Stories

Photographic journeys, techniques and places across Birmingham, Warwickshire and beyond.

Photographing the sunrise at Trwyn Penmon point, Anglesey
Travel

Photographing the sunrise at Trwyn Penmon point, Anglesey

Our family holiday was in Anglesey staying at Gwelfor barn near to Llangoed on the east of the island.  This location was near to Trwyn Du lighthouse.   The weather was changeable but my Clear Outside app showed that there was a good chance of a sunrise taking place on our…

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The Octagon is the new kid on the block
Canals

The Octagon is the new kid on the block

The newest and tallest building in Birmingham is the Octagon which is 155 m (509 ft) tall.  The skyscraper will have 49 floors and is dominating the Birmingham skyline.  The picture shows how dominant this building will be across the City. The…

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Photographing the Library of Birmingham
Birmingham

Photographing the Library of Birmingham

The Library of Birmingham is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK.  Built in September 2013, the building is spectacular both inside and out. There is so much to photograph and there are so many different layers to the building.…

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The virtual world of repetitive beats
Birmingham

The virtual world of repetitive beats

I was a student in Manchester in the seventies when punk and new wave were the big thing. I caught up with the New Romantics music whilst in London.  In the eighties it was all about getting my qualifications and working for promotion.…

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Stirchley Taster with the Prism Photography network
Observation

Stirchley Taster with the Prism Photography network

Stirchley has many good memories as a place to visit.   Our first family drink, after lockdown restrictions were relaxed, took place on a cold night in May at an outside table at Birmingham Brewing Company.   I have also visited the other two breweries Attic…

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Back to backs 20th anniversary visit
Birmingham

Back to backs 20th anniversary visit

When visiting the Back to Backs in Birmingham, your booking includes an hour and a half tour of the premises.  The buildings were built with speed and were cheap to both buy and live in.  In 1870, Birmingham was undergoing tremendous change as people…

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Adding a splash of colour to the streets of Cheltenham
Street

Adding a splash of colour to the streets of Cheltenham

All the colourful street art on the walls around Cheltenham Spa have stories to tell.  Last year the river of colour captured my imagination and my photography.  Returning on a Sunday in July 2024, I was looking forward to photographing a new set of…

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An early start to Middleton Lakes RSPB
Canals

An early start to Middleton Lakes RSPB

The alarm was set at 4.15am but I was awake long before the music “Insomnia” kicked off my waking routine.  Early starts are a necessary evil if the early bird wants to catch the preverbal worm.  Within 20 minutes, the dog had been out…

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The brutal beauty of Exchange Square
Birmingham

The brutal beauty of Exchange Square

Exploring Birmingham in the early morning is a great pastime and the city opens up for many different photographic opportunities.  One morning in July, I moved towards the law courts with no particular plan other than to take some street photography pictures.  My eye…

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HS2 gathers pace at Curzon Street
Canals

HS2 gathers pace at Curzon Street

The HS2 construction is transforming the landscape around the Curzon Street building.  Once this was a sleepy backwater and a relatively quiet part of Birmingham.  However first came Millennium Point and then the ThinkTank museum. Then HS2 rolled into town.  Birmingham City University also moved…

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