Colourful Narrowboats

A particularly nice shot of a traditional style narrowboat, made all the more colourful by the presence of a carpet of duckweed on the water. The crew seem intent on navigating their way forward and I am left wondering what is ahead of them to draw so much attention. Carpets of this weed can become exceedingly thick (several inches) in the heat of summer - it would be good if we could harvest it for something useful! An aside: I don't think branding should be used when submitting an entry into a contest, even though you may be justifiably proud of it, because they are supposed to be anonymous.

The simple colours of this boat blend well with the blue sky. By only including the rear of this 70foot boat, the viewer is able to concentrate on the cabin and study the detail of one of the few working boats left on the cut. The presence of a mobile phone number suggests that this one continues to trade, even in this day and age.

I love the faded colours and peeling paint on this narrowboat, together with their reflection in the murky canal water. I’m left wondering about its age and what the future may have in store for it. The framing of this shot has successfully excluded much unnecessary steelwork and kept focus on what would be the living quarters of a working boat, leaving one to ponder on life back in those days. The background is a little distracting, but something the photographer had little control over. Thanks for providing the information of where this was captured.

Another working boat. This one seems to be trading brassware, and sports a fascinating collection of tiller pins, although these are not well focussed. The translation of Hakuna Matata, “No Worries”, encapsulates the very essence of waterway life and may well be unique amongst the many “Kingfisher” or “Meander” alternatives that are remarkably popular names of today.

I was struck by the detail of the wood grain in this shot. The rope may be new but this working boat could be over 100 years old. The colours have faded but remain plain to see and the picture is made complete by angling the shot to include the bow in the distance, with the canal extending to a hint of a bridge even further away. What a shame that a caption was not provided. For me, a picture is incomplete without one and this is clearly of a knot in a rope. Well done for submitting an imaginative shot.

This shot caught my eye because of its simplicity. It satisfies the topic of colourful narrowboats well, although it was not the kind of shot I had expected to see. Why would anyone photograph such a tatty looking boat (even the mooring line is worn)? The striking colour combinations draw attention to the patina of the neglected paintwork on the deck and then leads the viewer to study the brush-marks on the dented bow. This boat has seen better days but probably provides cheerful accommodation for the occupier.

Water can be therapeutic and mesmerising. I spent more time looking at the surface of the water than the boat floating on it. Maybe that’s what was intended, as far more pixels were dedicated to that area of the picture than were for the boat. The effect worked for me.

Many thanks to all those who submitted an entry to this contest. It provided a ‘quick fix’ to the withdrawal symptoms I had started to suffer since not being able to explore the waterways over the past couple of months. I have missed the cheerful colours of the cut and was pleasantly surprised to find myself being rewarded by even simple, subdued, studies of such boats and reconnect with the waterways. There were several wonderful photos of boats from around the world. I note that my brief did not emphasise that narrowboats are a particular type of boat found on UK canals but the extra submissions did not detract from my enjoyment of studying them. Sticking to my brief was difficult, especially as there were some beautiful shots of boats in their surroundings but I had to contain myself and focus on those that clearly made narrowboats and colour the subject of their photos.

I love the caption “Buckets of colour”. It addressed the brief for this contest head-on. The canals may have been grimy places for a hard-working people but they brightened their day by adding colour to their boats and canalware, such as buckets and water cans like these. Here we have no fewer than three together. The bold painting has been captured well and is typical of the traditional style. I’m unsure whether the addition of a boat name is a modern addition to deter theft, or not. Similarly the function of the ropework is unclear to me and may simply be decorative in this case. Never-the-less the depiction of (ropework and) bright paintwork was exactly what I had been hoping for. Congratulations on winning my heart and gaining first place!

Not the most colourful of narrowboats, but this picture portrays life on the cut as it is today. After the holiday-makers have left for the season, those who live aboard continue with what can still be a comfortable life. This shot reminds the viewer that canal life may not always be colour and sunshine. The smoke and subdued colours hint of a warmth inside even though the weather without may not be so welcoming.

What a gorgeous abstract! The subject is clearly of a brightly-coloured narrowboat although I am uncertain how it was produced. The caption may be a little misleading, as I suspect it was either manipulated in post-processing or taken through obscured glass rather than being of a reflection off the water. No matter, the result is a very pleasing and different shot.

This is also what I was hoping for; a good shot of a boat that told a story! Contrary to the pristine artwork proudly reproduced on modern pleasure craft, here is one with History (note the capital “H”). As a stickler for good captions, I would’ve called this something else (even “Stour”) rather than state its location. The “warts ‘n all” capture of peeling paint and worn woodwork conveys the consequence of the boat’s purpose. The grey colours of the sky keep focus on the boat and hint of the grimy conditions it used to work in. This was a functional craft whose purpose was to carry goods rather than pretty the countryside. The open doors invite the viewer to enter and wander back in time. A thought-provoking picture that tells many a thousand words…

A simple shot, yet plenty to study. The peeling of paint, reflections in glass, and even a cooperative cat. The colours drew my attention to this one and helped it to stand out. There may be a story to tell about all this but the contributor has left us to make up our own…