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.

Community Expert

Question

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

Forum|Forum|15 days ago
May 22, 2026
25 replies
518 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.

Show previous replies

Greg_S.

Community Expert

Too obvious?? Thanks Dave for bringing SFTW back. Clearly, I have missed it. 😎

davescm

Author

Community Expert

It’s just Nessie trying to get back to the loch (which is behind us). Unless she also wants some of those fish and chips!
Dave

Greg_S.

Community Expert

The lock keeper is still eating the original fish and chips.

davescm

Author

Community Expert

The lock drains and the kids gain a sandpit!

Dave

Greg_S.

Community Expert

It’ll be a tight turn!

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

Is that a real narrow boat Greg? It’s incredibly long. If you made it super long for the sake of the gag, that’s totally cool, because you should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. ;-)

Something people outside the UK might not know about is the ‘Whitchurch canal breach’ that happened at the end of last year. The raised earth embankment on one side of the canal sprung a leak, and you’ll know what happens when water runs through a hole in an earth bank. It quickly became a bigger hole, and finally washed the bank completely away leaving three canal boats high and dry. So many YouTubers saw it as a good opportunity for content, they were literally getting drones crashing into each other. I was going to say there were dozens of videos covering it, but I think there might actually be hundreds!

D

DeanUtian

Community Expert

I also wondered how that boat would turn the corner :)

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

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

D

DeanUtian

Community Expert

Did you drain some water @Jacob Bugge ?

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

Well aye and nay, Dean.

The lock downstream had been opened, maybe in the wrong order or just to let a boat or two through, and then shut again, so the water is rising towards the level in the starter image by Dave, still with about a foot and a half to go.

If the lock downstream were open, the water would have been livelier, though hopefully less so than in the image by Trevor.

jane-e

Community Expert

So happy that the forum issues are resolved and that SFTW is back!

Jane

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