The Settle and Carlisle Line – The 1960’s to the Present Day
Presenter: Michael Smyth
Hybrid Meeting both Physically at Shenfield Parish Hall and via Zoom
Michael has been a regular visitor to the Settle and Carlisle Line for over 60 years and during that time he has seen the line through many phases of its life and its changing fortunes. From the last days of steam to the gradual demise of the line towards its expected closure, the unexpected reprieve in 1989 and its subsequent resurgence.
None of the 100 or so images shown have been published and very few have been seen in public before. It was therefore a real treat to have been given the opportunity to appreciate them. The early photos were taken in black and white using 120 roll film on a Hasselblad camera and the monochrome images conveyed a real feeling of the remoteness of many of the locations. Indeed, even since he adopted digital photography in 2005, Michael still maintains a fondness for the atmosphere generated by the lack of colour. Many of the more modern images were still presented in black and white allowing us to fully appreciate the composition and subject matter without the distraction of a ‘day glow orange’ anorak taking our eye.
Of course, the landscape through which it runs is what makes the S&C rather special but such topography also often gives rise to inclement weather. Michael pointed out that whilst many ‘fair weather’ photographers stay at home if the forecast is bad, he relished the opportunity to experience and photograph the line during bad weather such as blizzards, torrential rain and fog. The black and white format really excels in such conditions as things like reflections on surfaces really enhance the composition of the images.
A really rewarding evening enjoyed by around 50 attendees both locally and remotely. Thanks go to our ‘Zoomers’ for staying with us despite the venue WiFi failing at the beginning of the evening. One thing we have learned is that it is possible to run a Zoom meeting using a mobile phone WiFi hotspot!