The World Around Us Lowell Canals (post 24)

The city of Lowell, Massachusetts is comprised of both power and transportation canals that were built and maintained from the late 1790’s to today. Although today mainly maintained for historical sites they still offer a view into the past and the National Parks Service (NPS) offers guided boat tours.

Having gone on a few of the NPS tours I learned about the canals and how they played a vital part of Lowell’s early history. The power canals providing hydraulic power vital to the growth of the Industrial revolution in New England. The transportation canals as the name states were built to assist in the transportation of goods (mostly lumber) from Northern New England to the coast. These canals provided a path around the Pawtucket falls and rapids of the Merrimack River which stretch for one mile having a dropped of over 32 feet.

Living and working in the city of Lowell I often take strolls with other photographers or myself to capture the many sites offered whether it be street/urban or historical, so much to see.

On one sunny but nippy late December morning another photographer and I headed out to see what we could find. We decided to focus on Lowell’s Lower Pawtucket transportation canal. Here are two shots from that day, the first being the Pawtucket canal lower locks and the second being a view on the other side of the locks.

Lower Lock:

Camera Settings:

5D Mark IV

Lens EF16-35 f/2.8 III USM

Focal Length 16mm

1/5 sec, f20 ISO 100

Tripod: Yes

What’s behind:

Camera Settings:

5D Mark IV

Lens EF16-35 f/2.8 III USM

Focal Length 16mm

1/20 sec, f20 ISO 100

Tripod: Yes

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Take care & smile before you hear the click.