The image was taken on a spontaneous trip to an old power station where just the cooling towers are left standing at Willington in South Derbyshire. I had gone with a friend who is just getting into photography. It was a cloudless sunny day, and the light brought out all the texture of the concrete. The site of the cooling towers is big, so there is plenty of room to compose images, even from under the towers. What I like about this image is how the towers step down and the texture of the weathering. I always thought the concrete on the towers was smooth and flat, but close up, you can see it is not.
I find standing next to these towers, which are 300 feet tall, very humbling due to their size and their history, and I find it sad that one day they will have to be demolished after dominating the landscape since the 1950s.
I knew I would be editing in black and white, as with most of my images. inspiration for my photography comes from many sources, in this instance it was one of my favourite photographers, Maurice Broomfield, whose photos of industry and the people that work in it are stunning, he was born only a few miles away.
I took over 200 images while there from both outside and inside the towers. There are so many perspectives, and at different times of the day and in different seasons, the possibilities for photography are endless.
I do hope the towers are left standing for many more years, and other photographers and I get the chance to return and photograph these sleeping giants many more times.
What are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!
The composition and the editing.
If you could make this photo again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or differently?
I think I would try to include more of the cooling tower on the right of the image.
Phil Tooze shared this photograph with the FRAMES Facebook Group.
Photographer
Phil Tooze, Heanor, Derbyshire, UK
Equipment and settings
Sony A7RV, Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN Sport.
Edited in Lightroom, Photoshop, and Silver Efex.
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