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England’s Big Picture 03/2020

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

There is a sense of achievement when BBC England select your picture to be included in the England’s Big Picture Gallery. This is the second one selected this year. It had quite a reaction on social media amassing lots of likes, if that is a good indication these days 🙂

This picture is taken during my exercise walk in Knowle, Solihull.  It had been raining the night before leaving some puddles on the path.  I bent down and dipped my iPhone into the puddle and got this reflection of the trees in front of me illuminated by the Sunrise. 

If you click on this link you are taken to the BBC England site where my picture is included for pictures taken from 30th March to 5th April

Categories blog

Chase the Rainbow

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

There is a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.  It is the feel good factor that thousands of children across the country have drawn a rainbow and put in their front windows.  Other children have drawn the rainbows in chalk and they brighten up the pathways outside houses.  These are a few examples from our village of Knowle near Solihull.  Chasing the rainbow brings much hope to people and is a way of connecting everyone through this terrible crisis.

Categories blog

Lockdown begins

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

The Corona Virus has rapidly engulfed us. Pubs, bars, restaurants and Gyms were closed on Friday (20th March) with full lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on Sunday (22nd March). We can go out for one form of exercise, food shopping and essential medication. I have got into a routine of going for a walk just before the sun rises and I have put down a selection of pictures from Knowle village and the places I walk around in the morning. These are very strange days as you will see.

DESERTED STREETS

The main High Street in Knowle Village is deserted on a Saturday Morning
More examples of Knowle High Street looking deserted on a Saturday morning

CLOSED

Restaurants, Bars and Shops are closed except for the convenience store

Loch Fyne is boarded up
Places have Closed signs or are just not open

SHOPPING

If you go shopping then you must keep your distance and this is done by yellow crosses on the floor.

Keep your distance
It is so reassuring to see the supermarket deliveries being made.
Eric Lyons the butchers are doing home deliveries which is a much safer option.

STAY AT HOME

By far the most sensible and safest activity that you should practice is Stay at home. Here Sandy shows how it is done.

Categories blog

The Piccadilly Arcade

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

The Piccadilly Arcade is part of my photographic series of arcades in Birmingham. I have already done the GWA (Great Western Arcade) and I thought it would be a good idea to follow this up with the Piccadilly Arcade.

  • The ceiling catches the eye
  • Moving through the arcade
Mother’s Day and a few days is a long time.
Life goes on for the moment

What I wanted to achieve was a snapshot of life in the arcade. Little was I to realise that life was going to change drastically later on that week. These photographs were taken on Monday 16th March and publishing on Saturday 21st March the world has been changed by Corona Virus. However please enjoy these pictures and let’s hope for normal service as soon as possible.

walking the dog
winged horses
looking down
coat of arms
A window with some interesting photographic art

Starting off this photographic journey I decided to wander in from the New Street end of the arcade. I took pictures of the entrance and framed a few trams in and around the entrance. I did get a few strange looks as I took pictures up and down the arcade. I felt sorry for the Faculty cafe as there were few people in an otherwise empty cafe. There was also a worry for flower shop with its mother’s day signs as I now know writing this it will be a rather subdued day. The barbers shop was busy and the regular footfall through the arcade was brisk. Some shops are closing down, other established shops are busy for the moment.

Looking in
Reflections
Shops and people

Eventually I came to the entrance on New Street and took a few minutes to take in the beautiful architecture and the passage of people around the entrance. The two cupids are just above the the New Street entrance. I had never really seen them before. It is funny how you pass by shops and buildings without giving then a second glance.

Cupids
front entrance

The ceiling within in the Arcade has murals which depict several dystopian scenes with people looking down on you. There was a guy taking a picture of the ceiling whilst I was there. Several of the photographs I have processed in black and white as it gives a nice contrast to the colour pictures that were taken. I hope you enjoy this visit through this passageway that connects a busy part of Birmingham.

looking up

The Arcade has a great website and far from me to plagiarise the history or the information that is contained on the site. So if you want the background then please visit
https://piccadillyarcade.org

Categories blog

Blossom in Oozells’ Square

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

Every year this arguably unremarkable square bursts into a riot of colour which is provided by the blossom on the two rows of trees on either side of the square. I am being harsh about the square, as it does have the IKON gallery which is an imposing building at one end. The blossom and the white pebbles of the square are beautifully offset by the IKON gallery. This display only takes place for a few weeks of the year. It is enjoyable taking the pictures and my iPhone picture of the square was featured on the late night news.

Sunny morning in the square
Blossom
Trees
Tree shape
Great start to the day
A row of trees
Branches
Categories blog

Clifton to Bedminster

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

My way back to Temple Meads train station was long and tortuous.  I took pictures of the Clifton Rock Railway which is no longer operational but I saw the upper and lower part.  There must have been some interesting stories about the making and running of the cable cars whilst it was in operation. All that can be seen is the outside structures which are intriguing but lost in time. The upper and lower parts of the Clifton Rock railway are connected by the Zig Zag footpath. It is a steep tortuous path that offers great views of the bridge but is very steep.

The upper lever of the Clifton Rock Railway
To the Zig Zag path
Street level entrance
Closed but still has a history

I headed up the Avon River, pausing to take pictures every so often.  The north bank is very picturesque with its colourful houses on the hills. My first destination was to see the Banksy picture of the Girl with the Pearl Earring. It is hidden down an industrial alleyway and there are several scribbles on the wall where several people have commented on the painting.  The work has character and charm and you are drawn into the painting.  The paint drops caught my eye and the sweeping way that the brushstrokes link together. I was pleased to have seen it.

Underfall Yard
Looking northwards from Spike Island
View of the water
The Girl with the Pearl Earring

Then onto North St in the district of Bedminster where every street corner has street art associated with it.  I did not use my large Canon Camera as the area was a touch edgy and so my iPhone 11 served me well for taking the pictures of the street art.  The street artists are very clever with the expressions and detail of their creations. Personally I am a great fan of street art but I am not happy when I see some of the beautiful creations simply tagged with vandalistic paint. I hope the photographs that people take preserve the spirit of the pictures for others to enjoy.

Greta Thunberg
The Power of Women
Captivating
Imposing
Here’s looking at you
Suitcases on a Beetle
Fruity streetart
Archway
Unsightly tagging

Then it was back to the train station to leave Bristol and head home. A short stay but many photographic memories.

Bristol Temple Meads
On the platform
Categories blog Uncategorised

Clifton and the Bridge

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

The Clifton Suspension Bridge is very impressive and my hotel, the Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin, was adjacent to the bridge. I checked into the hotel and I was straight out with my camera.  It was dusk and many cars were passing through the bridge during rush hour.  The bridge is a beautiful structure and you get pulled towards it.  At the conference dinner we had a short talk about the bridge from a volunteer who gave a PowerPoint talk about the the bridge, its construction by Brunel and other stories about it.  Although it was dark after the dinner, I did got out later to look around the bridge that was lit up.  It was very quiet with little to no traffic but it provided great photographic opportunities.  

Rush hour on the bridge
At night
looking along the bridge

The next day I was up at a reasonable time but I did see that the the sunrise was accompanied by a beautiful dapple light caused by some mist in the gorge.  I headed up to the observatory that overlooks the bridge and took many pictures.  One of my pictures made BBC Breakfast weather which I was very pleased about.  The low level light of the sunrise was stunning and I caught the reflections on the dew that had settled on the grass.

imposing structure
It made BBC Breakfast
Mist in the Gorge
Early walkers
Rising sun
Lone Daffodil
The Observatory
Looking towards the observatory

Following this I then wandered around Clifton village taking pictures of the buildings and people who were either getting ready for school or heading off to work.  The village has a lot of character and the houses provide many opportunities for pictures.  I even found a house where W.G. Grace, the cricketer once lived.  It was a wonderful morning and could have lingered around the village for a long time

The local church in Clifton
Interesting shops
Long streets
Signposting
Wall decoration
Getting the groceries ready
Lovely architecture
Blue Plaque
Babylon to Clifton
Quiet Streets
Local landmarks
Categories blog

Photographing Bristol

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

I was invited to Bristol to give a talk to a National Dental Society.  I was looking forward to the visit as I had not spent much time in Bristol in the past and I knew that I would have some opportunity to look around the City after my talk.  I arrived in Bristol Temple Meads station and it is the imposing station roof that immediately catches the eye.  I spent some time taking pictures at the start and end of my visit.  The station has lots of character together with obliging passengers who set off the backdrop to the station.

Bristol Temple Meads

The talk was in the Watershed a cinema theatre and it is in the heart of the Bristol docklands.  The interaction of people with bridges, water and architecture caught my eye and as it had been raining there was some puddle reflections opportunities.  

Puddle Reflections
Bikes on the Docks

I liked the “we are curious” sphere that was near to the docklands and on my walk back to the hotel.  The hotel was in Clifton and to reach it there was an uphill walk.  It did not prove too strenuous but again there were many camera opportunities.  On the river I passed by the SS Great Britain.  I started to get a glimpse of the graffiti street art that adorns some of the Bristol streets. I enjoy street art but realise it is not to everyone’s taste.  Some of the artwork is intricate, colourful and often has a great message to put across.  The streets on the way to Clifton have interesting buildings.   It is the setting of the houses in the Georgian to the Regency style.  The hills surrounding the town provide the backdrop with the buildings following the curves and undulations of the geography.

Bristol Docks
We are Curious – Science Exhibition
SS Great Britain
Interesting Street Art on the way to Clifton
Bristol Architecture
A church on the hill
A single chair, many house
My destination for the night in Clifton
Categories blog

GWA

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

The Great Western Arcade is situated near Snow Hill Station and in the morning is a throughway through to other parts of the city. It is lit up to show the different shops that are in the arcade. In the morning Greggs attracts many people to its store. There are lovely smells of fresh bread from the No1 the Bread collection. There is also the colour of Miss Macaroon. I loved the guy in glasses cleaning the opticians windows. The wedding dress shop window dressing is lovely but the passerby is more intent on her mission to get to work. The arcade is a reflection of the history, the present and the future of Birmingham.


Categories blog

The Birmingham Oratory

by Damien Walmsley Posted on

I have never been inside The Birmingham Oratory during my time in Birmingham. This is surprising given that I am a Catholic and visited several churches around the West Midlands. Therefore I was very pleased that one of my photographic friends Kevin Maslin had arranged with Brother Zechariah of the Oratory to hold a photographic meeting there. It was under the Brumtograpahy meeting group. I will have a separate post on that in later weeks.

It was a cold rainy day when we arrived at the Oratory and there were 10 enthusiastic photographers all ready to go. The Cloisters outside the Church were interesting to photograph and immediately you could sense St Cardinal Newman’s presence in the statues around the outside of the church. When I got my first glimpse of the interior it was with excitement and awe. The church is in an Italian style and the light streams accentuate the high domed ceiling and the numerous side alters.

There was a christening taking place so whilst that was taking place, I took the opportunity to visit the Cardinal Newman museum. There were relics and momentoes of his time in Birmingham. His chalice and Cardinal’s hat. I did have the pleasure of visiting Univeristy College Dublin Newman House, located at 85–86 St. Stephen’s Green a few years ago and it was interesting to link these to his activity in Birmingham. I found some of the exhibits really fascinating including a wig of his hair, following his illness with Cholera. The picture depicting him talking in the centre of Birmingham caught my attention and I loved it that he could hold an audience with his wit as an orator. His glasses and various letters were on display. It is a very personal and engaging museum.

We also toured the vestry where the priests get ready before mass. The Cardinal Newman chapel was bright and colourful.

The oratory is beautiful and I took so many pictures using a full repertoire of cameras. Wide and telephoto lenses. I included my lens ball as well in the pictures.

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