I was in transit from work in the City centre back to my Pebble Mill base. It was a glorious day and before jumping on the bus, I decided to go to Selfridges and see if there were any good shots of the Birmingham Icon, Selfridges.
Black and white suits this photograph (You can see a missing disc which has been a recent problem with the structure)
There are two entrances that overlook St Martin’s church and I approached the deck around the upper one. I immediately noticed the puddles and then the bright sun. I knew that there would be some good pictures to be had. The pictures are a mixture of my Sony and the iPhone. As you will gather the iPhone gave the best picture as it was possible to get the lens down close to the water in the puddle. It only took a few minutes but the sun and the puddles combined to give a great set of photographs.
The clouds add mystery to the pictureSome great reflections in the puddlesDiscs rising out off the groundThe iPhone picture that went mad on my social media
You will have gathered that one of my favourite places is the area under the arches of Snow Hill Station. I usually get to wander around Birmingham early in the morning and I finds this time the most inspiration for photographing Birmingham. I planned my visit by not getting off the train at Moor Street but waiting till Snow Hill. I then used the Livery Sgreet entrance and made my way down to the arches. The city council have installed lights that illuminate the subterranean space.
There are gated arches overlooking the canal where I presume they used to keep horses. The iron gates are designed with bars that create geometric patterns as they are lit from the inside. The light casts interesting shadows onto the wide tow path by the canal.
A cyclist makes their way through the area which resembles a giant eye.
To access the area, there is a unique white iron staircase that leads down to the tow path. It is very quiet there in the morning and in spite of the bright lights you do feel quite vulnerable. There are the occasional runners and cyclists who make their way through the area. There are also commuters starting to pass over the bridge that crosses the canal. The area has graffiti and evidence of habitation by homeless people.
On one wall is the word ORALE which someone explained to me is an exclamation in Spanish which is used to express approval or encouragement. Very fitting for the scene that greets you in the morning.
The word ORALE
Down to Photography maters. I had my normal camera set with me. I carry my iPhone for the quick picture and also my Sony DSC-RX100M5 camera which is very quick. I generally have my Sony on a program stetting to ensure that I get a quick picture. I do use on manual when I am after slow motion pictures but the program feature is very useful. For this morning, I also had my Canon 6D with a prime 40mm lens attached. This provides a crisper picture and brings out more detail.
Having said that the iPhone and Sony do produce some very good quality pictures in their own right. The prime lens makes me move around and this makes me “see” different views and angles. The Sony has a flip screen and this helps with those shots where I need to get down low. Not only do my bones creak nowadays but the tow path floor is dirty and muddy. I moved out to get a picture of the total reflections and it did give the appearance of a large eye.
The larger picture of the area
A nice set of photographs which gave many people much enjoyment when seeing them on my social media channels. Always worth a look and the post code is B3 1HA if you wish to visit yourself.
I am so pleased as when the email came through I found out that not only did I win first place in the Birmingham Canal Navigations photo competition but I also came third! After entering so many competitions and being both long and short listed, it is a lovely feeling to have won one at long last. My prize was presented at a large gala at the Birmingham Council House celebrating 250 years of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. Included in the prize for first and third was £200 in camera vouchers plus a canvas print of my winning photograph. I have included the press release below together with the 1st and 3rd pictures. I was delighted to see that my picture featured on the front of the programme that was printed out and placed on all the tables for the evening. A night to remember!
!st Prize – Running under Snow Hill Station3rd prize – Sunrise over Brindley Place
PRESS RELEASE
21 November 2019
Winners of Birmingham Canal Navigations photo competition announced
The charity, Canal & River Trust, working in partnership with the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, has picked the winners of a photo competition which celebrates the 250th birthday of Birmingham’s canals.
Over 300 photos were submitted as part of the competition which aimed to capture the unique beauty of the historic waterways across Birmingham and the Black Country. Budding photographers were encouraged to snap a wide variety of waterway images such as colourful boats, waterway wildlife, historic canal architecture or pictures of people enjoying spending time on their local canal.
The winners are:
1st place: Damien Walmsley with his picture titled ‘Running under Snow Hill station’
2nd place: Michael Landelle with his picture titled ‘Lazy Sunday afternoon’
3rd place: Damien Walmsley with his picture titled ‘Sunrise over Brindleyplace’
As part of the prize the winners were invited to a special VIP celebration event at the Council House in Birmingham where they were presented with their prize by The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Mr John Crabtree OBE and Allan Leighton, chairman at Canal & River Trust.
Adnan Saif, director of West Midlands at the Canal & River Trust, said: “It’s wonderful that so many people took part in this photo competition. The pictures really showed how lovely the canals in Birmingham and the Black Country are and how lucky we are to have this wonderful network of canals right on our doorstep.
“I hope these pictures will encourage more people to come and discover their local canal as research shows being by water makes us happier and healthier.”
Michael Smith-Keary, from the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, said: “It was great seeing so many wonderful pictures of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. There was a real mixture of photos from beautiful rural canal scenes, wildlife, boats and pictures that highlighted our urban waterways.
“All of the photos highlighted just how popular our canals are with local people and that nowadays they are being used for boating and so much more. Now they are very much about creating green spaces that are used for leisure and living – playing a vital role in our society for another 250 years.”
For more information on the work of the Canal & River Trust including how you can volunteer or donate money to support our work visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
-ENDS-
For further media requests please contact: Sarah Rudy at Canal & River Trust on sarah.rudy@canalrivertrust.org.uk or call 01908 302 584 / 07788 691 219
Notes to Editors
The Canal & River Trust cares for and brings to life 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England & Wales. We believe waterways have the power to make a difference to people’s lives and that spending time by water can make us all healthier and happier. By bringing communities together to make a difference to their local waterway, we are creating places and spaces that can be used and enjoyed by everyone, every day.
The celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Birmingham Canal Navigation Network took place during the first weekend in November. I took Sandy and Noah, my grandson, along to see the flotilla of boats that were to parade around the canal network passing by the NIA onto Brindley Place and the Mailbox. I am not sure what it was like 250 years ago but Saturday was cold. Luckily the rain held off and there was some occasional sun but it was a case of wrapping up ward. When we arrived there was little activity taking place although there were a few boats moored up on the bank. We made our way to Brindley place where there was a drum trope called “Someone at the Door”
Someone at the Door
Keeping the beat
They were very energetic and enthusiastic. My grandson loved the drumming and rhythm so much so that he was tapping his feet in the pushchair. After asking Peter, a nice Canal and River Trust representative what was happening, we knew that we had to head up the Old Canal Line where the boats were getting ready for the off.
The boats are getting ready…..and they are off.
As the boats made their way into Birmingham there were sounds of hooters and bugle horns from the boats. There was much excitement as they reached the National Indoor Arena where they paused to let the boats go through in an orderly parade down into Brindley Place.
A short pauseThen we are off againA few more boats head of for Brindley PlaceGoing another way and I spy a photography friend on the tow path.
I loved the personalities and this is captured in the pictures that show the people involved in the flotilla.
Playing the BugleWhat’s happening?Checking all is going wellIt could be 1769
Sadly it was getting cold and we had been there a few hours. We had other engagements to move onto so it was a few more photographs and then time to leave goodbye. However I do know it is not going to be my last time to join in the celebrations of the BCN 250th Anniversary but that has to wait until another post.
Traffic jam on the waterWater taxi The Library of Birmingham looks down on the boatsThe colour of the boatsThe detail on the boats
This series of pictures features Birmingham centre just after the clocks have gone back. Why is this so important. Sunrise for the next couple of weeks is around 7 am and that is the time that I get into Birmingham. When I took these pictures, I did not have any theme attached to them as I just felt like I needed to stroll around the city and see what is happening.
A lone figure in Victoria Square
There is a fair amount of change happening around Birmingham. This includes the next phase of the Metro tram linking up between Grand Central and Broad Street. There are also many new buildings going up around Chamberlain Square. So many changes happening. I then moved onto Gas Street Basin and caught the light from the early morning sun.
The view to Centennial Square with a lone figure
It was only when I reviewed the pictures that I noticed a figure in each of the pictures. Maybe it is the same person that was following me around the city as I was taking photographs. Whoever he/she or they were, they do add a point of interest and a story to the pictures.
Looking towards the mailbox with a lone figureLooking towards the sunrise
Every year the end of the degree ceremonies is marked by a celebratory dinner in the Great Hall. This picture taken with my iPhone gives a glimpse into the grandness of the night. It is a showcase for the University and many local dignitaries are invited to the event. The Great Hall looks magnificent as the Chancellor, Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea CBE, the India-born founder of Cobra Beer, delivers the welcoming address. The iPhone has captured the colours of the night well. The picture made explore on Flickr and received 10k+ views and was rated the 82nd photograph of the day.
Centenary square has a new water feature and it is a very large reflecting pool. It offers photographers the chance to take some beautiful pictures. Whilst it has been opened there is still work taking place on the square and it will be even more spectacular when it is completed. If you search Instagram there have been many pictures already taken with children splashing in the fountains or late night shots with sparkling lights. I am sure that I will return with even more pictures over the year to come. When I posted my pictures on Twitter, some one suggested that it could be a ready made advert for Birmingham in a similar mode to the Thames TV iconic reflected picture. I rose to the challenge and made one with Birmingham on the picture. If you are reading this then you must visit Birmingham!!
The library Reflections to the cube The ICC and the RepA lovely looking reflection The Rep theatre Doing the walk with your reflection
This has been a week of rain and the days have been dull. Even though it is wet there are still great opportunities to go out and take photographs.. My early Wednesday walk from Snow Hill took in the canals that run underneath Snow Hill. The arches under Snow Hill are a favourite haunt of photographers and one can always find a good place for a picture. With the rain there had been condensation with rain collecting on the tow path near to the ornate gates which used to hold horses. Now the activity on the tow path is bikers commuting into work and runners making the best of the early mornings. I settled my camera down on the dirty floor at the edge of a puddle and started to take some pictures. It was difficult to control the bright light of the centre of the picture and the dark recesses of the tunnel. I could see on the first few shots that there was a perfect reflection that made the exit look like an eye onto the outside world. Just then a runner came past. It gave me an idea and by trial and error I set the camera at a shutter speed of 1/100 and f/6.3. I hiked the ISO up to 640. I set it for rapid shooting and then waited for the next runner. Soon enough one appeared and I took my pictures. I had to pick up the shadows from the RAW picture and also do a bit of dodging of the runner. The picture came out very well and was well received on social media.
The train station over the canal
After this I wandered over to St Paul’s square and took a few pictures of the Church and the tree lined paths that criss cross the square. The early commuters were oblivious to the camera and I took several pictures of the area. The black and white treatment suited the day, my ideas for the pictures and set off the charm of that particular area of Birmingham. Here are a selection of the ones that I took.
St Paul’s Church The paths around St Paul’s ChurchThe Jam house with 3 Snow Hill towering over itCommuting down Ludgate Hill to the City
When the chance came to take photographs from the top of the Rotunda then I was first in the queue. Maybe not first as there were several other keen photographers that wanted to up there as well. Those people with passion, @Birminghamweare organised the visit to Floor 20 of the iconic Rotunda. We had a 6 to 9.30pm slot on a Sunday night in one of the Staying Cool apartments. The city was buzzing as the Velo bike riders were finishing their 100 mile trip around the West Midlands. I thought I would be late for the trip to the top but I found a place to park and made my way to the Rotunda. I have passed the entrance many times but now I was going in and up to the top. We were based in Room 25 which has the best views over Grand Central and out to the west of Birmingham. I met up with my fellow photographers and walked out onto the veranda – viewing platform at the very top of the Rotunda. I took several minutes to take in the scene and as I often do in these situations got my phone out and took some pictures.
floor 20 of the Rotundalate afternoon from the Rotundafour busesone train with many platformswe are watching youshadows and people
Having settled down and after the initial excitement had subsided, then it was time to start taking some pictures of the magnificent view. I had brought along my 100 – 400mm Canon lens which was able to pick out all the landmarks. These included Birmingham City football ground, St Martin’s Church, the Bus station, Grand Central, St Philip’s Cathedral. the Mailbox and Snow Hill. So many different views to choose from.
air conditioning1, 2, 3 Snow Hillgreen and whitethe top of Selfridgesyour friendly neighbourhoodthat is why they call it the blueslines
The setting of the sun was very exciting and we were all politely jostling for position to get the best shot in. We all managed to get our pictures of the sunset and then this was followed by the night lights of Grand Central and the surrounding buildings. Another set of pictures were taken. Then it was all over. Three and a half hours had gone so quickly. When I got back home it was such fun to look back at all the pictures and also so interesting to see pictures taken by the other photographers from the @Birminghamweare group.
the sign says it alllens ball of grand centralsetting suncrane and a towerwarm tonesblue and redEvening falls and the City lights up
Made out of 100,000 confiscated knives, this 24 foot statue is both emotive and chilling as a tribute to victims of knife crime. I wished to catch a picture of it at night and even at 9.30pm people were attracted to the statue to stop and look. It is mesmerising and the hands and eyes look right through you as you gaze upwards.
The Angel stands out from the buildings around it
The statue is on its way down from Liverpool to Trafalgar Square London. Here are my pictures taken with my Canon 5D with the trusty 24-105mm lens. A high ISO was necessary but it adds to the gritty nature of the subject. If you get the chance I strongly recommend seeing it.
Looking up at the AngelThe angel is in Victoria SquarePeople gather all the time to view it.
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