Ian Bramham's Photoblog
Cottam Power Station
Posted by Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 29 May 2009 in Business & Industry and Portfolio.
This photo which I posted here at Aminus3 back in October 2008 was recently used under license by the UK government on page 10 of a document called Tackling Climate Change in the East Midlands
The photo was inspired by similar long exposure photographs of the cooling towers of Ratcliffe Power Station by the fine art photographer Michael Kenna
I've learnt so much about composition from studying Michael's photos and then trying it for myself.
Cottam is a 2000 MW coal fired power station in Nottinghamshire. The 8 distinctively shaped hyperbolic concrete cooling towers are the main subject of the photo but in the background you can also see the taller smoke plume coming from the main boiler chimney
For purchasing high quality archival prints of any of these photos you can send me an email by clicking here or by going to MY NEW WEBSITE where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.
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Links to the websites of other photographers whose work I love and who have all helped me enormously over a long period of time. I find the work of all 3 to be inspirational.
@Jean-François: Thanks Jean-François!
@Stefan: Thanks Stefan!
Alan Rossiter from Ireland
Hope they paid you well. This has the markings of Michael Kenna and I'd be a fan too. Well done...nice image.
29 May 2009 5:57am
@Alan Rossiter: Thanks Alan....it was a fair fee I think for them and for me. I don't make much money from photography (although things have been picking up over the last few months) so it's a big thrill to see one of my photos in print and great to see them being used rather than just sitting on my computer.
yz from Budapest, Hungary
no one else can make power stations look so beautiful :)
29 May 2009 6:13am
@yz: Well I'd swop talent with Michael Kenna if that were possible :-)
@Daryl Johnson: Thansk Daryl!
Hoshisato from Ealing, United Kingdom
Congratulations, it is a beautiful shot and I find myself following you as you do Michael :-)
29 May 2009 7:31am
@Hoshisato: What a deeply flattering and kind thing to say - thanks very much Hoshisato!
@Drey: Thanks Drey!
John Leech from Grange-over-Sands, United Kingdom
You know, however much they paid you for this, they got a real bargain. I'll bet you twice your fee that Michael would not have got out of bed for three times your fee.
They did pay, didn't they? ;~)
29 May 2009 10:05am
@John Leech: Hi John, Yes I got the cheque last weekend! (I updated the Flickr thread a couple of days ago) I saw one of Michael Kenna's photos for sale at Ikea last time I was there which was a big surprise. The other thing that surpised me was the poor quality of the print. It came with a nice bevelled thick white card mount and it looked like more care and attention had been spent on the mount than on printing his photo. The print was on sale for a fraction of the amount that I got for this one usage license but I guess he gets a fee on every print they sell (which must mount up a lot over a year)
@Scene by Sharon Photography: Thanks Sharon!
Richard Hollins from London, United Kingdom
Another great shot Ian. Love the tones and the effect of the long exposure.
29 May 2009 12:49pm
@Richard Hollins: Thanks Richard!
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
What a great success! (No wonder with this stunning photo.) Congrats, Ian!
29 May 2009 1:02pm
@MadScientist: Thanks very much!
Onlymehdi from Wayne, United States
Congrats on the photo use, also an amazing shot
29 May 2009 1:55pm
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Great work my friend!!! I'm so proud of you! And yes, this is a masterpiece!
29 May 2009 4:01pm
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
Brilliant shot Ian! This is a masterpiece and my sincere congratulations to you! Well deserved!!
31 May 2009 5:25am
ManuelaR from Hainburg (Frankfurt/Main), Germany
Congratulations and well deserved!
You made the place look so mystical and magical with your processing, wow!
31 May 2009 12:59pm
dkc from Xanthi, Greece
You so deserved it! My best wishes for many more great photos like that and awards!
31 May 2009 3:02pm
Melinda from Tel Aviv, Israel
Gorgeous (and I never thought I'd say that about a power station).
4 Jun 2009 8:03pm
Nikon D40
239/2 seconds
F/5.0
ISO 200
153 mm (35mm equiv.)