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Talking about compost and bees in Digbeth
While organising a walk for the photographic group Negative Space, we explored Digbeth using the canals as our guide. After lunch, we headed back into town, walking via Shaw’s Passage. I was pleasantly surprised to find the community garden open, so as a group, we went in. The garden is a small green space situated … Continue reading Blog
Putting the sails back on Chesterton Windmill
I was absolutely thrilled to learn that the sails were finally going to be placed back on Chesterton Windmill. This Grade I listed building holds so many cherished memories from before lockdown—a place to explore, take photographs through the changing seasons, or simply enjoy the historic beauty of this iconic location. During lockdown, the windmill … Continue reading Blog
HS2 – What’s happening now?
I encouraged my daughter and grandson to join me on a walk to see the HS2 works next to 16 Acre Wood. It’s now 2025, and it’s time for an update on my visits to the site. These visits began in 2021, and I’ve kept a diary documenting all the changes that have taken place … Continue reading Blog
A return to Kew Gardens and a day to remember
Over 40 years ago, my family took a day trip to Kew Gardens. We had a flat in London and were exploring Kew as part of our adventures in the city. I had just started my job as a dental house officer at Guy’s Dental Hospital, marking the beginning of a new chapter in my … Continue reading Blog
The lights are on at Birmingham for those long winter nights.
The Birmingham Light Festival has brightened up the city as look to the end of winter. Light festivals have been held previously, and this year, the company Opus supplied 11 imaginative light installations. Although many other activities were taking place, the BBC was planning a feature on the lights. I tagged along with John Bray, and … Continue reading Blog
A Winter’s walk around Edstone
I gathered with a group of friends at The View, a restaurant in the Warwickshire countryside near Wootton Wawen. Before we sat down to eat, four of us took a short walk around the surrounding area. This walk took us to the Edstone Viaduct, a spectacular canal aqueduct that runs over the Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon … Continue reading Blog
Cool light on the poppies
Little did I realise that a picture from a field in Kinver, Staffordshire, taken on a warm day in June 2024, would be displayed at Kew Gardens on a cold day in February. My photograph, Cool Light on the Poppies, was awarded second place in the wildlife category of the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition. I … Continue reading Blog
Starting off the year with reflections
The year may have started with plenty of rain, but that never stops me from hunting for reflections. I have a few favourite spots where I find good puddles, and here is a selection from the start of 2025. Someone recently asked about my technique for taking such pictures. When capturing reflections, I use my … Continue reading Blog
Druids Heath – a place for change
Druids Heath is just a place I pass through—a shortcut home and a fast route that I have taken many times after events at the University of Birmingham or in Selly Oak and Bournville. Passing through the area, I often wondered about the mix of tower blocks and green spaces. I remember passing a lively … Continue reading Blog