Exercise 15: Public, space, public activity

For this exercise on public spaces I wanted an alternative from the obvious park or beach and so chose the area around the Falkirk Wheel, an area where two canals meet and with various towpaths, cycle routes and footpaths etc. For once the sun came out and so did the people, there was no special event on, just the usual weekend activity.

To set the scene, the location is marked by a pair of Kelpie Head sculptures in metal, with the public relegated to the background:

From OCA People and Place Photos

These cyclists apologised for getting in the way of my picture as they passed by, little did they realise they were the subject of my picture, cycling on the towpath (the actual Wheel is that thing on the right):

From OCA People and Place Photos

Grabbing some fast food:

From OCA People and Place Photos

And others enjoying a leisurely picnic by the boats:

From OCA People and Place Photos

The inevitable visitors centre, but it is quite funky:

From OCA People and Place Photos

What better recreation than some photography, though this poor women looks a little beset by her backpack, coat and camera strap:

From OCA People and Place Photos

There is a fantastic play area, sponsored by that great Scottish favourite, Irn Bru, but given the general paranoia about photographing children I made do with this distance shot of the overall playground:

From OCA People and Place Photos

One of the British Waterways staff gets a helping hand from some children with the swing bridge as the parents look on:

From OCA People and Place Photos

A young person enjoys a quiet moment with their media-phone:

From OCA People and Place Photos

While someone else enjoys a book (and I thought the windows looked a bit like a pair of square framed glasses):

From OCA People and Place Photos

Walking along the towpath with some of the colourful canal boats in the foreground:

From OCA People and Place Photos

I had many more lovely images from this shoot but hopefully that provides a taster and gives an indication of the range of activities.