One of the most photographic structures near me is the Windmill at Chesterton.  I had visited it for the first time earlier in the year and I wished to plan another trip where I could have my tripod with me.  I contacted a good friend of mine, John Bray, and we planned the visit between Christmas and the New Year.  To really appreciate the Windmill you need to have good weather especially if you are looking for a memorable sunset.  As luck would have it not only did we pick a good afternoon, it had snowed the night before which gave an added plus factor to the photographic outing.  John and I spent an hour and half at the windmill taking photographs as the sun slowly left the sky.

Many people gathered for the sunset
A lone sail against the sunset
Starburst against the Windmill

The sunset was a good one and there were lots of opportunities for pictures.  Even the moon got into the act.  The temperature dropped and whilst it was cold there was little wind.  We took lots of pictures and soon it was time to leave as the sunset was nearly finished.  Just as we were walking away John turned around and said look at that view.  It is the old saying always look behind you when you are walking away from the picture.  John is really quick on getting his pictures out on social media and they were excellent producing much reaction.  Here are my views of Chesterton windmill on a cold yet ultimately rewarding photographic session.

A high key view
Afternoon light on the snow
Light through the centre
Shadows of the sails on the Windmill
Looking towards the Sun
Moonshot
The sentinel looks towards the sun
Another moon shot
The end of the day
Two figures walking towards the Windmill

 

John’s Photographs are on his Flickr account.

As an academic, getting published is a requirement for the job.  No publications then no reputation.  You need publications for promotion, your next research grant and also your research impact story.  When you enter into a different field which is not your job then it is difficult to know what constitutes success.  Is it the number of likes on your Instagram post or whether lots of people comment on it?  I consider most of my photographs as works in progress so it is nice to get them published in a dedicated Photography magazine.  Whilst several have made the local press, I get a real buzz if they are in a national publication.  This year I have been fortunate to have pictures printed in Digital Photography (Issue 185 and 195).  The latest one is taken in Grand Central Birmingham and has a strong leading line with two people either side of the picture.  One is walking up whilst the upper is walking down.  The picture was taken with my Canon G7 Powershot which I no longer use having opted for a Sony RX100 for everyday use.  The picture published earlier in the year was taken on the main commuter bridge over the West Coast rail line and for this I used my Canon 5D and 24-70mm lens.

As published in Digital Photographer, Grand Central Station
Commuter railway bridge crossing, Rugby

 

It snowed.  Also it was very considerate that it snowed on a Sunday morning as well.  It was a heavy downpour and I donned many layers before I set off for a journey through Knowle Village.  There were many people in the park and activities ranged from sledging to snowball fights.  There were very few cars around and several had been left on the side of the roads.  Even with my polariser lens filter, snow is very difficult to photograph.  My favourite picture was of the red letterbox and mailbox.  They have been in Knowle High Street for a very long time and were there when I arrived.  Hope you like the pictures and it is starting to look a lot like Christmas now.

Snowman
Outdoor play
Tree shapes
More Trees
The Snow turns to Slush
Knowle Church
Red boxes
Detail in the snow
Snowy hedge
Cracks in the Pond
Spot the man in yellow

I have been fortunate once gain to be included in a Calendar promotion called “Birminghamgems”.  It includes two of my pictures and it is for a worthy cause. We are supporting the Birmingham Museums.  This is the second year I have been involved with the @Birminghamweare initiative and it has been a great journey.  Lots of exposure for my photographs and the two that were chosen are shown below.

Early lights

The first one is called Early lights and was taken during one of my 7am jaunts around the City prior to my clinic in the City Centre.  Getting up early to take pictures of the City before work does have its advantages. The Birmingham Canal is part of the old industrial heritage and has some fascinating views.  This picture was taken looking down on where the canal goes under the Snow Hill Station arches.  There is a lone figure walking the canal if you can spot him!

Water Dancing

The second photograph is called water dancing and this was taken whilst I was strolling around Millennium Point and the water feature was working. A little sun and a little bit of HDR make the water jets look as if they are dancing.  This area will undergo great change in the coming years as the building to the right is Curzon street and this will be the hub for HS2.

Path through the Gardens

When the notification came through, I immediately applied. A photographing evening at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens after-dark Christmas-lights experience was an exciting prospect. I was lucky to get one fo the 50 tickets as previous events sell out very quickly.  However, when the day came, the weather forecast was for one of the coldest nights of the year. I was starting to have second thoughts about going. I took the decision to wrap up warm, put my cameras in my back pack and set off for the gardens. When I got there, it was good to find friends from previous igersbirmingham Instameets.  The evening was going to be a good one.

The light show did not disappoint and the trees, paths and glasshouses were all part of a well choreographed light display. It is difficult taking photographs in the dark and also having to contend with the bright lights. The iPhone does well at producing a good picture whilst with modern cameras cranking up the ISO gives you lots of flexibility. I was fairly pleases with the results and provides good memories of the evening.

More details of the evening may be found on the IgersBirmingham Website.   The Botanical Gardens are well wroth a visit day or night 

Trees and lights
Illuminated paths
A multitude of colours
Like a candle in a tree
Having a chat in the Gardens
Stars at your feet
Snowflakes and Reindeer
Can you see the photographers in the light show
A path in the dark
A bit of blurring can be fun
Walking in Wonder
Christmas lanterns
Tunnel of light

 

I have been a member of Flickr for several years and being included in “Explore” still has the ability to make the site exciting.  It is a fantastic feeling when you receive over 100 favs and over 10,000 views of your photograph. Flickr uses an algorithm which It terms “interestingness” of your photograph.  It works out how often you have liked (faved) or commented on other Flickr users photograph.   Then your photograph will appear in the top 100 photographs of the day.  If this happens then you will find a large number of fellow Flickr users liking your photograph.

Early morning communters walking from Moor St to New St, Birmingham

There are many 3rd party applications such as “Scout” that will track the progress of your photograph.  It is complex and your photograph fluctuates its position and then may either settle down to remain in explore or without warning it may be find itself excluded.  Whatever happens for that short period of time which may be a few days, there is a great deal of activity around the popularity of your photograph.  I could write for a long time on “explore” but it may be better to read another person’s account.  Meanwhile enjoy a few of my photographs that made “explore”.  They were selected by an algorithm that decided that they were “interesting”.

Light Painting
Portrait using a home made Snoot
Long Exposure in Gas Street Basin, Birmingham

If I need to think things through or if I am stuck for something to photograph then I head for Lapworth.  The Canal Junction linking the Grand Union and the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal is a picturesque spot and has all those ingredients you need .  I had hoped for a spectacular sunset and whilst not an intense one, it did not disappoint.  I remembered to bring my wide angled lens and also a graduated filter.  This did make the difference and ensured that I got a good balance between the sky and the reflections in the water.  One of my pictures even made the BBC weather watchers and was shot on the iPhone.

The pedestrian bridge over the locks
Reflections of the sky
Where the canal splits with to the Grand Union or straight onto Stratford-upon-Avon
Standing further back from the Junction
The iPhone picture that made the BBC weather.

 

Siân, my youngest daughter, got married to Jim Bruce and I was able to take a few photographs during the day.  We did have an official photographer and VJ is brilliant but I brought along my Sony RX100V5 for the ceremony and then my Canon 5D for the final part of the night.  It was a great opportunity to get some candid pictures. Weddings are fun but I would not wish to be an official photographer as I would be worried about making sure that I had the correct pictures and had not missed any of the important ones.  Here are a few of my better pictures that I took and I do love those ones that are showing a packed pub.  Everyone was having a great time and it shows.  The wedding was at St George and St Teresa and the reception was the Bell in Tanworth in Arden.  For those interested, my speech went as well as can be expected 🙂

Sian getting ready
The beautiful car with the beautiful bridesmaids
On the way to the Church
signing the marriage certificate
The bride and groom with the Bridesmaids (and Lily)
My three daughters, Natasha, Sian and Katie
The ushers, best man, bride and groom and the bridesmaids
Rob, Natasha and Noah (in his peaky blinder hat)
The Rolls Royce car in Tanworth in Arden
The decorations in the pub
Cutting the Cake
The Morgan family
Run Lily Run
The first dance
The first dance (continued)
What a party
Dancing the night away
My best night ever

The hashtag #hellobrum is used by the University of Birmingham to promote the Institution on their social media channels.  My University role has changed over the last year and I find myself more and more on our beautiful campus.  This provides me with wonderful opportunities to take time during the day to photograph our everchanging campus.

The Aston Webb building

The following pictures are posted on Flickr, Instagram or even the BBC Weather Watchers site.  My social media feed often gets noticed by the @unibirmingham team or the Birmingham Post and Mail. It is always exciting to receive a mention from them.  I also love to hear people’s comments about my photographs as well.

Sunrise on Campus (featured on BBC Weather Watchers)
Rain on Campus (featured on BBC Weather Watchers)

Autumn provides a wonderful opportunity to photograph the campus as the colours and light produce interesting views.  I also follow other photographers and some of their pictures around the University of Birmingham are fantastic.  Often I get my own ideas for pictures by looking to see how others have interpreted the view of the campus.  All the pictures featured in the Blog were taken in the months of October and November and there will be more posted in the coming months.  Just look out on my social media feed and follow the #hellobrum tag.  Meanwhile I hope you enjoy this selection of pictures.

Old Joe reflected in an Autumnal Window
Window Detail (Aston Webb)
Old Joe in Autumn
The Great Hall
Sunrise over the University (published in the Birmingham Post and Mail)
Moonrise
Bramall trails

Dubai is a fascinating city and there is a great deal of sand, concrete and glass.  There are beautiful buildings punching upwards towards the sky. The Burj Khalifa tower is the tallest building in the world and its design is complimented by the also impressive Jumeirah Emirates towers.  In the morning, there is a haze as the sun rises and the buildings look like marooned giants searching for their way home. 

During the day the sun burns out the structures and it was fortunate that I brought along my UV/polarised filter which helped cut down the glare and bring colour back to the pictures.  You also are not able to stay out in the heat for too long either as it saps your energy.

Jumeirah Emirates towers during the day
View from the Emirates Towers
The Skyscrapers look like needles.

As the sun sets the colour returns and the buildings reflect the reds giving a warm glow to the concrete and steel.

Sunset over the towers

It is fleeting as dusk followed by the night arrives.  However the neon takes over and there are many opportunities to take night shots.  I visited Wafi where the buildings have an Egyptian theme and there is an evening light show.

Wafi
View of the Raffles Pyramid

 

Future site for Phase 2, The University of Birmingham. Just Sand at present.

My visit was part of my work with the University of Birmingham so many of the pictures were taken when the opportunity arose during the day. It is an exciting city and look forward to seeing how the University of Birmingham develops there.

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