Many thanks, Jeremy. As far as I understand, the name was originally derived from the canal being a man-made channel 'cut' into the landscape as opposed to a river's natural course.
Each one a quiet meditation on place and passage. I felt myself drifting with you along The Cut, soothed by the rhythm of weed clearing, refuelling and quiet mooring. There’s such tenderness in your lens, especially in the way you've framed the relics of railway life and that soft persistence of nature reclaiming space (Bronica) ... that door is a living poem!
And your Ode to Rolt’s Renaissance ... what a gift! I love how you've captured the soul of canal boat life. Your opening three lines say it all really. Tom Rolt’s legacy lives on in your words and images, reminding us that slow travel and deep noticing are still possible, still sacred.
And then, a surprise ... colour! As I reach that beautiful sunflower field ... such a glorious finale! Percy’s parting gesture, perhaps? I’ll be looking forward to your final instalment. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful journey you took this summer and for including your heartfelt poem. 🙏💖
Thank you so much for your kind words, Deborah. I've read in the past comments from some folk who see in 'Narrowboat' what they consider to be Rolt's overly romantic view of life on the canals and in this country generally, lamenting the ills of the modern world as he saw them then ( I shudder to think what he'd make of our present world). There may well be some element of truth in this, but I feel that this criticism misses the essence of what he saw in the traditional ways of life of a bygone era, perhaps that sense of living a slower life closer to the natural way of things. Whatever the ultimate truth, his book makes for compelling reading, even the second time around (though I'm still on the early chapters)🤓.
I feel the same, Ralph ... Rolt’s vision may be romantic, but it’s rooted in a deep reverence for slower, soul-rich living and that essence still resonates powerfully today.
Thankfully, because it is a blessing, me and Lin, and many, many others have woken up to the truth, awe and beauty of finding more balance between Chronos (clock-time) and Kairos (soul time).
What comes across really strong in your photographs is how much you ab-soul-utely love the people and places you visited and passed by. I can feel that, so deeply.
This is another wonderful series Ralph - you've captured a real sense of the places along the way and the canal boat life, rounding it off with a lovely poem - am I right in saying Rolt was responsible for the restoration of the Cut?
I love that second shot and the tree images ,especially that birch with its arms spread out. Those sunflowers are amazing but of course Percy has to steal the show - he looks like he's had a night on the tiles with those empty bottles by him! I don't know if it's me or if you used different film types but I quite like what look like richer blacks that came from the Ricoh. 😊
Many thanks, Lin, I appreciate your words. Rolt was, indeed, one of the founding members of the Inland Waterways Association, although, I believe Robert Aickman first suggested the idea of the IWA having been inspired by Rolt's 'Narrowboat'. Although they were both writers by profession, Rolt was much more 'nuts and bolts'. His literary output focussed mostly on accounts of the lives of the great Engineers such as Brunell and had a greater feel for the canals and their people, whereas Aickman's style was much more of fiction in the occult genre. What Aickman did have that Rolt, perhaps, lacked a little was a greater promotional and publicity acumen and drive that helped push the IWA forward. It's been a while sunce I looked into the whys and wherefores of these gentlemen and the whole IWA and CRT/BWB set up.
Regarding the b+w images, it's interesting what you say in regard to the different 'looks' of the Bronica's output and that if the little Ricoh. The same film type, developing process and scanning/editing were used for both (other than the 6x4.5 negs were scanned in two sections, then stitched in post). The difference is likely down to the Ricoh's lens which, although pretty sharp by point 'n' shoot standards, has quite a noticeable character and vignettes quite strongly at bigger apertures. When I'm editing the scans from this camera I usually aim to get the centre of the image right to my taste, leaving the edges to their own devices. I have to say, I rather like the effect. It's quite unlike the more balanced, neutral nature of the Bronica's glass. The Ricoh did seem to underexpose a little a times, too, although this may be more down to vagaries in my workflow. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed them 🤓
Ah, Percy, what a lad. He looks like a right boozer in that shot lol.
It sounds like the peace and slower life on the canal was a passion for Rolt so I can imagine he had the gentler approach compared to what you say about Aickman. Thank goodness there were and are amazing people like this in the world preserving all aspects of nature and heritage.
I used to live very close to the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire - in fact when I went to college in my late 20's doing City and Guilds photography part time it was the first project I completed, using Ektar, Gold and Tri-X 400...ah they were the days! If I still lived there I'd love to do a full project on it!
You've done a great job with the scanning and keeping the images consistent. Looking again I think it is the vignette on the Ricoh that makes the blacks appear deeper...imperfections have their uses! 😊
Haha! Don't even mention the word project at the moment...I'm still getting my head around the Valley one!🙄😂 Although I will admit I noticed we have the Royal Military Canal not too far away...it's only 28 miles long and got one lock so it's small fry...but a photowalk from end to end might be interesting! Anything to avoid finishing the job I started!🙃
That Bronica shot is my favorite of these, although I really liked the first one shot with the S10 as well. You use a lot of cameras, which is a good thing imo. It keeps you alert.
I enjoyed this walk of thoughts and wonder Ralph. Though have to offer standouts for trees, steps and handrails.
Cheers!
Many thanks, Kenneth, I appreciate it 😃
Wonderful stuff, Ralph, I was especially taken with ‘Gathering Provisions at Nottingham’, the light in that one is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your kind words, Dave🙂
Beautifully observed. Thank you.
Many thanks, Sir.
Wonderful observations, Ralph! I really enjoyed them.
Thank you very much, Susanne! How’re you doing, btw?
Thanks for asking, Ralph! Let’s say I am hanging in there…
Lovely photos. So many great ones. I particularly liked the trees!
I feel like I used to know the answer to this, but could you explain why narrow-boat canals are referred to as "The Cut"? Thanks!
Many thanks, Jeremy. As far as I understand, the name was originally derived from the canal being a man-made channel 'cut' into the landscape as opposed to a river's natural course.
Ah, I see. That makes sense.
Ralph, your photos are absolutely stunning!
Each one a quiet meditation on place and passage. I felt myself drifting with you along The Cut, soothed by the rhythm of weed clearing, refuelling and quiet mooring. There’s such tenderness in your lens, especially in the way you've framed the relics of railway life and that soft persistence of nature reclaiming space (Bronica) ... that door is a living poem!
And your Ode to Rolt’s Renaissance ... what a gift! I love how you've captured the soul of canal boat life. Your opening three lines say it all really. Tom Rolt’s legacy lives on in your words and images, reminding us that slow travel and deep noticing are still possible, still sacred.
And then, a surprise ... colour! As I reach that beautiful sunflower field ... such a glorious finale! Percy’s parting gesture, perhaps? I’ll be looking forward to your final instalment. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful journey you took this summer and for including your heartfelt poem. 🙏💖
Thank you so much for your kind words, Deborah. I've read in the past comments from some folk who see in 'Narrowboat' what they consider to be Rolt's overly romantic view of life on the canals and in this country generally, lamenting the ills of the modern world as he saw them then ( I shudder to think what he'd make of our present world). There may well be some element of truth in this, but I feel that this criticism misses the essence of what he saw in the traditional ways of life of a bygone era, perhaps that sense of living a slower life closer to the natural way of things. Whatever the ultimate truth, his book makes for compelling reading, even the second time around (though I'm still on the early chapters)🤓.
Yes, Percy bets in on the act whenever he can! 😄
I feel the same, Ralph ... Rolt’s vision may be romantic, but it’s rooted in a deep reverence for slower, soul-rich living and that essence still resonates powerfully today.
Thankfully, because it is a blessing, me and Lin, and many, many others have woken up to the truth, awe and beauty of finding more balance between Chronos (clock-time) and Kairos (soul time).
What comes across really strong in your photographs is how much you ab-soul-utely love the people and places you visited and passed by. I can feel that, so deeply.
Good on yer Percy! You deserve the last word! 😁🦜
Thank you 🙏
Oh, and Percy say thanks, too! 😁
This is another wonderful series Ralph - you've captured a real sense of the places along the way and the canal boat life, rounding it off with a lovely poem - am I right in saying Rolt was responsible for the restoration of the Cut?
I love that second shot and the tree images ,especially that birch with its arms spread out. Those sunflowers are amazing but of course Percy has to steal the show - he looks like he's had a night on the tiles with those empty bottles by him! I don't know if it's me or if you used different film types but I quite like what look like richer blacks that came from the Ricoh. 😊
Many thanks, Lin, I appreciate your words. Rolt was, indeed, one of the founding members of the Inland Waterways Association, although, I believe Robert Aickman first suggested the idea of the IWA having been inspired by Rolt's 'Narrowboat'. Although they were both writers by profession, Rolt was much more 'nuts and bolts'. His literary output focussed mostly on accounts of the lives of the great Engineers such as Brunell and had a greater feel for the canals and their people, whereas Aickman's style was much more of fiction in the occult genre. What Aickman did have that Rolt, perhaps, lacked a little was a greater promotional and publicity acumen and drive that helped push the IWA forward. It's been a while sunce I looked into the whys and wherefores of these gentlemen and the whole IWA and CRT/BWB set up.
Regarding the b+w images, it's interesting what you say in regard to the different 'looks' of the Bronica's output and that if the little Ricoh. The same film type, developing process and scanning/editing were used for both (other than the 6x4.5 negs were scanned in two sections, then stitched in post). The difference is likely down to the Ricoh's lens which, although pretty sharp by point 'n' shoot standards, has quite a noticeable character and vignettes quite strongly at bigger apertures. When I'm editing the scans from this camera I usually aim to get the centre of the image right to my taste, leaving the edges to their own devices. I have to say, I rather like the effect. It's quite unlike the more balanced, neutral nature of the Bronica's glass. The Ricoh did seem to underexpose a little a times, too, although this may be more down to vagaries in my workflow. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed them 🤓
Ah, Percy, what a lad. He looks like a right boozer in that shot lol.
It sounds like the peace and slower life on the canal was a passion for Rolt so I can imagine he had the gentler approach compared to what you say about Aickman. Thank goodness there were and are amazing people like this in the world preserving all aspects of nature and heritage.
I used to live very close to the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire - in fact when I went to college in my late 20's doing City and Guilds photography part time it was the first project I completed, using Ektar, Gold and Tri-X 400...ah they were the days! If I still lived there I'd love to do a full project on it!
You've done a great job with the scanning and keeping the images consistent. Looking again I think it is the vignette on the Ricoh that makes the blacks appear deeper...imperfections have their uses! 😊
Indeed, thank goodness for the Rolts and Aickmans of the world.
May one enquire whether that project might possibly surface in a future post..?
Thanks for your words regarding my pics😊
Haha! Don't even mention the word project at the moment...I'm still getting my head around the Valley one!🙄😂 Although I will admit I noticed we have the Royal Military Canal not too far away...it's only 28 miles long and got one lock so it's small fry...but a photowalk from end to end might be interesting! Anything to avoid finishing the job I started!🙃
Indeed, why finish the main project when you can indulge in a little side project... I know the feeling! 😄
Love the abstract urban details….and those trees! And the surprise at the end with that vivid color! Nice shots.
Man thanks! I appreciate it.
I did enjoy them. Especially all the black and white trees
PS thanks for the restack!
Thank you, Shital, much appreciated🙂
The lighting in the second photo is A+
Thanks, Jordan, much appreciated.
That Bronica shot is my favorite of these, although I really liked the first one shot with the S10 as well. You use a lot of cameras, which is a good thing imo. It keeps you alert.
Thanks, Vincent, much appreciated. Which Bronny shot were you referring to btw?
The one with the shutters and ivy, that’s the kind of scene that will always make me want to take a photo
There's something compelling about views of Nature's anarchy right next to humankind's linear regularity. Thanks again.
Loving the b&w stuff. Moody and full of character!
Many thanks, Alex!