Working Ships and Boats

A well observed and well taken image of the opposite end of the commercial shipping or boating scale. No clue as to where this was taken, but obviously not a big commercial enterprise. The boat looks a bit battered, but the decoration on it is delightful. The crewman laying out the nets makes it clear that this is a working vessel. Add to this, the perfect sea and sky and it's a lovely photograph.

The end result of the service of this working boat. There are a lot of prawns there and do we bother to consider how they are caught and think about the people that catch them? Clearly it's a physically demanding job, even back in port. This image captures the industry 'in the round', with boat, crew and catch all in one shot. Well-observed.

Brilliantly exposed shot balancing the 'blue-hour' sky with the numerous floodlights and the contrasting lights from the buildings. Absolutely crisp detail and no distortion despite the wide-angle lens. The amount of freeboard shows that the ship is relatively lightly loaded. It is far from the largest bulk carrier but ships of all sizes are required for successful commercial operations.

An image that grabs the attention. The subject is right on brief, the way it balances the fading daylight with the very bright floodlights, both on the ship and the platform, whilst keeping the sea sharp, is very well done - especially considering the relatively slow shutter speed.

Another great shot, but very different. I was struck by the generally dark palette, relieved by the bright red and yellow decking. The negative space to the left of the image adds to this contrast and balances the overall effect. This shot works so well because of the high viewpoint which cuts out many other potential distractions and enables the viewer to see exactly what the photographer wanted. It's also well exposed, sharp and with a great range of tones.

Another arresting image for very different reasons. Bright sunshine and perfect sea conditions shows off this exceptionally clean tanker. The image is perfectly exposed and highly detailed. I've been on a few tankers but have never seen one as spotless as this. The sheer complexity of all the exposed pipework is daunting, but the way the image has captured all the detail is very good. Obviously taken from a privileged position, but that's not a criticism.

This is obviously a substantial vessel, which makes the waves crashing over the bow all the more impressive, despite the fact that the weather seems to be ok. Clearly there has been a lot of water coming over the prow judging by the water cascading from the numerous outlets at the top of the hull.

Dredgers perform a vital but unglamorous role, but their importance cannot be overstated. They have become vastly more sophisticated in the last few years. This is a great shot of a hopper dredger in a really quite rough sea. It's well exposed and sharp.

These huge container ships are impressive enough, but it's clearly the late evening (or early morning) golden hour that raises this image. Flat calm sea, beautifully coloured sky and that golden light reflecting off the side of the ship as well as its cargo. Well observed and taken at the right moment. My guess is that this amazing sight would not have lasted long.

Another shot that had instant appeal and closer study shows no flaws. The vessel is exactly on brief, but the context is just stunning. A glassy flat calm reflecting the boat and the scenery would make this another contender for a large print on my wall! (not that I have any room left!). Colours, focus, exposure, detail and composition are all exceptional. Well worth getting up early to capture this shot.

Wow! The last of the Big Battleships in the US Navy. Quite how this shot was taken, I don't know. I'm told that being on the deck of a ship firing guns as big as this can cause dreadful blast injuries as well as smashing delicate equipment (like a Nikon FM2). The photographer must have prepared very carefully for this shot and timing was doubtless a nightmare. However, it paid off handsomely with a shot never likely to be repeated now or in the future. The lack of elevation of the guns indicates that (had it been for real) the target must have been at point-blank range. From what I can find out, it seems it would have been taken in August 1984. Stunning image and definitely one for the wall.

A dramatic and spectacular launch of the Lizard lifeboat, taken at exactly the right moment. The shot is perfectly exposed and sharp with a lot of detail. Personally, I would have either cropped or cloned out the grasses at the bottom as they don't add anything to the image and only serve as a distraction.

This image stopped me in my tracks. Rarely have I seen a photograph that encapsulates just how dangerous and uncomfortable making a living from the sea can be. The fact that this is in the Southern Ocean - surely the most psychotic of all the oceans - only serves to emphasise the dogged determination of fishermen in these waters. An image that tells a story with forceful simplicity. I thoroughly enjoy being on ships or boats, but I am very glad I'm not on that one.

A simple and straightforward shot which has been done perfectly. It shows a common scene throughout the coast of Cornwall; small registered fishing vessels earning a living and operating from small harbours like this one. Sympathetically edited without any sense of overdoing it.

Another image from years ago with some tremendous impact. Taken on film, it would have required a privileged photographer to take it from (I'm guessing) a couple of decks up the island. No way of identifying the F-4 limits my guess as to when it was taken, but the USN haven't used Light Gull Grey over white for a very long time.

You have managed to overcome the serious disadvantages of shooting through the windows of the Spinnaker Tower. It was well worth it for this high-angle - almost helicopter's eye - view of the Navy's latest flagship. The crop has probably removed a lot of distractions from the far reaches.