Pictures record History

I am currently working on a project which started as a hobby and then snowballed into something big.

Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Wallsend, UK closed after 130 years of shipbuilding and no one was recording the dismantling of the cranes and yard, so I started by taking a few pictures I have since created a website and am receiving emails daily from around the world about this yard.

Please visit the site and if you have any comments or know anyone who worked at the yard please make them aware of this site.

http://web.mac.com/madie2

Your comments are vaulued,

Nikon376

Nikon D1X, Nikon D70s

IMO, for all the pics people take of bugs, pet cats (me) and dogs, 'artistic' obscure things... as time goes by the photos that get saved, viewed and appreciated by others show our time and place as it was. Aunt Peg, Fluffy the Cat, and other snapshots are deleted, tossed out, or forgotten... but one shot of a shipping yard crane in the sunset can wind up in the history books -- and might well be the only record of the way things really looked.

Go for it. May I recommend getting more of the workers in the photos, sets the time and place and gives it a human element....
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Our horizons are so far, our vision is so weak
------------------------------------------------------------
Equipment:
I got this camera here..
I got that camera there...
Hey, I've got another one over there...
Look! I've got lenses too, see how long my list is?
And look at all this other stuff I've got!
Bet I've got more stuff than you!

Thanks for the comments and I hope more people take the time to reflect on the past as that is were our heritage lies and now that the UK has lost it mining and shipbuilding we are a nation that relies heavily on imports rather than seklf sufficiency. Sorry for being so political but they you have it.
--
Your comments are vaulued,

Nikon376

Nikon D1X, Nikon D70s

This is a very interesting project. It reminds me of one (small) photographic series I did of China's oldest modern naval shipyard, founded in 1866, and - perhaps ironically - heavily supported (if not planned) by British and French shipbuilders at the time. They are still building ships there to this day, some of them commissioned by overseas companies.

One interesting aspect of this particular site, no, actually, two aspects, are really interesting:

1. In the old days, China's first naval academy was affiliated with this shipyard. In the 1880s and later, many Chinese admirals were educated here, again, oftentimes by European naval specialists.

2. This is one of the oldest industrial heritage sites in all of China. One hall in particular is still original (French design). China has a lot of archaeological sites, but industrial heritage sites, there are very very few.

Plenty of history to record, as in your case; it is difficult to determine what might be important or not, so the more comprehensive the coverage (in text, sound and image), the better.

The China series can be found here: http://hahn.zenfolio.com/p368529035/

Regards,

Thomas

(P.S.: Your Happy Memories sub-site may need some re-formatting - the text is all bunched up on my screen in IE6)

nikon376 said:

I am currently working on a project which started as a hobby and then
snowballed into something big.

Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Wallsend, UK closed after 130 years of
shipbuilding and no one was recording the dismantling of the cranes
and yard, so I started by taking a few pictures I have since created
a website and am receiving emails daily from around the world about
this yard.

Please visit the site and if you have any comments or know anyone who
worked at the yard please make them aware of this site.

http://web.mac.com/madie2

Your comments are vaulued,

Nikon376

Nikon D1X, Nikon D70s

Click to expand...

--

• Images http://hahn.zenfolio.com
• Professional http://gatheringmountains.net

In my humble opinion, you have chosen to undertake a very important job. In addition to your photographic abilities, you also have the foresight to recognize the value of creating a record of what is happening at such an historic moment and location. In many cases, the need for this record is not recognized until it is too late.

I especially found your project interesting in that this yard built one of the world's greatest (and most long-lived) passenger liners; the Mauretania which was the sister ship to the Lusitainia. I am fascinated by the history of passenger liners and since the vast majority are now gone forever, I am eternally grateful to the individuals who took the time to photograph these ships from their birth to their ultimate demise.

Good luck with your endeavour.
Rich

Your photos are wonderful even though they document a very sad occasion. Thanks very much for sharing. I've sent your link to several of my ship loving friends.

Steve

Thanks for the replies, I think nowadays especially with digital some photos are taken and that are never looked at or referred to again. In my case I set out to record this event for myself, but the it snowballed and turned into a massive project. I have received emails from ex workers all over the world South Africa, Canada & Norway etc. This inspired me to seize the moment and capture a moment in history that will be lost forever.

No it will not because I have this site so people can look back at what was once their and talk about the industrial heritage that was the backbone of the North East of England.

http://www.madiephotography.co.uk

Your comments are vaulued,

Nikon376

Nikon D1X, Nikon D70s

Since many workers at these ship yards were machinist by trade you may want to post your links in this forum:

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/index.php

Many there love to talk about history, particularly ship building. They have one section just for history buffs.

Thanks for your efforts.

--
D80, D40, 18-200 VR, 70-300 VR, Sigma 10-20, SB800