The day was black and white, and the Birmingham weather matched the mood. A dull sky hung overhead as mist rolled in, partially obscuring several buildings along the way.
The area of my journey at Snow Hill StationThe tree branches out and covers the tower blocks
Walking beside the Birmingham Canal Navigations, the mist created a stark, atmospheric view of the city. I found the conditions ideal for photography, with a strong black and white theme naturally emerging in my images.
Pointing the way to what is happening in Birmingham.A close up of the moss on the brickwork around the canal
I was using what I like to call my big camera, a Canon R6 Mark II. Paired with a fast zoom lens, it’s a setup I’m comfortable with, although it’s not something you can slip into a coat pocket like a compact camera. Because of that, I was careful not to keep the camera out from under my coat for long periods.
I saw this person with a white coat and she lined up perfectly with the surround viewsA classic view of the Gas Street Basin
During those brief moments when I did take it out, I looked for both unusual and familiar views of the canals focussing on the black and white. The walk from Snow Hill to Gas Street Basin was an enjoyable one, and the photographs reflect that journey through Birmingham in misty, monochrome conditions.
A cyclist goes past at speed just off Water Street.
Photographing Wolverhampton is a city in transition and is another addition to my list of places that I have visited with my camera. My last photographing blog subject was the City of Gloucester with my visit there taking place last year. For this January, my visit to Wolverhampton aligned with the Wildlife photographer of the year exhibition.
Wolverhampton is a large city with a long history, Wolverhampton is often overshadowed by its larger neighbours, Birmingham and Coventry. The city’s economy is based on engineering alongside a large service industry. Many of the older industrial companies have moved out, and their buildings remain as ghosts of the past. The different buildings provide good subject matter for photographing.
Catching a silhouette on the bridge from the train station to the city.Wolverhampton’s Top Lock shows how important the canals were to the City. The lockmaster’s cottage is impressive.
I arrived early so that I could photograph the city. The weather was grisly, with intermittent rain and drizzle. I wanted to explore the canals that I often saw from the train windows as I passed through the station. You can pick up the canal towpath from the station. Abandoned boats sit alongside those still in use by present-day canal boaters. The lock keeper’s cottage contrasts with the newer, box-like architecture nearby which is Victoria Hall student accommodation. Leaving Wolverhampton train station and the canals, one of the first imposing buildings you encounter is the triangular Chubb Building, which towers over the road and canal network.
A dominant building, Victoria Halls of Residence underpin the importance of the University of Wolverhampton to the city.Photographing Wolverhampton, the impressive Chubb locks building is a ghost of the past.
Moving through the city, there is more than a sprinkling of betting shops and hairdressers; in fact, they seem to be the main attraction, along with a few pubs and coffee houses. The grand shopping building Beatties looks sad and dejected. Its Art Deco architectural style makes it stand out, but the billboarding and red fencing detract from its appearance. I stood outside the boarded-up building, imagining what it must have been like in its heyday, bustling with shoppers.
The Grand Theatre stands out with its colourful updated facade.
Now the streets are empty, apart from a few art murals. “Empty” is a word that describes the city well. The covered shopping centre does attract shoppers, but once again, looking at what is available makes me think that a quick look on Amazon would reveal far more choice.
A single figure negotiates the empty city streets.
My spirits were lifted by the Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Inside, the white walls were covered with pictures and artwork. The atmosphere inside is cheerful, and the staff were genuinely interested in what you were going to view. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a big draw, and I had an early ticket. By late morning, there were many people around looking at the pictures. The exhibition was absorbing. The photographs were incredible, and there were so many highlights. I was taken aback by the quality. The 10-and-under category blew me away. I definitely have a lot more learning to do about photographing wildlife.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is very popular.
The restaurant, like the rest of the gallery, was very good. After lunch, I went to Molineux Stadium and, on the way, passed buildings belonging to the University of Wolverhampton. These were a magnet for young people who were milling around, undeterred by the miserable conditions. The underpass between the city and the football stadium is a good place to pause for photographing street scenes. There is a constant stream of people with umbrellas, and the central section is busy with bikes passing through. The stadium is bright and yellow, and I enjoyed walking around the perimeter, taking pictures of the architecture and sculptures.
A cyclist roars past me as I am taking photographs in the underpass.A man with an umbrella, raining outside Molineux football stadium.Sharp angles around the Molineux Stadium.
I walked back, this time to the tram terminus, and on the way found more street art. It was lunchtime, so there were a few more people around. I was relieved to find that the city does have a lifeblood of people.
Watch out there are Wolves about on Victoria street.Graffiti on King StreetNo future (but that was back in the seventies)Catching the tram at Wolverhampton St Georges. A shot of blue on a grey day.
Photographing Wolverhampton, a summary.
As the BBC has reported, there is both good and bad things happening in Wolverhampton. The Victorian and Georgian buildings are beautiful but I guess they are a challenge to regenerate. Meanwhile the town centre looks vacant. Yet at lunchtime, the city is alive with office staff and casual shoppers. The area around the university is vibrant, with many students moving around. The football stadium is a colourful focal point, and I hope the team remains in the Premier League for the good of the city. Photographing Wolverhampton does provide a rich source of subject matter for the camera.
Birmingham is also going through change and photographing Digbeth shows the transition.
Snowfall at first light is an uplifting sight. The cold weather is welcome and the snow creates idyllic winter scenes. The long range weather forecast was predicting snow and the BBC weather watchers were getting very excited. On the night when the snow fell, pictures were flooding my social media feed as people ventured out to see the first flakes. I did not get drawn into going out as for me too cold! I would wait for the first light of the morning.
The classic view of Knowle High Street in the Snow
Walking through the park and already there were several snowmen. My goal was to get to the village highstreet and take what is for me the classic view up towards the shops. I used both iPhone and my Canon cameras to take the picture. The iPhone picture was uploaded immediately to the BBC weather watchers page.
Looks a touch cold for Bikinis.
My next goal was the red pillar box and telephone box. The bright red contrasts well with the white snow and I spent several minutes photographing them. I went onto take pictures of Knowle Parish Church which dates to 1400 and always looks wonderful when snow has fallen. The Grand Union canal passes by Knowle and the large flight of locks was built to negotiate the hill. Knowle is an old English word for hill. The landscape around the locks was enhanced by the beginning of a sunset. The colours were short lived and when present lifted the landscape.
Knowle Church and the Guild House in the Snow.Knowle Village sign with the church and Guild house in the background.Knowle locks in the snowSnowman in Knowle Park
The cold weather was now taking its toll and I headed home for a hot cup of coffee. On the way back I found out from friends that my picture of Knowle High Street had been shown by Matt on Breakfast TV. This news made my trip worthwhile.
My snowfall picture of Knowle on BBC Breakfast time.
Marcin SZ has been leading Birmingham photowalks since 2020. An accomplished photographer, he shares his work on Instagram under Birmingham_Photography, capturing the city during the golden and blue hours in vibrant colour and bold black and white.
Marcin our host for the Birmingham photowalk
As part of my New Year’s resolution to explore new photographic opportunities, I joined one of Marcin’s photowalks. We met outside the Library of Birmingham, where a small group of photographers gathered before heading out to explore the city.
Dancers gather outside the windows of the Library to practice their routines. This causes bemusement to people passing by.A street cleaner creates a striking silhouette in the light.The brand new Octagon building towers over the former four-star Copthorne Hotel now scheduled for demolition.
Despite the cold winter weather, Centenary Square was full of activity. The low afternoon sun reflected off the Library’s glass façade, creating long shadows and strong contrast—ideal conditions for street photography in Birmingham.
Whilst the walkways between buildings are wide, they are made to look narrow by the height of the buildings.Two figures move along the walkway between buildings.The Town Hall is partly revealed by the available light.Major Birmingham landmarks take their turn in catching the light.
Our Birmingham photowalk took us through Chamberlain Square and past the Town Hall, where Marcin encouraged us to look for architectural details and light patterns often overlooked. Hill Street, bathed in winter light, offered compositions reminiscent of New York. Along the way, spontaneous moments appeared, including a group of cyclists performing wheelies near Brunel Street.
Hill street has those New York vibes about it especially with the low level sun.This picture is to remind me that sometimes the best pictures arise when you least expect them.This cyclist was performing a wheelie on his bicycle as he ride down Brunel Street.
We continued towards the Mailbox and the Cube, where intense horizontal light produced striking graphic shadows. After photographing the frozen waters of Gas Street Basin, Marcin invited us to his studio on the 10th floor of Quayside Tower. From there, we enjoyed panoramic views across Birmingham as the setting sun filled the sky with warm tones and soft pink clouds.
Overlooking the towpath from the Cube bridge. Long shadows in the setting sun start to look atmospheric.The surface of the water in Gas Street Basin has frozen leaving consumer debris on the ice.Golden hour over the City generates vibrant colours.
Birmingham Photowalk reflections
I highly recommend joining such a Birminghamphotowalk with Marcin SZ. He is genuinely passionate about photography and has a natural ability to guide people towards compelling scenes. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and suitable for all experience levels. It was a memorable afternoon, made even better by beautiful winter light and inspiring company.
If you enjoyed this account of a Birmingham photowalk then here are some links to previous walks done in Manchester and London.
IgersbirminghamUK organised a walk around Spaghetti Junction on a warm Saturday afternoon at the beginning of August. For this blog entry, I have 24 frames which is the number of a roll of film. These pictures were taken with either my iPhone or Fujifilm x100vi. The stories and sights under the motorway are always changing and always surprising. Enjoy this photo essay.
Figures
People move around the complex concrete structures. They look apologetic for their presence as the concrete really does enjoy its own company.
Figure in the subwayA walk home with the noise of cars above.
Cyclists
People move quickly on the towpath nobody wants to stay too long as they may get lost in the concrete.
Cyclist between the pillars.There is light in the dark that guides the cyclist.
Pillars
The main feature of the concrete structures is the pillars. Reaching to the sky they hold the roads in place. If the pillars disappear then there so will the roads.
Reaching for the skyThe height of the pillars dwarfs the people who dare wander next to them.The cathedral pillars of Salford circus.Gaps between the Pillars.
So easy to lose your way under the motorway.There is signage to help.Colourful signs break through the concrete monotones.A scrawled sign lets you know where you are.
Traces of humanity
There are examples that humans have passed through the area.
Real MagicBirmingham, EnglandA smashing time.Walk this way
Nature fights back
Nature is slowly eroding the concrete jungle. Trees and greenery have established themselves amongst the pillars.
Greenery lines the paths.Trees in the sunlight.Concrete vs nature standoff.
I hope you enjoyed this photo essay of my recent visits to Spaghetti Junction. If you ever have the chance to visit the area then do take up the opportunity. There are regular tours that take in Aston Reservoir and the more interesting parts of the canal network. The interchange does become very quiet at the weekends. During the week, there is construction activity focused on maintaining the pillars that are essential to holding the motorway network together. The highs and lows of a visit around the Gravelley Hill interchange are illustrated below. The highlights include the wonders of the construction and architecture. The lows are the faceless nature of the area which has areas that are not particularly inviting.
The classical view of the pillars lined up along the river Rea.Barbed wire and undistinguished areas of the Junction.
Are you wanting to read more about Spaghetti Junction then here are more of my visits about what lies beneath the M6. I recommend starting with this blog post that sets the scene for my photo essay.
As it happened, my car windscreen needed replacing in Nechells, so I had time to explore the canals. I headed for the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and walked along it to the lock below Holborn Hill. Turning left, I arrived at Aston train station. It is a five-minute walk from there to Spaghetti Junction and then a short descent to the Tame Valley Canal.
The classic view of the Tame Valley Canal underneath the motorway.
Repairs are currently being carried out on the supports of the motorway, and there were many workers in and around the area. This made it relatively safe to stroll around. I stopped to view the art project run by Bill Drummond, former drummer of the KLF rock group and now an influential artist. He paints a line at regular intervals on the concrete walls opposite the towpath. The line currently displayed reads, “Are you lost yet?”
Directions on the tow path
Luckily, I knew exactly where I was on the canals, and I walked further along to take pictures of the motorway pillars reflected in the canal water. There is some rubbish around, but also many opportunities for interesting photographs.
Reflections and rubbish.Men at work.Ongoing repair work under the motorway.The old road and the M6 motorway.
Retracing my steps, I explored the junction where the Birmingham canals meet the Tame Valley Canal. This was also the site where most of the repair work was taking place. I then made my way to Aston Reservoir, accessing it just past a sports centre. The elevated sections of the motorway rise in the distance and overlook the water. I always find it amazing that speedboat races once took place on this small area of water.
Aston or sometimes known as Salford reservoir with the M6 link road to the Aston Expressway in the background.
I have visited the Junction several times before and here are some of my accounts of my previous visits.
I took a walk from Snow Hill train station up towards Edgbaston village where I had a meeting. This is a collection of 10 images in black and white from my walk. All taken with my Fujifilm x100vi and converted to monochrome.
Brutilistic designCube 20Tagged windowsBusy towpathBnW not blueFive ways HouseForgotten entranceBroken WindowsEdgbaston Village
Enjoyed this, then read some more about Birmingham in Black and White.
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 Roof of StarsPeace Poem
‘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 light door
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.
Positive SpinThe narrowboat of light arrives at the Mailbox
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.
Dance Floor is LavaNight Badmington
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.
Ideas happen here.Mycelium networkFlux
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.
Alright Bab.
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.
The Stratford-upon-Avon CanalLooking out over bridge 56Leading lines to the tree
This walk took us to the Edstone Viaduct, a spectacular canal aqueduct that runs over the Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon railway line. We made our way from The View across fields, down to the railway line, which had an unguarded crossing. Crossing this we arrived at the road and made our way to the viaduct. On the canal, a few narrowboats were moored, but as it was a cold February lunchtime, there was very little movement. I always like crossing the viaduct as the towpath is lower than the water level and so you have a different view of the canal.
Watch out for the trainsFollowing the path
The towpath and fields were extremely muddy, so having good walking boots was essential. The Warwickshire countryside is picturesque and gently rolling, and even on a grey day, it offers interesting places to visit. The pictures from this walk capture the beauty of the landscape, showcasing how this part of the world remains charming in all weather conditions.
If you enjoyed this entry in my blog then please read about my 4 churches bike ride around the Warwickshire Countryside. I also enclose a pdf from the View with a map and further details of my walk.
Details of Edstone Walk (copyright with the View, Wootton Warren)
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