of those one carries piped water, 4 are pedestrian, 5 are rail and 13 are road. One has a dual purpose (road and rail) and one is owned privately and has no access to the general public. I was unable to find one bridge, possibly due to the fact that the power station is being redeveloped so there is no footpath along the river at the moment.

Research proposal

I was prompted to consider the question of “whether the navigable River Trent is recognisable from its bridges beyond Nottingham?” after glancing at a TV quiz show in which the presenter asked contestants to name rivers of capital cities by showing them an image of a landmark. I pondered whether one identified the river from the landmark (e.g. bridge) or if it is the landmark which is identified with?

I designed a research project which involved taking photographs of important and interesting bridges. How did I define “interesting”? I thought that a bridge which was constructed from wood or metals rather than concrete, and possibly painted; had been altered over time or engineered in such a way that the structure became eye catching and memorable would be a good candidate for this category. I planned to test my original question out on friends and colleagues once I had processed images on screen. This would also involve sharing my work with people.

I considered my work could be of interest to local history and geography groups or local museums.

Research of topographical photographers

My tutor had suggested that I looked at the work of four topographical photographers. The Oxford dictionary defines topography as “the arrangement of the natural and artificial features of an area.” I looked at the work of John Davies, Berndt and Hilla Becher, Robert Adams and Lewis Baltz. I was familiar with the work of the Bechers, having looked at their images for a previous assignment and had been drawn towards it. I remembered seeing some of John Davies’s images such as his coal mines and canals, and noted that he had been commissioned to look at a River in France. He was to exhibit a collection of photographs in Nottingham so I planned a visit.

Common themes:

· Mainly monochrome, although John Davies has some colour images

· Composition – form, framing of image, use some surrounding environment, leading lines

· Light and weather conditions

· Ordinary images photographed – e.g. trees, houses, roads, coal mines, factories,

· The effect people have had on the environment

· People not included in the images

· People needed to view images

How does my work relate to these topographical photographers?

I used both colour and monochrome because I thought people may associate some bridges by colour – especially the two in Nottingham which are green. Two thirds of my images are colour because I like working in both colour and monochrome. Where I thought an image showed more form in monochrome, I converted it.

Composition of the images had to include all or part of the bridge. The photographers I looked at had space around their objects and with access to the surrounding area being limited; I found this was the most difficult part of the photograph. The River Trent means river which floods and most of the surrounding area is floodplains. Once the river was in flood, the challenge became harder. In Nottingham, I discovered the river was so wide that to fit the whole bridge in the photograph meant the bridge was lost within the image. Most of my images include leading lines and in some, I have used a bridge to frame an object but the bridge is still dominant.

I tried to make use of early morning and late afternoon light. Due to weather, environmental conditions and the short timescale of my project, I used a polarising filter so I could photograph on sunny days. Unlike the Bechers who specifically chose cloudy days for photography, I found that some of my structures came alive during sunshine or night-time.

People are not visible within my scenes but have had a part to play within them such as such as maintenance and renovation / preservation, employment in the factory and travelling across the bridge by train or car. The fact that the earliest bridge was built in 1850 (164 years ago) and is still in use shows that it is necessary to have bridges, and where possible, many of these bridges have only been strengthened or adapted rather than replaced. One can look at the engineering history of the bridges and note how well they have stood up to their design and build. This is useful documentary evidence and so for this reason it is important for me as a photographer where possible not to manipulate the bridges.

Robert Adams talks about creating stillness within his photographs. I set out to include movement within my scenes by including pigeons, fast flowing water, smoke, transport, kinetic energy and the river in flood because I think the river is alive and I am intrigued to know where the water has journeyed.

Method

Using the skills learnt throughout this course, I rationalised my kit into a bag which could be carried over long distances or for a length of time. I had been concerned over straight verticals and fall off using a wide angle lens so decided to use my telephoto lens for the project. However, the crop factor of 1.6 made a huge difference to effective focal length (EFL 112-320mm). After day 1’s evaluation, I added my 24-105mm lens to the bag (EFL 38-168mm). This worked better where access along the river was limited. I had experimented with a polarising filter when looking at correct exposure exercises, and both lenses were the same diameter so I carried just one. Other useful items were a cleaning cloth, empty memory cards and charged batteries, torch, remote lead, tripod, notepad and pen. For night photography, I added a torch to operate the camera and light my way along the towpath.

I selected the most interesting bridges (to me) and set about a site visit to take photographs to test out my kit, access and weather conditions with the aim of coming home, reviewing the images and retaking on a different day if necessary. I would have a rough idea of what worked or how an image could be improved to give impact whilst remaining aesthetically pleasing. Fortunately, Newark on Trent is not too far away and has several bridges of different types to experiment with.

Having learnt to use Adobe Lightroom (version 2.7), my post processing skills were faster than at the beginning of the course. The decision of how much manipulation to do in order that the geographical features remained the same was one which I debated over. I thought the images needed to be aesthetically pleasing but at the same time if I was to use them as geographical evidence, it would be noticed that pylons and street lamps had disappeared unless I qualified it.

Images (all taken with Canon 1000D)

Meadows Suspension Bridge, Welbeck Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham

1/250 F8 ISO400 70mm Effective Focal Length (EFL 112mm)

Grade 2 listed building, built in 1906 and restored in 1983; this suspension bridge has a flexible walkway suspended between two anchored towers. Work has been undertaken recently to protect it from pigeons. It also carries a National Grid gas pipeline.

Having visited on a football match day, I decided to re-photograph without people which showed the architecture of the bridge more effectively. This bridge crosses the River Trent in Nottingham to Victoria Embankment which was popular at the time the bridge was built and has recently been part of a regeneration scheme. Several postcards dating from the early 1900’s show people enjoying picnics and paddling in the river.

By using a telephoto lens, I was able to keep the verticals as straight as possible, although raising my shooting position would have helped. I wanted to show the curvature of the bridge against the straight towers and a straight on shot looking down the river was like a postcard shot. I found that people did not recognise the bridge from this angle unless they remembered crossing it. The walkway leads the eye towards the tower and the pigeon adds a momentary pause.

Trent Bridge, Nottingham

1/350 F11 ISO400 EFL 38mm

Trent Bridge is perhaps the most famous of the bridges in Nottingham, enabling visitors across to the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and two football stadiums. The present bridge was built in 1871 and widened in 1926. It is constructed from 3 cast iron arches each 30m wide.

Plans were passed to install colour changing led lighting under the bridge to mark special occasions. However, Daubenton’s water bats were found living under the arches so the work has been delayed. I was hoping to use this bridge as a night-time shot with the new lighting. Looking at old records of the bridge, it is noticeable that the decoration has not altered since construction.

The afternoon sun caught the gold paint and stonework making it gleam. The colour of the paintwork is synonymous with the City of Nottingham, so I thought that should be represented. To include the landmarks of Nottingham Forest Football Ground turned the image into a postcard scene and I wanted to capture more decoration detail because I think in today’s busy world it goes unnoticed. The curve of the bridge and its decoration lead the eye towards the lamppost. I exposed some and not all of the ironwork under the bridge as I wanted the decoration to be the dominant part of the scene. I think the image looks three dimensional. Some colleagues who are familiar with the bridge were unaware of the decoration although recognised it from my postcard scene.

In Photoshop, I straightened the lamppost and removed the black cloud that appeared behind it.

Lady bay Bridge, Nottingham

1/180 F11 ISO400 EFL 112mm

Built in 1880 as a railway bridge for Midland Mainline, converted to a vehicle bridge in 1979 and appeared in Smiley’s People (John Le Carre) in 1982.

This bridge too carries the colours of the City of Nottingham. As I looked underneath, I noticed the colours and pallets on the opposite bank. I felt the arches framed the pallets and the orange wall contrasted with the green bridge. Because the pallets are in the sunshine, they are brighter so become the focal point and the place where the eye rests. Pigeons were in flight under the bridge. I left the pigeon in the image to add interest. There is a similarity between these pillars and those over the river further up the Trent on another former railway bridge (Fledburgh Viaduct pictured later).

Radcliffe on Trent Railway Viaduct, Nottinghamshire

1/125 F8 ISO400 EFL 38mm

Built in 1850 by a Lincoln firm for the Nottingham Grantham line to Ambergate, Boston and the Eastern Junction Railway. The internal cast iron ribs were encased in concrete in 1981 and the exterior left exposed.

I researched this viaduct and couldn’t find many photographs depicting this side. What I find unusual is that on the far bank (Radcliffe side), two railway viaducts meet up to cross the bridge. Both are designed differently. I spent time trying to get a good view due to the amount of trees. Unfortunately by the time I had worked out the best position, the sun was too high and the image was slightly over exposed towards the right of the frame. I like this side because the arches continue for some way over the floodplain and are visible. The Trent was still in flood and flowing extremely fast and the flow was uneven which is shown in the image by using a fast exposure. By positioning the bridge in the top corner, I have tried to demonstrate the size and length of the viaduct and highlight its curves.

In Photoshop, I converted the image to monochrome because there was not much colour in the image. I felt it added more continuity of colour and contrasted the bridge against the background. I removed the power lines because I had lost some detail through overexposing the sky and the bridge became the focal point.

Gunthorpe Bridge, Nottinghamshire

Boat scene 1/250 F8 ISO 400 EFL 168mm

Bridge 1/250 F8 ISO400 EFL 38mm

Built in 1927 following the Gunthorpe Bridge Act of 1925, which empowered Nottingham County Council to demolish the old toll bridge and replace it with a free bridge. It is constructed from 3 reinforced concrete arches.

This was my nearest river crossing for several years and is still my most frequently used bridge. At the time of taking the photographs for this project, the river was in flood, preventing access along the river bank in both directions. A high vantage point or an aerial shot was not possible. On this occasion the road had traffic lights slowing the traffic down which gave me more time to look on the bridge and to compose my preferred shots safely.

I think this bridge is best captured in low sun which warms the concrete to a golden colour and with a still river capturing its reflection. Unable to achieve this, the other distinguishing feature of the bridge is its railings. The river at Gunthorpe is usually busy with pleasure craft and working boats and the moorings are used regularly. This time of year though, the river is pretty quiet. I decided to combine a close up images of the boats framed by the railings to represent how I see the bridge.

To achieve this image, I used a telephoto lens to bring the scenery closer and the same lens at its widest angle to take an image of the railings. In Photoshop I stacked the railings on top of the view and erased the river view of the boats that were further away. Using the polygonal lasso tool to select the railings I brightened them with levels. I feel the image is better balanced by being manipulated and because I was unable to take the image I had planned I had to think creatively.

Jubilee Bridge, Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire1/125 F16 ISO400 EFL 38mm

Jubilee Bridge (built 2002) is a pedestrian cable stayed bridge which requires a tower on one bank only. One of the industrial features of Newark is the Sugar Beet Factory which sits close to the River Trent. I chose to include it because there is not much in the way of industry near the bridges along the river.

I had taken several photographs of this bridge on a previous day and decided that to improve this image; I needed a still day to allow me to frame the steam within the tower of the bridge. On this particular morning, I had returned to reshoot another bridge, and as I glanced round, I saw this was the moment. The breeze had died down, so I hurried across the bridge, held the camera just above the floor and waited for the pedestrians to clear.

I converted the image to monochrome to give the image more impact and the shadows acted as leading lines towards the factory. I felt the bridge was well proportioned within the frame and there was space around the tower for the steam and clouds to hang in the still air. A low shooting position elongated the tower which dominates the image.

I cloned out a ventilation cover, piece of plastic on the floor and a lamp post to make the image less distracting and more symmetrical. Originally, I converted the jpeg to monochrome which made the image look grainy. I have since converted to RAW which gave the image a cleaner feel.

Midland Railway Viaduct, Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire1/30 F13 ISO100 EFL 112mm

Midland Railway Viaduct (built 1891) by a Derby firm has 25 short spans totaling 500 feet across the river and floodplain. Originally constructed from timber, it has been replaced over time with steel girders and concrete. I had not appreciated the amount of bridges across the River Trent at this point. The town is served by two railways; Midland Mainline and The East Coast Mainline. This bridge carries both small passenger trains and large goods trains and to watch a goods train clatter across this bridge is a testament to the engineering and maintenance of the bridge.

I liked the light colours of the factory against the dark bridge giving contrast and definition to the bridge. The colours, I think give a timeless feel to the image. The bridge is old and has kept its original form and the factory has been operational since 1921. The chimney on the right helps to balance the photograph to what may become a top heavy image because of the perspective used.

My personal criticism is that the bridge does not appear straight, which may be a combination of using a telephoto lens positioned straight on to the image and optical illusion. I used a tripod with spirit level and remote on the camera to get the image as straight as possible, examined it carefully and tweaked in Photoshop. It is still one of my favourites because it is a view which I have not seen photographed.

Newark Dyke Bridge, Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire1/180 F11 ISO400 EFL 35mm

Built in 2000, this is the third bridge to stand on this site since the East Coast Mainline opened in 1852. New foundations were installed and the contractors were given 72 hours to remove the old bridge and slide the new bridge into place.

This bridge is only accessible by towpath or boat and I noticed the trains were fairly frequent. When reviewing my test images, I looked up the train times to see whether it was feasible to include a train going across the bridge.

I planned a second visit and positioned myself on the river bank with my camera on a tripod. Having measured the scene and set up the camera, I assumed I would just wait for the train and press the shutter. After reviewing my images in camera, I realised this was not working, so I took some background shots on the tripod and hand held the camera and panned as the train went past. This took some practice to position the train and focus where I wanted it. In Photoshop, I cut out the train and placed it on the bridge using layers, transform, scale and perspective, and blended the images together. I covered a bright orange lifebuoy on the bank in the same way. By cropping to a letterbox image, the foreground is minimal and the eye is led along the fence to the train crossing the bridge.

This image is similar to a line drawing I found of the bridge in a publication for a walk around Newark’s bridges. I was not aware of it until after I had taken the image. This is an image that is not seen by my camera but not far from the truth. I think it is less distracting than the original view. I felt the colours of the image worked well, and the yellow of the engine adds brightness to the focal point. The electric structures are not straight and I debated whether to straighten them; although I decided to leave them as it adds character.

Fledburgh Viaduct, Fledburgh, Nottinghamshire

1/90 F16 ISO400 EFL 35mm

Fledburgh Viaduct was built in 1896, financed by William Arkwright. It carried the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway half a mile over the River Trent. It has 59 arches and 9 million bricks were used in its construction. Closed in 1980 and now used as a pedestrian and cycle bridge.

I settled upon converting this image to monochrome as the colours in the original image were distracting and overpowered the form of the bridge and village. The sun was shining and although I had a polarising filter and lens hood on, I still had to overcome the problem of lens flare by extending the hood with my hand. The bridge became a silhouette showing its form. As the river was in flood, the grass bank was under water. I cropped out the bank to add more drama to the image and because I felt it became a distraction.

I left the power lines in situ as the viaduct sits between two power stations. It is slightly distracting but I think it keeps the bridge in context with my idea of landmarks. Most of the images I found on the web showed the impressive arches of the bridge. I liked the way the bridge could be used to frame the church scene on the opposite bank.

Dunham Road Bridge (toll), Dunham on Trent, Nottinghamshire

1/350 F11 ISO400 EFL 38mm

Rebuilt in 1976 using the original piers dating from the 1830’s and constructed with steel and concrete. It was last closed due to flooding in 2013. The toll for a car one way is 40p.

The image I hoped to capture was one looking underneath the bridge with the piers straight on. Unfortunately due to this year’s flooding, I could not attain that position, and so I looked at capturing the river in flood to add interest to the image. This bridge is close to a large power station so I left the pylon in place to add a location. A pipe bridge runs alongside the toll bridge, so in composing my shot I was careful to exclude it from the image. The bridge frames the trees on the opposite bank. I like the small bridge which marks one of the tributaries. By taking the bridge on a diagonal drama is included and the bridge looks powerful within the waterlogged landscape.

In processing, I cloned out the reeds and grasses which were blowing in front of the camera to give a clear view of the flood.

The Humber Bridge, The Humber Estuary, East Riding of Yorkshire

120secs F22 ISO100 EFL 38mm

Construction started in 1972, completed in 1981 and replaced a paddle steamer ferry. It is designed to last 120 years. Total distance between the two anchorages is 1.4 miles. Towers are 155.5m high and the bridge bends more than 3 m in the middle in 80mph winds.

Knowing that large suspension bridges can be closed during high winds, it was important to follow the weather forecast closely. I had researched images of the bridge on Flickr and the internet and had ideas of what I thought would work. Having existing knowledge of the location was helpful when deciding which river bank to use. I hadn’t planned for some of the sea defences collapsing during the recent storms and high tides. The Humber Bridge is visible for miles around and is what I would call a landmark.

For this image, I had tested out my position during daylight so I was aware of the state of the sea defences. The night was cloudy so I did not have a moon or star trails to consider. I experimented with the length of time needed to make an image once it was dark. I remembered reading about the Bechers counting down the seconds to make their exposure, and I could imagine it happening. Although I had commented that during this project that I had seen very few boats, night time photography seemed to be a different game. Suddenly there were boat lights horizontally across the frame which I did not want. I reviewed my images on a tablet before driving home to make sure I had something I was happy with.

In RAW processing, I altered the colour temperature to one similar to what I remembered. I had expected fall off towards the left hand side of the frame, but it was the lamp posts on the right which were not straight. These I straightened in Photoshop. Using a small aperture made the lights appear like stars. Taking the image from this position on the south side of the river showed the curve in the bridge and the glow and lights of Hull. The long exposure smoothed out the river and made the light reflection look like little arches.

Conclusion

So, in considering the question of “whether the navigable River Trent is recognisable from its bridges beyond Nottingham?” I concluded that railway bridges and viaducts tended to be landmarks that many people had not ventured to unless they had an interest in trains. The further one went from Nottingham, the less people recognised. I think a bridge has to be famous or people need to be interested in order to remember features. When crossing the river, the bridge is part of a road network that enables people to continue their journey with ease. It was useful to note people’s reactions to whether they engaged with the image because they had seen it or whether it was an acceptable image because this had interested me when I visited the Masters of Photography Exhibition in Southwell Minster last year.