Digbeth Street Photography

by Damien Walmsley 13/04/2025 13/04/2025

Street Photography in Digbeth, April 2025

I am always on the lookout for new street art in Digbeth and on social media I learnt that there was new artwork by Fokawolf under one of the railway arches. Another popular street artist, Gent48 frequently puts out vibrant murals and his new artwork was mentioned in recent instagram posts. My third reason for a visit was to take a look at the Colour Palette of Digbeth by Stacey Barnfield. This made it the perfect time for one of my regular visits to Digbeth, giving me the chance to refine my street photography techniques. I have experimented with different ways of capturing people, and a recent visit to London had proved quite successful. Now it was time to see whether the streets of Digbeth would be just as receptive.

The railway arches are a defining feature of Digbeth and often make a strong impression in photographing the area. I took the opportunity to capture the stories that unfolded beneath them. My Fujifilm X100VI was set up with back-button focusing, and as the sun was shining, I attached my Urth polarising filter to cut down on glare. The resulting images tell distinct stories, and I was pleased with how they turned out.

When searching for street photography opportunities, the combination of artwork and typography is incredibly helpful. Timing is everything. I try to blend into the background. Focusing away from the subject while drawing them into the story is often a delicate balancing act.

Eventually, I found the Fokawolf piece—a large printout of the Chuckle Brothers pasted under the arches on Heath Mill Lane. Although I took many shots of people passing by the artwork, I was not satisfied with the initial results. Then I noticed someone approaching down the road. I waited in position. This is a useful technique: appearing to photograph the artwork and then capturing the subject as they enter the frame. I pretend I am still waiting for the right moment, even though I have already taken the shot. This approach only works in certain situations, but when it does, it can be very effective.

I also took some close-ups and other images of the surrounding streets. Digbeth naturally lends itself to photography. The colours of the street art are vibrant, and the architectural features add depth and texture. Messages on the walls and passing people add narrative and character to the photographs.

https://thecolourpalettecompany.com/blogs/the-colour-palette-company/the-digbeth-colour-palette-a-super-sized-celebration-of-birmingham-s-creative-heart — The dentist in me appreciated this close up

Enjoy my latest venture into Digbeth, and there are more adventures and photography in Digbeth in my blog.

A Digbeth sunset followed by the blue hour

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Nothing but flowers in my garden

by Damien Walmsley 11/04/2025 11/04/2025

I love linking pictures to songs from my youth, and Talking Heads were a big influence on my musical tastes after seeing them back in 1978 at the then Manchester Polytechnic. Even more surprising was that the support band was Dire Straits—but I digress. The title of the song “(Nothing but) Flowers” ties in nicely with the following set of photographs.

I am not the best gardener, but I do enjoy taking pictures of flowers—both cultivated and wild varieties. With the fine weather, spring has arrived and many of the flowers in my garden are in full bloom. I was keen to take pictures of them but with a slight twist in composition. With photography, setting yourself a mini project is fun. My aim with this set of pictures was to complete a macro series looking closely at the flowers in my garden.

I have a 100mm Canon macro lens set up with a ring flash, and it works well on my Canon 5D Mk IV. I was taught by the best how to use ring flash photography for my dentistry work, and this Canon macro setup has served me well over the years. My settings for this series were aperture f/22, shutter speed 1/100 sec, and ISO 100. Flash power varied between 1/1 and ¼ depending on the available light. I prefer the manual flash setting for this work as I am able to control the amount of light on the subject.

Composition: I aimed to photograph the flowers in my garden from an above point of view. By firing the flash directly at the flower, I would illuminate the centre, with the light falling off around the edges to create a black vignette. The pictures are full of contrast, and the colours are vivid. I like the effect, and I used the circular design of the flowers to fill the square crop.

I enjoyed this experimental approach to using the ring flash in this way and appreciated the sharpness and contrast in the images. Maybe next time, I will look out for some small insects to interact with the flowers. Nature certainly knows how to put on a good show—with beautiful symmetry and geometric design.

These pictures were of my flowers taken in my back garden. I also mentioned that I enjoyed pictures of wildflower landscapes. Please visit my link below to see a beautiful poppy field in Kinver, Staffordshire.

Poppies on the morning edge

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Starcross Yard – an escape from Euston Station

by Damien Walmsley 28/03/2025 28/03/2025

Starcross Yard, Euston, HS2, March, 2025

If you want to escape the Hell’s Kitchen that is Euston Station whilst waiting for your train, visit this delightful pop-up park. The theme echoes the past people and life of the area, providing a quiet place to sit and watch the world go by.

I came across Starcross Yard by accident. My train was delayed at Euston Station, which is a common story. I therefore went out to the west of the station and walked along Drummond Street. I often walk along here to and from the station, using it as a shortcut to Triton Square, where there are sparkling skyscrapers and interesting pieces of art to photograph. To get there, you must walk across an area slated for the HS2 station. There is not much going on there now, as there is still debate over whether the station will be built. As you move along, security is intense, with several guards and wardens stationed near the entrance to Drummond Street.

camdengreenloop — Old ironwork vs new steel buildings.

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Instead of going straight on, I turned right into Starcross Street, and this is where I found the pop up park. Starcross yard sits on the former site of the Maria Fidelis School, which was closed and relocated due to HS2 construction. Now, it has been transformed into a temporary pop-up park. With a triangular footprint, the small green area features a circular yellow mural and several benches. An interesting structure of four metal posts forms a canopy—these posts were taken from King’s Cross Station and thus maintain the railway connection. At one end, there is a training centre, and along the railings, information boards share stories of past people and events in the area.

Drummond Street and Starcross Yard are now home to a diverse community, mainly Bengali and Pakistani. Drummond Street boasts a rich mix of restaurants, sweet shops, and eateries, as well as a few public houses serving independent brews. As the sun streamed down, the shimmering glass towers of Triton Square loomed in the distance, but my attention remained on the pop-up park. I appreciated the little details that made the space unique, as my pictures show.

The park also inspired me to research the names and histories mentioned on the information boards. I have returned a couple of times and plan to visit again in the future. How long the park will remain is uncertain, given the ongoing debate about HS2’s future at Euston, but until then, it will continue to be a welcome space for the community to enjoy.

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The blossoms on Oozells Square herald the start of spring

by Damien Walmsley 28/03/2025 28/03/2025

Every year, Blue Square blossoms into a wonderland. The cherry trees wake up from the long winter months, and the blossoms that appear are captivating, making the square look beautiful. The trees are arranged in front of the Icon Gallery, where the warm brick contrasts with the soft cream colour of the blossoms.

Many people converge on the square, with celebrations ranging from Eastern European dance performances to Asian cultural gatherings. The arrival of the blossoms draws in people from all over Birmingham. Capturing a unique picture of the square has now become a challenge, as so many photographers have documented it over the years—some even choose to stay away, feeling they have seen it all.

However, I still enjoy visiting the square and taking pictures whenever I have the opportunity. These are the results of my yearly visits since the start of my blog, and it is fascinating to compare the images over time.

This is an account of last year’s blossoms in the square.

Early blossom brings colour to Oozells Square

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Spring equinox at Chesterton Windmill

by Damien Walmsley 21/03/2025 21/03/2025

Spring Equinox, Chesterton Windmill, March, 2025

Early starts in photography are always exciting, but only once you have set things in motion. As soon as the alarm goes off, I am on a mission. This time, my destination was Chesterton Windmill to see its newly restored sails. Sunrise at the spring equinox made the occasion even more significant. Since the clocks had not yet gone forward, the start was not too early.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3yx9ykxxdo — A proud windmill on the top of the hill.

Driving towards Chesterton, I noticed a lingering mist over the fields. On arrival, the scene was too good to pass up, so I pulled over, took out my camera, and captured the ethereal landscape. This was one of the first photographs of the windmill with its restored sails, and the conditions were perfect—a leading fence, mist-covered trees, and in the distance, the windmill’s sails standing proudly.

When I reached the top of the hill, the moon was still visible, adding to the atmosphere as I prepared for the arrival of the day. The sunrise was beautiful, and though there were no clouds, the first rays of sunlight made the trip worthwhile. As the sun rose higher, its light reflected off the white sails, making them shine brilliantly. I took several more photographs with both my camera and iPhone before heading home for breakfast.

I plan to return in a few weeks, as the windmill holds a special place for our family, particularly during those bleak lockdown days.

A pleasant surprise awaited me later—my early morning photograph of the windmill in the mist was featured by the BBC, and another image served as the backdrop for the Midlands Today weather bulletin.

I hope you enjoyed reading this entry which marks the conclusion of my earlier entry, where I documented the restoration of the windmill’s sails.

Putting the sails back on Chesterton Windmill

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Talking about compost and bees in Digbeth

by Damien Walmsley 16/03/2025 17/03/2025

Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025

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 close to the HS2 works. In fact, the HS2 project is not particularly welcomed here, as one of my pictures shows. The walls of the garden are adorned with street murals several of which I have always wanted to see. Such colourful images add to the space’s character. A path around the perimeter leads to the back walls, where I met one of the volunteers, who was dressed as a bumblebee. (I have forgotten his name, though I believe it began with an H.) His striking yellow-and-black costume stood out, and he was more than happy to have his photograph taken.

Compost was the main topic of conversation that day. A few members of Negative Space were particularly enthusiastic about learning how the volunteers in the garden produce and distribute the compost. As it was early March, spring was only just beginning to emerge, so much of the garden’s work was focused on preparation. At the heart of the space is a beehive, though activity there was also just beginning.

My aim is to return in the summer when the garden will be in full bloom and compare my photos from then to now. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my record of this visit.

If you wish to know more about the Digbeth Community Garden then there is a website with further information.

There are other community gardens around Birmingham and I discovered a few on my journey with my Key to the City (links below).

Route 61 and two more keys

Keys to the Blyden’s Garden and the Legacy Centre

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Putting the sails back on Chesterton Windmill

by Damien Walmsley 15/03/2025 16/03/2025

Chesterton Windmill, return of the sails, March 2025

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 became a refuge, a meeting point for family while maintaining social distancing. As a lover of landscape photography, the windmill has featured in many of my pictures. In fact, the Chesterton Windmill is an iconic location for many landscape photographers and is high on the list of Instagram influencers’ favourite buildings.

Then, in the spring of 2021, the sails were taken down. There was no notice, no explanation, and no indication of when they would return. For years, the windmill stood without them—dignified yet incomplete. Over time, many local people gave up hope that the sails would ever be restored.

Behind the scenes, however, Warwickshire County Council had commissioned the production of brand-new sails, carefully crafted to honour the windmill’s heritage. The company appointed for this task was Owlsworth Conservation, specialists in the preservation and repair of historic buildings. Behind the scenes of apparent inactivity, both the council and Owlsworth Conservation had been diligently working through the challenges that come with such a project.

When I received an email from my close friend John Bray with the news that the sails were being installed, I was, as I said at the beginning, absolutely thrilled.

The day arrived, and I gathered my cameras and set off for the windmill. When we arrived, the site was buzzing with activity. The sails were being installed using traditional, handcrafted techniques—pulleys and ropes at the ready. The only concession to the modern day was the use of a motorised articulated boom. One of the stocks that will hold the sails was already in place. Over the course of the morning, the second stock was hoisted into position. Although the sails would not be attached until the following week, the cross-bar mechanism was now ready to accept them.

The team was happy to talk about the process and the dedication required to restore the windmill. The work demanded skill, patience, and perseverance. The weather was bright, with blue skies and white clouds, but it was bitterly cold. The previous day, the restoration had continued despite a wave of hailstones. Yet none of this dampened the enthusiasm of the men working on the windmill. A video of the work being done is on the BBC website

I look forward to seeing the sails in place, and in the coming months, my family will visit to relive our treasured memories of this beloved landmark. This ancient monument has witnessed so much change over the centuries, standing tall through shifting landscapes and history itself. Now, as it regains the sails that define it as a windmill, it is once more ready to embrace whatever the future may bring.

I have included one of several blogs I have written about Chesterton Windmill. The blog featured was written in 2019 and shows how the windmill looked with sails prior to their breakage.

Chesterton Windmill revisited

Further details and the background to the construction of the sails may be found on the following web link.

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HS2 – What’s happening now?

by Damien Walmsley 07/03/2025 07/03/2025

16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025

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 over the years.

We’ve had a lot of rain recently, and the walk reflected this as the footpath became quite muddy. When we reached the area, the first thing I noticed was the progress made with two bridges. A lot of concrete had been poured, resulting in two large structures. The special pond had also received some attention. The overgrown foliage had been cut back, and we were now able to see the water and grass more clearly. No trees have been planted around the pond yet, so it will be interesting to see how it fares over the coming summer.

Walking around the site on the weekend meant there were no concerns about taking photographs, which was a nice bonus. However, it was a long walk which Noah was not so happy about!

This is an update on a continuing story on 16 Acre Wood and the intrusion of HS2. Feel free to read the my other entries starting with the one highlighted below.

HS2 and 16 acre wood – nature is fighting back.

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A return to Kew Gardens and a day to remember

by Damien Walmsley 28/02/2025 28/02/2025

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 life.

IGPOTY, Kew Gardens, February, 2025 — The view over the lake to the Botanical Brasserie.

Fast forward 40 years, and I returned to Kew Gardens with Sandy to attend a reception for the International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) awards and to receive a certificate for coming second in the wildflower category. We were fortunate to have free access to the gardens, and after weeks of grey weather, the sun finally appeared. The day out coincided with my birthday, 14th February, and I was looking forward to the visit.

When we arrived at Kew Village, it was quiet. After initially walking in the wrong direction, we corrected ourselves and found the main village on the opposite side of where we had arrived. We strolled along the pretty avenues, past the lively shops, and made our way to Victoria Gate. Once inside the gardens, we had some time to explore and visited the Palm House. The deep green foliage, humid conditions, and old Victorian ironwork made it a fascinating place. I particularly enjoyed the circular rooftop walkway. The high-level views through the condensation-covered windows were worth the climb up the spiral metal staircase.

Kew Gardens is filled with beautiful tree-lined avenues, and we walked towards the Temperate House, which was near the exhibition venue. Along the way, we saw the Great Pagoda in the distance, neatly framed by the trees.

The IGPOTY reception was held in the Marianne North Exhibition Room, an enthralling space. Marianne North had hand-painted flowers from around the world, and the walls were covered from floor to ceiling with exquisite watercolours of flowers from Singapore, Borneo, and other exotic locations.

After the presentation and collecting my certificate, Sandy and I went outside to see the International Garden Photographer of the Year display boards. By then, the sun was shining brightly, and the crocuses were just beginning to peek through, adding a welcome splash of colour after a dull, grey winter. It was an uplifting sight.

Before leaving, we had time to visit the Temperate House, where I once again took a walk along the rooftop walkway. Afterwards, we strolled back along more avenues to Victoria Gate and made our way home on the tube.

This was a wonderful experience to revisit after so many years and I hope to be back again in the future. I have another post about my prize winning entry which you may wish to visit.

Cool light on the poppies

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The lights are on at Birmingham for those long winter nights.

by Damien Walmsley 22/02/2025 09/05/2025

Birmingham Light Festival, February, 2025

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 we systematically tracked down most of the installations. It was also an opportunity to try out my night lens filter for my Fujifilm X100vi which was a present by my daughters. I was eager to try it out.

‘The Roof of Stars’ lights up Thorp Street, and transforms the area around Birmingham Hippodrome’s Stage Door. It was fun trying to capture both the cars and the reflections of the stars. Near to the main entrance of the Hippodrome, there is a peace poem – the words are very much needed at present.

‘The Light Door’ at New Street Station was very bright. There were also many people around and catching either a clear shot or getting one where they were interacting with the light was not straight forward. I soon realised that taking pictures of these light installations was going to be tricky due to their placement and the challenge of capturing the atmosphere of people interacting with the displays.

The Mailbox featured a fruit machine installation, “Positive spin”. My Fujifilm did not have the wide angle view and I should have reached for my iPhone for a wide angled view. As we walked towards Gas Street Basin and Centenary Square, we spotted a light boat passing by on its way to the Mailbox, allowing us to capture the scene at just the right moment. There were volunteers from the Canal and River Trust who had been involved with the lights on the narrow boat.

Centenary Square had two installations: “Dance on Lava” Floor is LAVA x Silent Disco and “Night Badminton.” People were having fun especially on the dance floor. The badminton installation had a purple shuttlecock which was difficult to follow against the city lights and the dark night sky. The people playing the game did not seem to mind.

I was not disappointed with the last three installations we visited. The first was “Ideas happen here” in Newhall Square, where the fountains and water reflections provided plenty of opportunities for great pictures. Saint Paul’s Square had a bioluminescent fungus display in lights, offering numerous leading lines and a quieter setting that made it easier to capture images. The final installation was “Flux” in Snow Hill Square. Fortunately, I found a display board where I could rest my camera, allowing me to take a long exposure shot of the bars of light as they whirled around.

The one I missed was Alright Bab but as this is a legacy installation, I have time on my side to take pictures of it. I returned on the Monday and took pictures of this iconic phrase.

Tracking down the light installations made for an super night of photography. I was pleased with how my lens filter performed, as it cut down on light pollution and allowed for very small apertures, resulting in some nice starbursts. Winter is almost over, and spring is just around the corner, but I always enjoy these light installations.

Here are my blog entries from previous light festivals in Birmingham to enjoy.

Borealis: bringing the northern lights to the Bullring in Birmingham

Festival of Light

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