These pedicabs or rickshaws look exciting but they are an accident waiting to happen as often or not the cyclist is not looking at the road whilst he is weaving in and out of the traffic. These pictures were taken on Oxford and Regent Street during the early evening. The streets were full of Christmas shoppers and were many of these bright contraptions on the roads. Furthermore the rickshaw does look very flimsy. There are so many of them blaring out music and weaving in and out of traffic. Even though these bicycles do not travel so fast, the light is tricky when photographing at night.
Three in the back and one driver.
There are many articles on these so called pedicabs which highlight the problems that surround them. I have featured two of them from the BBC and the Metro.
Whilst the passengers are happy, the driver has one hand on the bar and the other on his phone.All eyes on the road please.
These pictures were taken during my recent visits to London and you can read more on the link below.
Street photographers love London, and everyone has their favourite area for taking pictures. I simply enjoy watching people move around the streets. Sometimes, you find a street teeming with opportunities for photographs; other times, it is not so fruitful. But, as they say, go with the flow—good pictures are always waiting for you.
The upside down world of Soho.Good will on Earth to Refugees.
When wandering the streets, having a companion to share your journey is invaluable. Peter is an excellent photo buddy (link to Website). Living in London, Peter knows the best places to visit and is adept at finding ideal spots to stand. My other companion is my Fujifilm X100vi. The inbuilt image stabilisation makes it perfect for street photography. I shoot with a low shutter speed (1/30,1/60), a wide aperture (f4), and auto ISO to adapt to unexpected moments. The resulting pictures can be noisy, but a quick edit with Lightroom’s denoise function cleans them up effectively.
Everyone is taking pictures of the Piccadilly light show.The streets were atmospheric giving a Christmas look.
I have also set up my camera with back-button focusing, which has significantly improved my ability to capture scenes in focus. However, this technique introduces a slight delay as I focus before pressing the shutter. I overcome this by anticipating the scene forming in front of me.
Regent street shop displays are very elegant making super street photography backdrops.
My first stop was to see the lights along Regent Street, with the beautiful angels soaring above the centre of the road. The shop windows offered bright, eye-catching displays. My technique here was simple: stand still for a few minutes and point my camera at the scene waiting for a suitable picture to materialise. The magic in this series of pictures came from the rain earlier in the afternoon. A light drizzle was falling on the pavement, creating reflections that shimmered with colours.
Reflections and colours
I met Peter at Waterstones’ coffee shop, and we set off together. Starting with the bright lights of Piccadilly, we walked along Shaftesbury Avenue before exploring Chinatown. The city was bustling as it was the end of the working day. Pubs were overflowing, and people were moving everywhere, on foot and by bicycle. There was so much activity that pictures appeared all around us.
Umbrella for the rainRed Coat
— The rain added another layer to the story, bringing out umbrellas that enhanced the scenes. As we wandered into the narrow streets of Soho, the vibrant atmosphere gave way to Leicester Square. Here, we encountered a German market, but it was a disappointment. The stalls were no different from those found in Birmingham, and their circular arrangement felt uninspired. I did, however, find an interesting tree to photograph, though not much else of note.
Tree decorations – Leicester Square.Busking away looking for an audience.
We did not stay long at the market. Instead, we headed to the Diamond Jubilee Garden facing St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden. The coloured lights reflecting off the wet pavements created a stunning view, and the silhouettes of people walking through the garden added depth to the composition of my pictures. We arrived at Covent Garden itself, and the decorations there were breathtaking. The large decorative bells and Christmas ornaments hanging from the ceiling filled the space with festive charm. The place was alive with energy, and I could have spent hours photographing the scene. This was my final stop on my visit to the lights of London. There were a few more pictures to take along the Strand before arriving at Charing Cross station and the Bakerloo line up to Marylebone station.
Approaching Covent Garden.St Paul’s Church Covent Garden.Street reflections and silhouettes. St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden.The Christmas tree and decorations in Covent GardenThe beauty of the interior of Covent Garden.
All that remains for me to say is: enjoy my photographs and the short descriptions accompanying each one. There are some fantastic backdrops, including a particularly amusing one where a poster is upside down. I am sure this was deliberate, designed to catch the eye of keen street photographers like Peter and me as we wander London’s streets.
Toys and Souvenirs.Blue tyres and red lights on the Strand.Outside Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.Walking in the rain outside the Hippodrome.I love London.The shop window says it all.Escalator at Charing Cross.
If you enjoyed this view of Christmas lights then please follow the links below for more stories. One is about Christmas in Birmingham this year. The second is snow in our village in 2017.
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 murals. Last year I missed out on visiting the town centre East car park painting area. I also went to the Aggs pavilion and did not visit any of the underpasses. Looking at this year’s audio guide, I planned my walk from the Northeast car park to the HQ at the Two Pigs pub and from there to the East car park. On the way home I planned a stop over at the underpass near CHCQ. That was the plan.
My daughter and grandson came along for the ride. We parked by the North Place car park and I took a few pictures of the artists. There were a couple of mural artists that I recognised from my Digbeth and Shoreditch travels. Noah started a trend of posing in front of those murals he liked such as the cyclist. We then grabbed a bite to eat at Mowgli’s before exploring the Festival. The Brewery Quarter is one of the sponsors of the Festival so pleased I did my bit by eating there.
On our walk to the Two Pigs pub, we encountered several murals. Having a camera out and about on the day of the Festival looks normal and helps with the street photography.
Ideal day out for Street Photography with work by the talented @pogo.stencilsThe work of @Perspicereaetist is mesmerising and is all done by strings
The Two Pigs Pub
The pub was quiet on the Sunday lunchtime with a few artists out painting in the back yard. When photographing the work, I always aim to get the painter’s permission for a picture. I know that street art is public work but I still believe it is polite that you get the artist’s blessing for the picture. As you see, I enjoy recording how they interact with their artwork. Knowing the person behind the work gives the bigger picture and tells the story about the mural. There were many ‘faves’ in this area and my pictures show the range and variety of work. I did like the train ticket murals and the happy faces at the pop up shop in the pub.
Painting in the yard with @vanemg.art I love this landscape image and could spend hours looking at this country scene by Snug OneNoah lines up with the bear of @GeorgieartistFriendly faces at the Cheltenham Paint Festival shop.Poster by @johnmanspraycanShop items
East car park
Inside the car park there are stunning murals. Outside a painting by @krimsone
Next stop East car park. Once we were signed in by the cheerful volunteers, we were directed up to the top floors where several murals were reaching completion. I stopped to talk to @apparan and @stockartwork. Both were adding the final touches to their work and were happy to be photographed. They also gave me the background about their artwork. @apparan was passionate about her work. “Uprising” highlights how women rise above the struggles they face in life. There were many murals at this venue and the interaction of colour, mural and car park was good for composing pictures. I am sorry I missed @sould_art as she was very kind advertising my blog last year. The camaraderie and friendly atmosphere that permeates the two days of the Cheltenham Paint Festival is what attracts me to visit.
beautiful dreamy colours from @must_mesThis artwork by @sould_art was a favourite of Noah. Love the colours 😉So good to meet up with the talented @apparan@Stockeartworks agreed to have his portrait taken with the essential gear of a street artist.Light, lines, shadows and concrete in the car park. Artist to be namedThis is the top floor.@sledoneA selection of art work in the car park
Some artists to be named in above pictures
Sherbourne place car park
Exiting the car park I realised that we were near to some of the new art that was being done at Sherbourne place car park which was just next door. There was an epic and expansive mural by @Dale_Grimshaw. Furthermore, there was a wonderful fun message below the beautiful mural. Girl painters need a dinosaur was done by @chinagirltile. Having granddaughters who love painting, these words are spot on and do resonate. There was also work on display by another artist who was coming to the end of his painting. We had a good chat but he looked tired after all his work in the sun.
A grand style mural by @dale_grimshaw with a fun message by @chinagirltile underneathBeing a dinosaur notice by @chinagirltile At the end of the paint Artist to be named.Super tones to this mural @voidoneuk
On the way back there was a previous mural by Curtis Hylton to see and then there was another look at the artwork in North street car park. I took out my Yashika film camera and took a few pictures. The film will be developed in a week’s time so I am interested how the pictures turn out. We walked back to the car and drove to the underpass which was on the A40 not far from the GCHQ building.
The underpass was alive with artists painting on the downward slopes and then into the underpass. You get drawn to certain pieces of art and I met @pad303 who was painting an Evel Knievel mural under one of the arches. The model bike with action figure placed on a box next to his spray cans was a super touch to the proceedings. There were many other artists at work and I took many pictures underneath and around the Arle Court area. There was so much variation and colour in the artwork. I may well miss out on several names of artists around here but I will try my best.
Evel Knievel model in the foreground and pad303 and mural at the back.The serpent and the paint cans by @erika.rosendaleDramatic mural nearing completion. @doppelwashereBe careful where you park your bike (Artist – Syd)You just gotta smile @ajarts_hadland
What caught my eye at Arle court was the leading lines and intersections as the colourful images interact with the concrete and steel. So much texture and colours. The light and shadows in the underpass provided different ideas for picture composition. I used the available light to line up silhouettes of the people against the entrance. All murals blended in well with their surroundings. I could have spent a long time here but I knew that the trip back home up to Solihull was a pressing matter as we wanted to leave early to avoid the motorway jams.
Silhouettes under the A40Looking west.Looking east and @5kyh1gh mural is down to the left.Taking in the work of the festival. This work is by Skewer.Expansive work by @7th_PencilColourful work by @artsee_eMy final picture of the day before heading home was this work by Memphis.
Memories of the Day
The Cheltenham Paint Fest is a day out with a difference. There is the chance to go shopping and enjoy the Regency architecture of the town. The paint festival is an added bonus to your visit and one not to be missed. I must thank Dice67.co.uk and his team for all the excellent work and the ever so helpful volunteers. The quality of the artwork is high and a privilege to view the artistic output of so many talented people. Great memories to hold onto whilst we wait for next year’s festival.
Thanks to Andy Dice Davies who is the lead of the organising committee for putting the Cheltenham Paint Festival together. All the volunteers were helpful and eager to direct you to the different areas. Thank you to all the artists who were happy to have their picture taken and chat to me. I was the guy with the Cowboy hat and silver camera. Sorry I could not see every mural but if you want a good idea of what was going on please follow Max Johnson (@moxsblag) where she documents many of the artists and their work. She is a good photographer too. All pictures were taken with my Fujifilm x100vi which excelled in the low light situations of the East Car Park and Arle Court Underpass. I have tried to name all artists wherever possible and will update my account as soon as I learn the names of the artists. I recommend Inspiring City website which has an extensive write up with pictures of the Cheltenham Paint Festival 2024.
If you enjoyed this then be sure to sign up to the Cheltenham Paint Festival site. Also you may wish to read my account of last year’s festival.
I was fortunate to visit Brighton as part of a conference. My hotel was on the seafront and in between sessions, I was able to head out with my camera and take pictures. The promenade is great for pictures, as with care and respect, it is possible to get some interesting street photos. The Lanes is also a good place for street photography. They are narrow and patches of light are everywhere. Once again people are accepting of what seems to be tourists taking pictures. However one person did show their displeasure at my camera being pointed in their direction whilst another passerby complimented me on my Fujifilm. As I mentioned earlier, take care and try not to harass people. Here are a few pictures taken on the streets suing my stay in Brighton. I did not hear any sounds such as a Brian May Queen guitar solo whilst I was photographing!
Pale body on the beach.At the pierWhich way now?Brighton CafeBrighton rescueBeach funFun on the beach is overUnderneath the 360Watch out for the cyclistsEntrance to Car Park has classical music on loudspeaker.Sights on the streetsWelcome to the LanesWindow shopping in the LanesWalkingEatingOpen window restaurantLate night gourmet foodRise and Shine
Enjoy this blog? Then you might like to see Edinburgh Street Photography.
Woodland photography is one of my interests as there are several woods near to me that I love wandering around taking photographs with my camera. The skills that are involved with taking such pictures, I have learnt by trial and error. However, my technique is rather low key and much of what I do is point the camera and take pictures that look appealing. The opportunity to learn woodland photography skills arose after a chance meeting at the Photography Show with Miffyohara. Miffy is a classically trained photographer who has a great love of woodland photography. We talked about a photography walk and the place Miffy chose to start my woodland photography journey was Hagley Park next to the Clent Hills.
The outlines of these branches make a pleasing geometric shape.A window created by the tree branches.Two walkers passing through the woods.I included the path which is partially covered with blossom so as to lead to the light.
The park has 350 acres of Worcestershire countryside to explore with an abundance of woodland. When I arrived, I realised that a tripod was essential. Never go anywhere without your tripod. This was my first lesson of the day. Fortunately the light was good and the sun was breaking through the clouds. During our visit, the sun was diffused by cloud cover although occasionally there were long periods of sunshine. Therefore we waited for these patches of light to illuminate the woodland. Similar to wildlife photography, a calm, non-hurried approach is required. This is so difficult for me as I do tend to rush around. For the first 30 minutes, we observed and photographed one tree. We slowly walked around the tree, looking at how the sun fell on the branches and leaves. I learnt about “windows” created by tree branches that open your photographs in a similar way to framing. This aspect of woodland photography is appealing to me as I enjoy taking a picture within a picture. I found the opportunity to place people into the scene although I acknowledge this is not what woodland photography is about! The bluebells were in full bloom and offered splashes of blue throughout the day. Another learning point was the avoidance of man-made structures in the photograph and therefore paths which allow a leading line were not considered but I did occasionally break the rules. Therefore I used the branches and arrangement of the trees to lead the eye.
A tree of interest that tells a story.A view of Hagley castle framed by a tree.The imposing Hagley castle.
Hagley Park has a circular route that takes in several follies that were placed by previous owners to add a pleasing spectacle to the eye. The structures follow classical architectural designs as may be seen in my photographs. The current ideas of the park keepers are to reduce the prominence of these follies and allow the woodland views to take centre stage. The first folly we came across was Hagley castle which is designed to resemble a small ruined medieval castle. The castle is an imposing structure over this part of the park and whilst it was fenced off, it was still possible to view the architecture. Leaving the castle, the path dipped steeply down towards the stream that passed through the south of the park. On our way there were several interesting trees worthy of photographing. We climbed back up and then came upon Milton’s seat which gave beautiful views of Hagley Hall and the surrounding Worcestershire countryside. This was a place where one could linger and let time pass you by. The light was good and it was possible to view the hills in the distance.
A tree with personality.Fungi patterns on a dead tree.More patterns created by the fungi.Milton’s seat with a view that takes in Hagley Hall and the mountains in the distance.The woman in the red jacket had to be photographed.
Our next point of interest was the Palladian bridge which is very photogenic. You are spoilt with the different compositions that arise from the bridge and the surrounding woodland. The bridge is at the head of the lake and set in a valley of trees. There are reflections in the lake and the lay of the land offers both high and lower-level interpretations of the scene. I settled for an eye level view taking in the reflection and the setting of the bridge along the lake. Processing the picture in black and white provides balance and allows blending between the man-made structure and the woods. The bridge is at the start of three lakes which lead upwards to the classically styled Rotunda. On the way past the lakes, there is a memorial to the English poet William Shenstone in the form of an urn. Again I was drawn into photographing the urn and the Rotunda amidst the woodland trees. There were also other interesting trees to take in and photograph.
The Palladian Bridge in Black and WhiteThe view over the lake.Shenstone’s UrnA window onto the Rotunda.The Rotunda blending into the surroundings.
On returning to the café, we discussed our photographs and then discussed how to process the pictures. Whilst proficient at Lightroom, I do need to revisit Photoshop and use the layers function to bring out features in my photographs. Once again this is all part of the learning process.
Details from a fallen tree.
Woodland photography is a genre to visit. I learnt how to look at woodland scenes, and carefully pick out areas of interest. The need to slow down and take in your surroundings allows you to seek out new photographic scenes that you would miss if you just walked through the park. By slowing down, you are also able to look at how the light falls on the woodland. Looking for windows and diagonals in the branches of the trees helps your woodland photography stand out. This walk was during the day and the woodland would naturally light up during the golden hours. I will look for future opportunities to pursue this genre of photography especially at the start and end of the day.
Tree texturesRushes
At the start, we talked to Alex one of the Park Rangers who gave us insight into the care of the park. Alex also agreed to be part of my 100 strangers project that is nearing completion. Here is a picture of Alex leaning against one of the Park Ranger trucks.
Alex a park ranger at Hagley Park.
A final thank you to Miffyohara who was an excellent teacher and guided me through the skills required for woodland photography. In our discussions, subjects ranged from composition of woodland scene to a debate on giving titles to our pictures. The sharpening of my observational skills was one outcome of the day. The final word goes to Hagley Park which is a must visit location and will appeal to everyone not just photographers.
An iPhone picture of an interesting tree and thank you to Miffyohara for showing me the beauty of trees.
If you wish to see more of my previous woodland photography then I have added a link below. I will revisit Hay Wood with a different eye to my compositions.
Birmingham has a long and rich history and the names of George and Richard Cadbury are linked with the story of the City Their success in creating Cadbury’s Chocolate led to the building of their factory in Bournville. The brothers created a Garden Village around the factory to cater for their employees. Sadly Richard died before seeing the project completed although this spurred on George Cadbury to complete the project. Bournville village is now run by a Trust and is a legacy which is enjoyed by both residents and visitors to the area.
The Rest House which is at the centre of Bournville Village.
IgersbirminghamUK organised their first photographic Instameet of 2024 at Selly Manor which is part of Bournville Village Trust. Selly Manor also has a long story. The original building “Smythes Tenement” dated back to 1476. Over time, the building deteriorated and was split into separate dwellings called the “Rookery”. The house was saved from demolition by George Cadbury who brought the property in 1907 and relocated Selly Manor from Selly Oak to Bournville Garden Village. The House was rebuilt next to the Chocolate Factory in 1916 and opened as a museum.
Daniel addressing the IgersbirminghamUK photographers.
Nearly 30 photographers arrived at the Museum on a bright sunny Saturday morning. We received a welcome from staff member, Daniel, who gave us an overview of the house and then encouraged us to visit the rest of the area. We were given a leaflet of the heritage trail that takes in all the notable buildings in the Bournville village. We have some excellent photographers in the IgersbirminghamUK ranks as evidenced by the pictures that emerged on Instagram. You can follow the pictures and reels from the day with the following tags and I have provided links to the relevant pages. Please take some time to visit the pages and see the wonderful pictures. Thanks to the other members of the IgersbirminghamUK team for their organisation and help with the meeting Nicky Warwickshire, LenaMac77 and James_never_Jim.
The following is a selection of my pictures from the Selly Manor and Bournville Village Visit.
Guide books at the ready.A view of the Minworth Greaves building from a window in the Manor.Beautiful detail of this head dress.Civil war helmets.A priest hole in the attic.Easter decorations.Beth and Adam dress up for the day.Easter egg hunt in the gardens (sadly not the chocolate variety).The stocks are waiting for you.
Following on from Selly Manor some photographers moved onto the Bournville Quaker meeting House where one of the Quakers, Anne, was most kind and showed us around inside. The outside of the church does have a fairy castle feeling. Inside the large hall was impressive with light streaming through the windows. There is a raised platform with chairs and table from the Selly Manor museum. This, as Anne pointed out, is not used for worship as Quakers sit around in circles in the centre of the hall usually with a table. Anne then took us up to the balcony to see the organ and from here we were able to take pictures down into the hall. I was even fortunate that Anne agreed to be in my 100 Strangers project.
Bournville Quaker Meeting House.The hall inside the meeting house.The light streaming into the Hall.Organ PipesThe command centre 🙂Thank you to Anne who kindly showed us around the Meeting House.
There is much more to see in and around the Bournville Village Trust and those photographs will have to wait till another day. I spend much of my time talking to other Instagrammers during an Instameet and do not get the opportunity to take that many photographs. Catching up with others and seeing what they have photographed is a bonus with such Instameets. After the meeting we headed off to the Glass House brewery by the canal in Stirchley. We had a good catch up including talking about that elusive picture that got away!
If you are interested in the @IgersbirminghamUK Instameets then I have other accounts on my blog with the one below as a starting point.
London is an ideal place for urban photography as it offers so many different places that offer variety. There are several large-scale cityscape vistas which sit with the smaller scale scenes taking in street art and street photography. The start of my recent photo walk with colleague Peter Thompson was the Angel, Islington and from here we accessed the Regent’s canal. A link to this part of my photo walk is below. Leaving the canal we moved around Shoreditch taking in some of the street art and catching people interacting with their urban surroundings. Architecture was another focus of my lens. Finally we finished off at Horizon22 which is also covered in a separate blog entry. So sit back and be prepared for a roller coaster of pictures from my walk in Shoreditch. (All pictures taken on my Fujifilm x100v)
Two is company, three is a crowd. (Street scene in Islington)Street Market, Islington.Love those old Toby jugs.Telephone boxesBroken telephone boxesInside a telephone box.Street art with human interaction.Transport catches up.Taking time out.Scary.Conversation at the traffic lights.Bull in a China shop.I do like this one!Powerful street art.Incredible architecture.Little Red Riding Hood.Light and shadows by Liverpool Street station.A lone figure in Liverpool Street station.BishopsgateMore views of Bishopsgate.Decisions, decisions.Reflections and a selfie.Happy hour.Icing sugar window.Cash only.Street art.Street car.Elephants.Where does it all go?Not happy.Black and White Cityscape.Colourful buildings.Colourful railings.Watching.Sunglasses in Brick lane.Picture perfect.Pictures on a wall.
You made it to here and your reward are links to my other recent London Times postings.
Pulling the curtains back, I saw the fog which lifts any photographers spirits. Fortunately, I had to be in Birmingham early and I knew that I would be able to get some good pictures of Dorridge station in the fog before it lifted. I was even more pleased that the fog had not lifted by the time I got to Birmingham city centre. The fog was still around the Bull Ring and Moor Street turning normal street scenes into atmospheric and mysterious places. The silhouettes of commuters provided the focus to many of the pictures. The majority of the photographs were taken with my iPhone15 which were then converted to black and white to take advantage of the contrasts available. I used Silver Efex Pro and I like the fine art processing or occasionally the overexposed settings that are provided. I also include pictures from the start of my journey in Dorridge where the fog was even thicker.
Commuters outside Moor Street station and Selfridges.Riding a bike through the fog.Waiting for the train at Moor Street.St Martin’s walk with buildings obscured by the fog.Looking foggy at the RotundaReduced visibilityEnjoying the morning commute.A lone figure crosses the Bullring
Dorridge station in the fog.
The platforms shrouded in fog.Driving in the fog
I do like foggy mornings as these blog posts show.
The message went out. “There is likely to be a starling murmuration on Sunday night. The venue will be the roof of a shopping centre car park in Redditch, Worcestershire”. This message was sent out on social media by Jim Panda who knows a thing or two about wildlife. A few years back, he had organised a meeting where over 100 people attended a starling murmuration in the same location. Now Jim let the social media world know that the murmurations were back (if they ever had been away).
A starling murmuration at its peak.
On a Sunday afternoon people gathered on the top of the shopping centre car park. The time was just after four o’clock. The evening was beautiful and whilst there was initially some light rain, the main event for a while was destined to be a beautiful rainbow. People had answered Jim’s call and were turning up to see the murmuration. As we stood overlooking the southern aspect of the car park, very little was happening. Two pigeons were spotted and even a couple of seagulls flew by teasing the assembled photographers and onlookers. Besides this nothing else was stirring. Jim remained calm and reassured people who asked that the starlings had been here for the last few nights. The waiting did have its advantages as it gave many of us the opportunity to talk to fellow photographers. We caught up with the news and gossip in our local photographic community. Behind us a beautiful sunset was gathering pace and the colours in the cloud began to deepen. Occasionally one of two starlings flew past, teasing us as we waited for the main event.
A rainbow was the prelude to the main event.
Without knowing how or when it happened, a flock of around 10 starlings flew by. Then a few more groups just happened to appear and the birds started to coalesce. Then magically a larger group of starlings was in front of us with more birds joining the main group all the time. The murmuration was in full flight. Everyone lined up on the southern wall and watched the birds fly back and forth. Everyone had their iPhones, cameras and eyes on the birds.
Starling murmuration, Redditch, February 2023
The colours in the clouds from the sunset produced a spectacular backdrop for the movement of the birds. At last, I understood why it is called a murmuration. The spectacular flypast was accompanied by the noise of the flapping wings. The event was mesmerising and a few times I stopped taking photographs and just watched the birds fly around. There were several good photographers on the roof and this was demonstrated by the excellent videos and pictures that have been posted after the event.
Starlings against the backdrop of the sunset cloudsGolden wings as the starlings fly away from the sunset.The dramatic skies provided the colour to the silhouettes of the starlings. (This picture was shortlisted in the Fotospeed #fsprintmonday competition – 21st Feb 2024)
I took some snippets of video for the family back home. I had my trusty Canon D5 MkIV and used both my standard 40-70mm and 200mm lenses. I experimented with some long exposures which did not get a great reaction from the family! See what you think. The iPhone was brilliant as I was able to take several videos of the Starlings plus a few wide angled shots. The traditional pictures of the birds against the clouds worked well. From a story telling point of view, I wanted to show the photographers on the wall taking pictures of the murmuration. There was a long line of people who were captivated by the event before them. The birds make different shapes and I saw an arrow. Also there was a snake’s head eating the other birds although you may argue the shapes are something else.
My long exposure experiment.Shapes – an arrow of birdsShapes – A possible head and mouth which is consuming the other birds.
Time passed quickly and the birds were coming to the end of their fly past. The car park has a line of evergreen trees at the front entrance. Groups of birds broke away from the main group and suddenly dropped into the trees. There was a lovely fluttering sound accompanied by the rustle of the leaves as they finally came to rest. This was repeated over the next 5 minutes leaving a few starlings still flying in formation. Then this final group disappeared into the trees and the murmuration was finished.
Dusk had arrived and taken a firm grip of the last light of the day. The dark of the night was just around the corner. We made our way back to our cars and drove off chatting excitedly about the event and rushing home to see and post our pictures. If you ever get the chance to witness a murmuration then you will understand that the words and pictures do not convey the atmosphere of experiencing one of nature’s great events.
A diagonal run of starlings.
If you want some photographic tips on how to photograph a murmuration then this Amateur Photographer article is very useful.
The Bullring centre is hosting a light show called Borealis for one week in February. This production by the artist Dan Acher is on display every evening during the week. With a mixture of dry ice smoke and laser beams, the “northern lights” are recreated in the centre of Birmingham. The performance is accompanied by haunting music which sets the scene and cranks up the atmosphere. When you stand still and look up at the colours, you are transported to a magical place where the northern lights are happening. Borealis is a photographer’s dream. As the laser beams crisscross through the smoke, colours are created and these are highlighted by the surrounding buildings. The gentle breeze in the area moves the smoke around leading to pleasing patterns against the backdrop of the Selfridges building and St Martin’s Church.
Selfridges adorned with colourThe Borealis lasers and smoke clouds
. I arrived there just as the sun was setting and the golden hour followed by the blue hour provided a changing backdrop to the scenes being created. The hypnotic music added to the atmosphere. The smoke adds to the surreal atmosphere and produces a haunting appearance to the area which is part dreamy and romantic at the same time. As it is half term week there are many people in the city shopping. The area around St Martin’s was packed with onlookers gazing into the sky. There was one child dressed in white who seemed to be leading the crowds in a service for the Borealis. The imagery could be appreciated either close up or at a distance allowing everyone to take in the spectacle.
The lights over St Martin’s Church with a construction crane leading the dance of the colours.There was a golden sunset that enhanced the colours of the laser show.There were packed crowds along St Martin’s way.The show caught the attention of everyone even this child who is leading the crowds.
Using both iPhone and my Fujifilm x100v, I had fun taking pictures before heading off for an evening meal in town. After dinner, I dropped by to see Borealis on my way to the train, the night was dark and there was a different take to the light show as the powerful laser colours shone through the smoke layers. I stayed around for a few more pictures. Even at that late time, there were people out and about enjoying the show.
The light show created a calming atmosphere with the lights and the music
Here is a link if you wish to know more about the work of Dan Acher.
The last light show in Birmingham that I visited was in February 2020 when the world was still very young and the idea that a virus would force us all indoors was a fanciful idea. My record of the festival light from 2020 is outlined on a previous blog.
About the picture taking. I was fortunate to have a dinner booked in town at 6pm. This gave me time to see the Borealis early and late in the evening. I always have my iPhone with me and wherever possible my Fujifilm x100v. When I arrived, my mind already starts to think how can I tell a story about the show. There were several things that caught my eye. The smokey atmosphere was one. Standing at the top of St Martin’s Walk looking downwards to the Church is a popular vantage point and captures the haze above the crowds. I moved closer to take in the sunset and the source of the smoke and lasers. My photographic mind is thinking about the big picture and then the smaller things that make up the view. What amazed me were the crowds of people, so I knew that I wanted them in the picture. I swap from iPhone to compact camera when taking my pictures. The iPhone is so good but I find that it wants to adjust the shadows and compensate for the darkness. Meanwhile the x100v requires a very high ISO and wide aperture to let the light in. Fortunately post processing is done with Lightroom and the “denoise” button is a dream to use. This has rejuvenated my night time use with the Fujifilm and I am not afraid to crank up the ISO. Selecting images proved a challenge and I limited myself to just 8 pictures. As always on social media, there were some very good pictures taken by other photographers. Seeing them, I think to myself, if only I had taken that photograph but I know that they also challenge me to adjust my view of the scene when out taking photographs. A selection of them may be found on the Beautiful Productions Instagram page.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
