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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

NIKON D40 239/2 seconds F/5.0 ISO 200 153 mm (35mm equiv.)

Like what you see here and are interested in photographic composition?.....the blog section of my website now has a complete set of 5 articles covering my personal approach to the subject: Ian Bramham Photography - Blog

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 website Ian Bramham - Fine Art Photography where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.

Jean-François from Les Issambres, France

quel traitement c'est impressionnant !

29 May 2009 5:31am

@Jean-François: Thanks Jean-François!

Stefan from Thiersee, Austria

Well composed, great!

29 May 2009 5:43am

@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 from Farnham, United Kingdom

Really impressive, well done.

29 May 2009 7:25am

@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 from Toulouse, France

Superbe!!

29 May 2009 8:36am

@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 from Kingston, Ontario, Canada

stunning !

29 May 2009 10:06am

@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

Moridi from Tehran, Iran

great shot.
Good composition.
Thank you.

29 May 2009 2:28pm

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

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

Extraordinary! Amazing.

29 May 2009 4:05pm

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

Awesome work! I find your images amazing.

30 May 2009 3:54am

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

olivier Paillet from toulouse, France

Very nice shot !

31 May 2009 6:27pm

jelb from France

Bonsoir,
great composition and effect..Bravo!

31 May 2009 9:11pm

Magda from Vancouver, Canada

Fantastic! Love it!

1 Jun 2009 5:52am

Ovidiu from Bucharest, Romania

Just perfect! I love it!

4 Jun 2009 12:36pm

Melinda from Tel Aviv, Israel

Gorgeous (and I never thought I'd say that about a power station).

4 Jun 2009 8:03pm

Magda from Vancouver, Canada

Magnificent!!!! I just love your photography! :))

11 Jun 2009 4:24am

benny from Paris, France

Great composition, congratulations.

26 Apr 2010 10:47am

NIKON D40
239/2 seconds
F/5.0
ISO 200
153 mm (35mm equiv.)