It's difficult to determine if the extensive lock system on the Blackstone River Canal that connects Worcester and Providence is an example of early 19th century ingenuity or shortsightedness. The canal was completed in 1828. Mules, walking on a narrow path along the water, dragged barges the length of the canal. As you can see in this photo of the Millville Lock, there was barely enough room for a barge the width of your average wagon. Travel was slow, filling and draining the locks was slower, and the amount of goods that could be transported was minimal. The death knell for the Canal came in 1847, however, when rail service between Providence and Worcester began operations. In a twist of irony, the path leading to this lock is the old rail bed that put the Canal out of business. So, ingenuity or shortsighted? I still can't decide.
Given how much I love black and whites, I finally decided to purchase Topaz BW Effects. It's a Photoshop PSE plug-in similar to Topaz Adjust, which you've already seen me use extensively. Today's my first photo using Topaz BW Effects. I used the Classic filter, and adjusted the contrast, brightness, enhance black, enhance white, strength, and detail boost sliders. In PSE I added a levels adjustment and then topped it off with a sepia photo filter.
