Barges that hit the dam

[Judy Howle]

I couldn't think of a better title. On the day after Christmas 2 barges broke loose from the port where they were tied with too short a rope for the high water resulting from all the rain on Christmas day and floated into the dam here at my city on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. I went out that day and made some photos and then went back last Monday around sunset and made more photos after one that was full of soybeans sank. I used "mostly" Exposure 7 and Nik Color Efex to change the color and add contrast.

They couldn't remove them until the water went down plus they had to bring in equipment by water that took 5 days but on Tues. they removed the top one that was empty and on Wed. they removed the other one. Only one floodgate was damaged on the dam which will be repaired in summer when the threat of flooding is very low.

[Diane Miller]

What a mess! Makes the big rig crashes on the freeways look easy to fix. Glad the dam survived! Nice job of photographing it! The sky looks like it's laughing at the power it unleashed.

[Dennis Bishop]

The sky and its reflection in the water are spectacular. With the barges right there, the signs saying to stay 800 feet from the dam are an important part of the image, but I'd be tempted to do something to subdue them a bit (maybe reduce their contrast???).

[Mitch Carucci]

What an interesting photo! A documentary image with the added element of beautiful lighting.

[Anita Bower]

Beautiful light, light and reflections. Interesting story. I agree with Dennis about the signs.

[Judy Howle]

Thanks Dianne! Yes we are all glad that the dam didn't suffer too much from the impact.

[Judy Howle]

Thanks Dennis! Good suggestion about the signs.

The sky and its reflection in the water are spectacular. With the barges right there, the signs saying to stay 800 feet from the dam are an important part of the image, but I'd be tempted to do something to subdue them a bit (maybe reduce their contrast???).

[Judy Howle]

Thanks Mitch! I'm glad the sky was interesting or it would have been a boring image.

What an interesting photo! A documentary image with the added element of beautiful lighting.

[Judy Howle]

Thanks Anita.

Beautiful light, light and reflections. Interesting story. I agree with Dennis about the signs.