FIELD NOTES 075
32 pp / 190 x 230mm
Staple Bound
Fedrigoni paper
First edition of 100
FN075
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The canals of the UK offer a unique experience, striking a gentle balance between many contrasts. They boast a rich industrial and cultural heritage, serving as a profound link to our past, present, and future. The canals, stretching over 2,000 miles, were built in the 1700s and early 1800s by Irish navvies and others, playing a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution. As with all industrial methods, faster and more flexible systems replaced the canal system, leading to a gradual decline.
It wasn't until after World War II that a group of enthusiasts envisioned Britain's inland waterways as a living transport museum. LTC Rolt, the author of 'Narrowboat', played a key role in initiating the restoration efforts. Today, these waterways are considered an integral part of the nation's fabric, contributing to our quality of life.
Today, the canals serve a different purpose as they wind their quiet way through town and city. Providing a unique and intriguing way of life for narrowboat residents and offering leisure activities for many others. They also support diverse wildlife and are popular for walking, cycling, fishing, and simply enjoying the tranquil surroundings.
The canals' heritage encompasses not only the structures and buildings but also the landscape, traditions, culture, boats, and the people who operated them, creating a unique and rich sense of place and living history. Like lines of a poem transcribed across the country, they offer a linear oasis from the hustle and bustle of modern life and connect people to nature. They are a link to our industrial history and, through their slow pace of life, can offer ideas for a more sustainable future.
‘Diesel & Dust’ aims to explore the allure and significance of the canal network and its impact on the individuals residing on or beside them. It seeks to highlight the waterways' appeal as an escape from the rigidity of modern society, offering a transient lifestyle and a closer connection to nature. Through visual storytelling, "Diesel & Dust" aims to convey the freedom and connection to nature that living on or alongside the waterways provides, celebrating their enduring allure and cultural significance.
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FIELD NOTES is a series of affordable zines showcasing photography projects which explore our relationship with 'place'.