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.

ribeiroantonio, xuaxo, PaulVDV, saxo042, fanni, Kielia trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (21961) 2009-06-14 4:36

Thanks for this old gem. The photo shows that you already had a great sense of good photography in your adventurous 20s!!! Well done.
By the way, which camera you had then?
Antonio

pazufferey (2556) 2009-06-14 4:48

Hello Marlene,
The capture is impressive, a point of view which gives all the size of the site.
A very strong reality here.
Friendships
Patrick

rodgerg (24843) 2009-06-14 5:12

Hello Marlene,

A famous canal and a POV very well slected. Ths POV give a view very impressive with a great prospect. The peoples give an interesting idea of the scale of the canal.
Best regards,
Roger

xuaxo (5825) 2009-06-14 5:55

Hi Marlene,
Very interesting photo indeed, with a good note, even more as it is from 1970.
I like these photos that almost put the viewer inside the picture.
Greetings,
Francisco

korina (469) 2009-06-14 7:06

Hello Marlene,
Interesting picture with a very useful note! Its good to see old photos dating back in the 70's!
Have a nice Sunday,
Korina

PaulVDV (5332) 2009-06-14 11:56

Hello Marlene,
So far I haven't seen many pictures of the Panama Canal. So it's very interesting to find one that shows the canal and the surroundings. Very good POV so we can see the front of a ship, a lock, the canal and the lake on the background, and all this under a tropical sky. I think I read somewhere once that there are several lakes to cross during the cross of the isthmus.
How long did it take to go from the Pacific Ocean to the Carribean Sea ?
Best regards, Paul

saxo042 (16182) 2009-06-14 12:25

Hi Marlene,
This is clearly a very special motive, and also this POV is very special. I don´t think that I ever saw a picture like this, as from the captain´s eyes and looking upwards! Very good scan, very good colours and a very interesting photo!
Kind regards
Gunnar

fanni (8811) 2009-06-15 1:39

Hello Marlene,
I am back to work and to TE... and it feels really very nice!
IMHO, this very rare photo showing the lock of the Canal - with this very interesting perspective (especially with such cloudy sky!!) is an excellent contribution to TE! I know that I will never see the Panama Canal in "real" life... so thanks for this interesting photo! Very impressive documentary shot.
Very best wishes from Moscow,
Elena
PS. thanks for the email!!

Kielia (8691) 2009-06-15 11:58

Hi Marlene,
this is really a treasure and it was a great pleasure to view this fantastic image of the lock. The quality of the scan is great. You have chosen an outstanding POV.
There is a slight tilt but from my point of view is it even emphasizing the atmosphere of the canal. Very exciting clouds! A great impression!
Warm regards
Harriet

danyy (69357) 2009-06-18 0:05

Bonjour Marlene,
parfaite capture de ce ciel menaçant, on en déguste toutes les nanaces. Tu as bien choisi ton POV, en hauteur, pour nous faire profiter de ce système d'écluses et augmenter la profondeur.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

jmdias (19753) 2009-06-20 7:49

marlene

nice view from the past, I was 8 yo in that year. haha. nice colors, light and pov, we can enjoy the place like being there. I liked the perfect job of scan, quality is nice despite the time. I was thinking how the marine animals added to the ship would face these hours out of salted waters..

hugs

jorge

holmertz (9913) 2009-06-20 12:09

Hello Marlene,
Trying to catch up on TE a bit I saw this remarkably good scan. Very fine colours and excellent sharpness in all details. Also an exciting motif and an interesting note. (I think you have cloned the same cloud a few times, haven't you? ;-))
Kind regards,
Gert