Leaving my legacy for the waterways

The latest issue of the IWA's quarterly magazine Waterways arrived through my letterbox last week. 

As is usual with subscription magazines, a confetti of inserts fluttered out as I opened it. 

One of them is a leaflet called Leaving A Legacy, which is the IWA's own initiative aimed at inviting people to remember the Association in their wills.  (Click here to find out more about how to leave the IWA all your money.)

I was flattered and honoured to see that they used one of my photos for the cover.  (The IWA can use my pics in their promotions if they like - it's my way of volunteering for the waterways, one where I don't have to wear embarrassing and pointless safety equipment.)

The caption 'Leaving a legacy' has a metaphorical ring for me, especially with the strapline 'Share your love of the waterways with generations to come.'

I'll never have any money to give to the waterways - heaven knows I'm too pound-foolish already.  But the leaflet made me feel that by taking those photos and writing this blog I am in my own small way 'sharing my love of the waterways with generations to come.' 

That particular photo is a bit of a favourite for me.  It was taken on the Trent & Mersey, on the way to Swarkestone, and I remember that glorious sunset, and manoeuvring Granny's stern with the propeller to get the camera position and the ripples on the water; and then the waiting, the waiting, waiting for the man and his dog to come along and sit down.  All deliberate elements in the picture.  It wasn't just a snap; I tried very hard. 

It's a bit fuzzy and underexposed, but the technical side is always the weak part of my pictures.  It's a negative from about six years ago and I scanned it myself, so in theory someone could get more detail from it than I did.

See this picture in greater glory here.

Comments

[Dan]

and there i was thinking your pics were aimed at my desk top furnishing ;@)

Not sure about all that Pixel stuff. All i know is they look bloomin good on a 17 inch monitor :@)

Keep up the good work.

A Boxer dog standing on a NB would be a shoe in!!

[Andrew Denny]

Thanks, Dan,

Well, I'm not putting them up solely as desktops.  Mainly it's to illustrate the words. 

 

But you have hit on one thing - what's the best resolution for pics on the web, when they are designed to be seen full-screen? 

 

Mostly I'm doing them 1200px wide, because that resolution is common in laptops now.  But 768 or 800 high?  And what about the new breed of 16:9 laptops? 

 

Andrew

 

[Dan]

This is a lovely picture and i agree the walkers draw you through the tunnel.
BUT i am afraid it fails to make it as my new desk top picture (like many of your snaps have in the past Mr D) Swap the walkers with a narrowboat and it would have taken pride of place on my monitor.

In first place at the moment is the snowy footpath and woodburner lit NB from a few weeks ago.

[Dave Winter]

What made this picture complete was the couple walking along the towpath which gave a focal point to the scene.As you say it is hard work to get a good photograph which you have done.Congratulations.