The lights are on at Birmingham for those long winter nights.

by Damien Walmsley 22/02/2025 28/02/2025

Birmingham Light Festival, February, 2025

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Borealis: bringing the northern lights to the Bullring in Birmingham

Festival of Light

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A Winter’s walk around Edstone

by Damien Walmsley 19/02/2025 19/02/2025

I gathered with a group of friends at The View, a restaurant in the Warwickshire countryside near Wootton Wawen. Before we sat down to eat, four of us took a short walk around the surrounding area.

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.

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)

Four Churches Bike Ride

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Starting off the year with reflections

by Damien Walmsley 04/02/2025 06/02/2025

Reflections, Selfridges, Birmingham, January, 2025

The year may have started with plenty of rain, but that never stops me from hunting for reflections. I have a few favourite spots where I find good puddles, and here is a selection from the start of 2025.

Reflections, Kingswood Junction, Lapworth, Warwickshire, January, 2025 — Kingswood Junction after a very heavy downpour flooded the towpath.

Reflections, Gas Street Basin, Birmingham, January, 2025 — Taken with my Fujifilm x100vi of Gas Street Basin. There is smoke billowing out of one of the narrowboats.

Someone recently asked about my technique for taking such pictures. When capturing reflections, I use my iPhone, seeking out patches of water and anticipating how a reflection may appear. A key step is to get as low as possible to the puddle. This can be challenging, especially with particularly muddy puddles, like the one on Normandy Hill. One wrong step, and you could end up a muddy mess if you stumble into the water.

Reflections, Normandy Hill, Hillmorton, Warwickshire, January, 2025 — This reflection was taken from the surface of a very muddy puddle on Normandy Hill, Hillmorton, Rugby.

I position my phone so that the back lens is as close to the water as possible, just before autofocus engages. This creates a blurred background effect as the phone focuses on the nearest object. Since you are often crouching in muddy water while holding your phone, you must anticipate the outcome of your shot rather than seeing it perfectly in the moment. Using a larger camera—even a compact one—would be difficult in such conditions. Of course, larger cameras work well when photographing a lake beneath a mountain range, safely away from the water’s edge. However, the beauty of using a phone is its ability to capture reflections effortlessly during everyday walks. There are two pictures, in this gallery that have been taken with my Fujifilm x100v and I am still able to capture the magic of reflections.

Reflections, Dorridge Train Station, January, 2025 — Tow trains, one local, the other to London with the reflections framed by the footbridge.

Reflections, Paddington Basin, London, January, 2025 — This contrast of colours of the blue hour and the warm lights is enhanced by the reflections. The picture was taken with my x100vi.

Having taken reflection photographs countless times, I now appreciate that the real skill lies in composition. It is about anticipating the possibilities that even a small puddle can offer.

The final picture of Reflections at Selfridges was featured in the 52Frames project. I was really pleased that it was selected and I received many positive comments. I would recommend readers to get involved with the project.

Enjoy this small selection of my reflective photography—I am sure there will be more throughout the year, so check back for updates!

Here are two more links to follow if this section on reflections has “wetted” your appetite.

Reflections

Featured in the book – my reflections on Landscape Photographer of the Year 2023

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Photographing Gloucester

by Damien Walmsley 05/01/2025 05/01/2025

Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, January 2025

Sunrises in January are an ideal time for photography. An early, low sun rising in a cloudless sky creates areas of contrast wherever the light falls. I enjoy getting up early to catch such sunrises, so I treated myself to a visit to Gloucester. I had never visited the restored docks, and I do enjoy strolling around new venues. After checking the weather for the next day, I was optimistic that I would come away with some good photographs. I was also keen to visit the Cathedral. While browsing the Museum of Gloucester website, I discovered that the International Photographic Exhibition, organised by the Royal Photographic Society, was on. I was excited, as I had a solid plan for the day.

Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, January 2025 — Shadows from the buildings create interesting shapes as they are reflected in the water.

The docks are steeped in history, and the area has been renovated with flats and restaurants. I arrived just before sunrise. The area initially looked grey, but as the sunrise progressed, the scene transformed. The brickwork of the old warehouses at Gloucester Docks began to glow as the buildings soaked up the sunlight. I love how, when the light reaches a building, a warm, radiant glow emerges. The docks have many interesting features. The boats are all individually decorated, each with their own character.

I had read that Sula, the lightship, would be in dry dock, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it in the water. Even better, the sun was already beginning to highlight the red paint. As you can see from my pictures, I was captivated by the Sula Lightship. The bright red colour of the boat was beautifully illuminated by the sunlight. The low sunrise created shards of light that highlighted local people passing by the boat on their way to work.

The Sula lightship, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, January 2025. — The *Sula* lightship catches the sunrise.

There were many other captivating scenes at the docks before I moved on to other attractions. I particularly enjoyed photographing the Kyneburgh Tower, designed by the artist Tom Price. The internal structure, featuring ever-decreasing irregular circles rising up towards the top of the tower, was fascinating. I also passed by the small house dedicated to the Tailor of Gloucester and could not resist taking a photograph of its charming front.

The Kyneburgh Tower, Gloucester, January 2025 — Looking up inside the Kyneburgh Tower.

Tailor of Gloucester, Gloucester, January 2025. — The Tailor of Gloucester shopfront near to the Cathedral.

On previous journeys to the University of Plymouth, where I served as an examiner for several years, my train often passed through Gloucester. The Cathedral, visible from the elevated railway track, is a commanding structure. Every time I saw the cathedral; I told myself I must visit and see the interior one day. The Cathedral is awe-inspiring, and the internal ceiling structure is a sight to behold. I have seen many photographers’ pictures of the ceiling and was eager to capture my own.

I also enjoyed smaller details, such as the angels in the choir stalls. Additionally, I was intrigued by the tomb of Robert Curthose, or Robert of Normandy, William the Conqueror’s oldest son, who never ascended the throne. I like the way his tomb was set out and was more attractive than Edward II’s tomb on the other side.

There are many other parts of the Cathedral that are a joy to see. Whilst the main hall is the most visually impressive part of the building, the cloisters, famous for being a filming location for the Harry Potter films, were particularly striking. Despite the post-Christmas cleanup being underway—it was just a few days before Epiphany—I managed to take some photographs. For me, the docks and the Cathedral were the highlights of Gloucester.

The High Street, while interesting to walk through, felt like many other high streets in the UK these days, with drab shops and few people about. There are some interesting alleyways that I would come back to explore. There are several impressive buildings on the high street including the Mayor’s house from the 1600s which is now a Costa Coffee House. There is a YouTube video made by Historic England that takes you for a walk around the architectural highlights of the city.

Highstreet, Gloucseter, January 2025. — Strike a match

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The International Photography Exhibition 165, sponsored by the Royal Photographic Society at the Museum of Gloucester exhibition was a high point. I would highly recommend this exhibition to anyone interested in photography. The display featured many inspiring images, including works by international artists documenting their local environments. Having recently completed a documentary photography project myself; I found the exhibition particularly engaging and rewarding.

International Photography Exhibition 165, Royal Photographic Society, Museum of Gloucester, Gloucester, January 2025 — International Photography Exhibition 165, Royal Photographic Society, Museum of Gloucester.

There is a series of blogs on the subject “Photographing ……” and you may like the last one that I posted on Photographing the Cotswolds which is a place not far from Gloucester!

Photographing the Cotswolds

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Majors Green Aqueduct and the North Stratford Canal

by Damien Walmsley 24/11/2024 24/11/2024

Stratford canal from the Drawbridge to the High Street, November, 2024

Discovering new places for a photography story requires good research. Many times, I have heard other photographers say they’ve exhausted their immediate area for pictures. I would reply that I have barely scratched the surface. So, as I was looking around on Google Maps, Majors Green Aqueduct caught my interest. I had two hours free while Monty, our dog, was being groomed. Yes, our dog is well looked after. I planned to park on Aqueduct Road and explore the structure before walking up to the Drawbridge Inn. Doubling back along the canal would allow me to take pictures of the aqueduct from above. Google Maps tags other people’s pictures to points of interest, so you can check the favoured points of view.

Parking my car near the aqueduct, I quickly gained an appreciation for the scale of the engineering that went into its construction. Many bricks had been used to allow the canal to cross over both the road and the River Cole. The River Cole passes through Birmingham and Coleshill before joining the River Blythe. At the bridge, the river passes underneath, and there are remnants of a walkway. I quickly discovered that the traffic around here moves quickly, and there are no pavements for pedestrians. You cannot access the canal from the bridge, so I carefully took pictures and then set off for the Drawbridge over the canal.

The Shirley Drawbridge sits over the northern section of the Stratford Canal. The bridge is always down to let cars pass over, and it will only open with a waterways key. There is a famous public house, the Drawbridge Inn, next to the canal, and the road is a bottleneck for cars as it is a popular shortcut through Majors Green to Shirley. Upon reaching the canal, I turned north and very soon encountered a heron fishing for its dinner. The heron was on the opposite bank, but fortunately, I had my 100-400mm lens with me, and I was able to get some great close-up pictures.

The aqueduct at canal level is covered with colourful graffiti, and there is a steep drop over the bridge. I’ve taken a documentary course, the Stirchley Observation Project, which has tuned me into alternative approaches to photography. I see interesting pictures that others may miss. As you’ll see, there are flamingo statues, abandoned chairs, and remnants of some form of canal gateway. I now appreciate the small things in everyday life, which often have a story attached to them. My time to turn back was approaching, but not before I discovered an abandoned canal boat and a Woodland Trust area.

I returned the way I had come, and again there were new views to be photographed. The canals are always full of surprises, with wildlife and historical artefacts thrown into the mix. Both dereliction and new projects go hand in hand. All this adds up to a photographic adventure for the camera enthusiast.

I have several posts on the Stratford-upon-Avon canal and I have included a link to the Kingswood junction which is further south.

Kingswood Junction

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Hello Manchester, my old friend

by Damien Walmsley 22/11/2024 22/11/2024

Manchester is an old friend who I do not recognise anymore. My undergraduate degree was in dentistry and after a year, I returned to undertake research, obtaining both a masters and my doctorate degree. I then took up a clinical academic appointment at the University of Birmingham. However I still look back on Manchester as a good friend to me during my early years. There were so many good times in the City. Shopping in Kendal Milne, watching Manchester City at Maine Road and nights out on the town when I was a student in the late seventies and early eighties. All that was several decades ago and since 1985, Birmingham has moved on from being a stranger to a very close friend. Birmingham and Solihull are now home. The city of Birmingham has undergone so many positive changes that it is barely recognisable from when we first arrived.

Manchester has also changed. All those old haunts are either no longer there or gentrification has changed them beyond recognition. A good friend, Tony Jacobs, invited me up to visit Manchester for the day to take photographs. I know Tony was excited about my visit as he had researched locations and had several plans in place for our walk. We met up at Piccadilly station and our enthusiasm about the day ahead led to our conversation jumping around several subjects. Interestingly dentistry was not one of them and the subject of teeth was only touched upon much later in the day. Once our greetings were completed, we walked down the station approach and set off on our photographic walk.

Tony took me along Ducie Street where we admired the street murals. Tony had planned for us to walk along the Rochdale canal by Piccadilly basin. We marvelled at the renovated warehouses which were now repurposed as either accommodation or businesses. The area was not a place I would have visited as a student and I was enjoying seeing the developments taking place. We selected China street to walk along to gain access to the canal. The day was bright with reflections everywhere. We came across artwork showing the city of Manchester which was created by Mehaart . The mural was colourful and stunning to view. The various iron bridges along the Rochdale canal have been restored with some new additions. All this gives real character to the area.

https://www.instagram.com/mehaart/ — The cobbled towpath along the Rochdale Canal

The Kitty bridge is a uniquely designed structure which allows access to Redhill street. There the old cotton warehouses blend in with the new surroundings. Tony was taking me to Cotton Field Wharf Marina which leads onto New Islington marina, a recently restored canal basin. All this is in striking distance of the Manchester City Etihad stadium. My camera was working overtime. I had never seen this area of Manchester when I was a student and was amazed at the new developments. It was now lunchtime and our next stop was Hallé St Peter’s where the Café Cotton served up a delicious meal.

After lunch, we picked up an Uber that took us to Castle street in Castlefield, an area that I have been to before. The canal basin is under the railway and tramlines which provide an atmospheric feel to the area. We stumbled upon the place being set up for TV/filming. There were local street artists, dndwalls, painting a backdrop to the area. One of the steel supports was being transformed into a surreal covering of various objects as my pictures show. We chatted to Teresa, whose barge had been loaned to the film set that was being prepared. Everyone we met were on non-disclosure agreements but, as we were in a public space, we could take photographs of the installations. I will be interested to see where this filming ends up. We wait and see.

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On the other side of the train and tram tracks is Castlefield basin where the Bridgewater canal passes through onto the Rochdale canal. This area has become a hive of residential property. Overlooking the older buildings are the imposing high rise Deansgate Square residencies. I attempted to get pictures of the old and the new but the buildings are so tall and required sticking two photographs together. We walked around the Castlefield basin and then picked up the river Medlock that flows past the Deansgate Square residencies. I ended up with many pictures of these high-rise buildings. I am not sure what it must be like living in these flats but I expect you have super cityscape views.

A short walk along the river took us to Tony Wilson Place not far from where the Hacienda was situated. So good to see that Manchester remembers Tony who did so much to promote the music scene in the city. I was an avid concert attender in the late seventies and one band that I wish I had seen was Joy Division. Sadly it was not to be. However I do remember their first appearance on Granda reports in 1978 which was hosted by Tony Wilson.

I digress and after a coffee with a delicious slice of Pecan Pie in Essy’s coffee shop, we set off past Deansgate back to Piccadilly station. It was nearly time to get the train home but Tony had one last place to visit, Mayfield park. This is another area that has changed and the public park adjacent to the abandoned Mayfield train station was landscaped along the banks of the river Medlock. A glimpse of this area was all that we had time for as my train waited to take me back to Birmingham. Standing on the platform at Piccadilly station, I was already thinking about when I would return.

Thank you to Tony for the insight into the new and old Manchester and making the day so interesting. I found it fascinating to compare the two cities of Manchester and Birmingham.

So this was my recent view of Manchester and you may wish to view my last visit to the city in 2022. Enjoy

Manchester Stroll

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Birmingham sunset and sunrise from the Octagon

by Damien Walmsley 20/09/2024 20/09/2024

Sunset and sunrise, the Octagon, Birmingham City Centre, September, 2024.

The sun people.

The golden ticket on a beautiful September evening was a 155 metres journey to the top of the Octagon skyscraper. The invite from Core-marketing on behalf of Paradise Birmingham brought out the great and the good of the photographic fraternity in Birmingham. There were many people disappointed that they were not there to celebrate the “topping out” of this iconic skyscraper. Over 60 photographers gathered at the base of the Octagon waiting to be taken up the 49 floors to the very top of the building. Our “lift” was a hoist which was a platform cage that pointed away from the building. This took up the first 25 photographers. Then there was an anxious wait as the hoist came back down for the rest of us. We did not want to miss the sunset. The cage of the hoist was bordered by a metal grill and as we climbed the outside of the building to the very top , our mobile phones recorded the journey.

We were greeted with a beautiful golden sun that was setting in the West over Edgbaston reservoir. The 360 degrees view was spectacular and with time the familiar landmarks around Birmingham came into focus. There was Broad Street, the Rotunda, the Cube and the BT Tower. Further away the Aston Expressway together with various mosques and churches scattered around the horizon could be seen. The serious photographers were very active. Cameras were pointed at the view and many pictures were taken. There were two levels at the crown of the Octagon, the main level with a metal barrier around the periphery and then a central raised column accessed by a metal staircase, provided a clearer view. There were various cameras on display ranging from super zoom telescopic lenses right down to the humble mobile phone. The social media channels were going to be saturated with views of Birmingham. Nicky Warwickshire, James never Jim and myself (dammodammo) were there representing the IgersbirminghamUK team!

Sunset was upon us and we gathered to pay homage to the setting of the sun. I was reminded of the Bowie song “Memory of a Free Festival” and the lyrics of the song resonated with me. “The sun machine is going down and we are going to have a party”. This time there was no music just the quiet clicking of camera shutters. However, the fun wasn’t finished. The lights of the city came on and car headlights lights started streaking down the streets like small silver dots. Suddenly you could see into the illuminated offices hidden during the day by reflective glass. Trams and buses were gracefully moving along the streets. Particular views that I enjoyed included Moor Street station and the Birmingham canal navigations.

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Needless to say we all took so many pictures that saturation point was quickly reached and then the time came to descend back down the hoist and catch the train home. In my excitement, I forgot to get a picture of the moonrise but luckily many other photographers filled that void and I was able to see their views of the moon. One photographer Pete Davies was at Edgbaston reservoir and he captured the moonrise next to the Octagon. You can just make out the photographers on the top.

We were discussing the visit and how spectacular the tower construction was on the train home. One of the Octagon project leaders was on the same train home and he gave us a fascinating insight into how the structure had been built and what was involved in its construction. Our conversation took in previous buildings such as the Cube and what was in store for Birmingham in the future. This was a really enjoyable evening and I knew that there was still the morning sunrise to look forward to. However the weather forecast didn’t look too promising but then again we wait and see.

The sunrise shift.

Getting up at 4:00am was not easy but once I got moving, I was wide awake. After a quick breakfast and walking the dog, I drove into Birmingham and parked up in Brindley Place. Birmingham City Centre was very quiet with only a few people moving around. I walked briskly through Centenary square, past the library, into Chamberlain place and on to the Octagon for the morning session. There were far fewer photographers gathered at the base of the building. Getting up early appears to be a much more difficult activity for a photographer than the evening sunset. The weather was dull and the golden glow of yesterday evening was quickly forgotten as we checked in and made our way to the “hoist”. Soon we were back travelling on the outside of the building. This was now familiar territory and recording the journey up was much easier the second time around.

Going up the Octogen

When we arrived at the crown, the first thing I noticed was the wind and the cold. Night had not loosened its grip of the new day and the bright city lights were still shining. I got out my camera and started taking pictures. There were some opportunities to take some long exposures of the rush hour traffic that was starting to stream into the City. Reviewing other people’s photographs, I realized that I had missed some buildings and I made sure that I got St. Paul’s church and the Big Pen in the Jewellery Quarter. There were a few other places that I had forgotten all about from last night and this was the most exciting part of the visit, taking new views of the city.

Slowly the dawn crept forward and banished the dark of the night. The wind seemed to be increasing and I was glad that I had my jumper with me to add to the layers of clothers that I was wearing. A mist started rolling in and unsurprisingly, there was no sunrise but I knew the sun was out there somewhere. With my remaining time, I started looking for unusual shots around the building. BBC West Midlands radio were present, interviewing people who were getting ready for the topping out ceremony that was taking place later that day.

This visit was a quieter affair. Mindfulness is a wonderful feeling and I stood taking in the view which was much more rewarding than just wanting to use my camera. I had taken all the pictures that I needed and went back down the hoist for the final time. There was a touch of sadness as I had really enjoyed my two visits to the top of the Octagon. This 49 floor skyscraper is ready for future residential living and the plan is to rent out the apartments. The building will soon be completed and then the army of construction workers will move on to the next tall building. Birmingham is an exciting place and is changing all the time. I hope to go up the next building that gets finished, but in the meantime, I left with good thoughts as I wandered back through the city to my car. There were more workers out and about getting ready for the day, I had already completed a day on top of the Octagon and now I was getting ready for a second day. I looked forward to getting my pictures together and telling people how much I had enjoyed my visit to the Octagon.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to all at the Octagon who allowed these amazing visits to take place. I do hope you enjoyed reading about my visit to the Octagon. Thank you to Paradise Birmingham and Core-Marketing for the opportunity.

I have given a link to some of my other visits to skyscrapers and hope you continue to read my photographic journey.

The Octagon is the new kid on the block

The popular key – 103 Colmore Row

London Times – The London Horizon from Horizon22

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An early start to Middleton Lakes RSPB

by Damien Walmsley 26/07/2024 26/07/2024

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 and I was ready to leave with a hot cup of coffee in a thermos. My destination was Middleton Lakes RSPB where I wanted to photograph the wildlife. The lakes are easy to get to from the M42 and there was no traffic at that time of the morning. Passing the Aston Villa Bodymoor training grounds I reached the lakes and parked the car. There was a lovely mist over the meadows and when I passed over the canal there was a dreamy quality about the air. I was the only person around and had the place to myself.

Then there was the decision, the wetlands or the woodlands. I am glad I made the decision to visit the lakes. The Canada Geese were taking turns to set off on group flybys In the lake, I saw fish jumping out of the water to catch insects on the water. I saw a heron and other birds which I need to identify. The butterflies were waking up and enjoying the sunshine. I moved onto the meadows to see if there were any owls hunting. Whilst the owls were not out the Konik ponies were moving around. I walked around the meadow and came close to the riverbanks where there were several dragonflies and damsel flies. I was not quick enough to catch the dragonflies but the damsel flies were more sluggish. The sun was warming up the vegetation and my landscape picture was selected for the main BBC weather photograph. One downside is that there were many midges around and I found later that day that I had picked up many insect bites that persisted for several days afterwards.

If you enjoyed this visit to Middleton Lakes RSPB then please read my previous blog.

I joined the RSPB and you should too!

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HS2 gathers pace at Curzon Street

by Damien Walmsley 16/07/2024 16/07/2024

HS2 progress, Curzon Street, Birmingham 2024

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 location so that they were near to the station. This series of pictures provides a construction update of the area and the viaducts that will carry the trains into the station which are starting to appear. The area around the Birmingham canal allows a view of the enormous construction taking place.

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A few interesting stories developed whilst I was taking pictures. I added to my 100 strangers project whilst I was walking around the perimeter of the HS2 development works. As I was taking pictures over the canal bridge looking towards the new viaducts for the trains, I met Mace who was from London. He was on a stopover in Birmingham on his journey to Scotland. He immediately engaged me in conversation and was a lively personality. After discussing the state of play of the HS2 and Birmingham, he willingly posed for my 100 strangers’ project. (More of this photographic project at a later date). The sun was out creating lighting difficulties so I asked Mace to stand under the shade. In the portrait, Curzon street is to the right and the view is down towards the ThinkTank museum and Birmingham City University. The new Curzon Street station is further down the road.

Another interesting finding was that to my surprise I found a narrowboat moored up on the other side of the Curzon Street railway bridge near to the Birmingham Gun Barrell proof house. It is a rare sight to see canal boats on this stretch of the canal. However as the area starts to receive more investment then it is likely that such occurrences will be more frequent.

One of my photography projects is to photograph the changes occurring in other places of the HS2 development. You may wish to view the changes to 16 acre wood near Berkswell.

The continuing story of HS2 and 16 Acre wood

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From Square to Park – an IgersbirminghamUK instameet

by Damien Walmsley 09/06/2024 10/06/2024

Square to Park, IgersbirminghamUK Instameet walk, May 2024

With the long summer nights upon us, the IgersbirminghamUK team came up with the idea for a photowalk that started at St Paul’s Square and finished at St Philip’s Cathedral. Along the way we could photograph interesting views of Birmingham. The walk went down Ludgate Hill, over the Pedestrian Bridge towards Church Street finally arriving at St Philip’s Square affectionately known by locals as Pigeon Park. The call went out a week before on social media and on the evening a group of photographers assembled outside St Paul’s Church. A list of some interesting places and buildings had already been circulated on our social media channels. Many of these suggestions were taken up by our band of photographers. I usually have my iPhone and my Fujifilm x100vi on any city walk. I just find these two cameras so useful to tell the story of the streets as they are easy to carry and use. They also take good pictures.

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The walk started with lovely warm sunshine and St Paul’s Square looked good in the evening light. As we moved down Ludgate Hill towards the Birmingham Canal, the sky clouded over but it did not stop us taking pictures of our favourite Brummie locations.

The canal passes underneath the BT tower. There is graffiti and concrete posts yet the canal locks blend in well with the surroundings. Further along, the pedestrian bridge is always a favourite photography location. The light was dimming so it was possible to practice a few long exposures of the traffic passing underneath.

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As we approached St Philip’s Square along Church Street, we could see the recently installed Big Wheel lit up against the late evening light. Then came the rain. Just as we reached the square, the heavens opened and we got very wet. Some of us were fortunate as we had brough a water proof coat or umbrella. Others were less lucky. We first thought that this was going to be a miserable end to a good evening of photography. After the initial heavy downpour, we saw that the rain had created reflections on the surrounding pavements. The Big Wheel was lit up in different colours, and the resulting images with the reflections gave a range of interesting effects. Also people were walking past with umbrellas casting their shadows in the puddles. The picture opportunities were unending. After a while no one minded the rain or the fact that they were soaked through.

Those of us that were left behind after braving the rain finished our walk at the Wolf pub on Constitution hill. During our well deserved refreshments, the IgersbirminghamUK team planned our next adventure.

This are my own pictures from the @IgersbirminghamUK walk. If you want to see the pictures of all the other talented photographers that took part then follow the link #igbUK_meet_sq2park

The walk back from the Wolf pub to Snow Hill station was short but interesting and here is a set of five pictures showing how the light and reflections after the rain can create a wonderful range of colours.

If you have got down to here then there are other IgersbirminghamUK meetings to read about on my blog. Enjoy reading about our activities. The team at IgersbirminghamUK look forward to seeing you at one of their future meetings.

Visiting Bournville Village Trust with IgersbirminghamUK

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Tag Archives: Canal and River Trust