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davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 22, 2026
Question

Something for the Weekend - Part 259 - Keep them locked!

  • May 22, 2026
  • 25 replies
  • 515 views

I’m pleased to say that after a short break, whilst some issues with images in the forums were resolved, our fortnightly ‘Something for the Weekend’ challenges are back.

For this week, we visit the locks on the Caledonian canal in Fort Augustus, at the south end of Loch Ness. With any series of locks, the opening and shutting of the gates in the right order is what makes them work and allows boats to climb, or descend, to a new level. I wonder what it would look like if the gates were opened in the wrong order, can you show us?

The “rules”:

  • Use the starter image as at least part of your own image entry.
  • Anything goes, as long as it meets the forum rules on decency, copyright, etc.
  • Anyone, and everyone, is welcome to have a go, whether you are a complete beginner or a Photoshop expert. This is not just for our forum “regulars”.
  • The challenge is not limited to Photoshop. Any Adobe software can be used. 
  • There are no prizes apart from the chance to practice, show off your skills, or bring a bit of humor and fun. Don't be shy, join in and have a go!
  • The starter image is made available for you to use in this forum challenge only.

 

To download the starter image, click it then, when the image opens in its own window, right click and choose “Save Image As/Save Target As” (or similar depending on your browser).

 

 

When posting back your image — please use the reply button in this first post and use the 'Insert Photos' icon at the bottom of the reply box. If posting a comment on someone else’s entry, then please use the reply button next to their image post.

 

Have fun!

 

Dave.

    25 replies

    Community Expert
    June 6, 2026

    Adobe firefly/photoshop.

    Rollan Banez
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 6, 2026

     

    Creative Community Leader / Educator - Empowering fellow educators with creativity and innovation
    Myra Ferguson
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    It’s maybe not a very long ride 😂

    Greg_S.
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    But at least there isn’t a long wait.

    Myra Ferguson
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    True 😄

    June 5, 2026

    Thanks Dave


     

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    Hi - thanks to all who have taken part in this challenge. A new SFTW challenge (Part 260) is now up and running here : 

    Dave

    bebarth
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    I visited Scotland in October/November about 50 years ago, and from what I remember, the atmosphere was more like this…

    but it’s still a wonderful memory.

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    I love the atmosphere in this one, it looks just like June! :-)
    Dave

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 3, 2026

    Shut it!

     

     

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    Exactly that! We’ve had some heavy downpours this week and my drive home on Tuesday evening looked just like that - fortunately there was no canal waiting at the bottom of any of the flooded roads.
    Dave

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 3, 2026

    Open it!

     

     

     

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    I wonder if the animal was riding the bike when it fell in, perhaps taking a shortcut to the fish & chip shop? :-)
    Nice job JR

    Dave

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2026

    I asked Gemini for a dog skeleton, I think he was on the scooter.

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
    EuanWilliamson
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 27, 2026

     

    Best regards, Euan.
    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    May 27, 2026

    Open gates , raised water, and a bit of spillage at the edges. We can’t blame the car owners for driving off before they flood. Nice job Euan. :-)
    Dave

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 26, 2026

     

    SFTW259LockedLoch2.jpg

     

     

    To get closer, RightClick and Click Open Image in New Tab; Click again to get closer still

     

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    May 26, 2026

    I like it Jacob, but in this case should it not be ‘stop draining the lock’? The water flows down into the loch. :-)

    Dave

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 26, 2026

    Dave, after I had seen the surfing wave by Trevor and the U boat exclamation by Greg (Stop draining the lock), the draining of the whole upstream loch became stronger than I, be it only the much smaller Loch Oich.

     

    The astonishing scale of recent scary behaviour of water in glens elsewhere may also have had a part in it.