I had some time to visit the canal in North London and my starting point was just north of Kings Cross Station,accessing the canal from York Way bridge. Making my way north I passed Coal Drops Yard and under the railway bridges. There was a Canal and River Trust stand near to Gasholder park and whenever I see them then I always stop and have a chat. Abeselom was one of the three representatives from the Canal and River Trust on the stand. I struck up conversation with Abeselom and mentioned my 100 strangers project. I was told that all my subjects smile and an artist friend said that my strangers should look more interesting. So Abeselom provided a suitable expression for me causing some merriment.
Abeselom strikes a pose for the Canal and River Trust.Canal reflections at St Pancras Canal Basin.
A few steps on and I noticed some striking reflections of the boats in St Pancreas Canal Basin. The boats, trains and buildings made for some fascinating pictures. I move on along the towpath. There were interesting people, buildings and activity all along the route. It is a people thoroughfare. There was a photo workshop, people with suitcases and some intriguing buildings.
A view on the canal.Colours and nature.The canal locks at Camden
Eventually I reached Camden locks and browsed around the Market which linked underneath the railway arches. This was a great place to visit and the range and diversity of the shops was amazing. The place was great for street photography plus there were interesting statues and displays as you will see in the pictures below. Finally I moved down the road to Camden Tube station and made my way down to Fitzrovia where my meeting was taking place.
A larger than life soldier.Lost and trapped.
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That bridge at Camden.Colours of CamdenCrossing the rainbow crossingMore colours on the street.Colourful shopsWalk like an Egyptian.
If you liked this then I have other blog postings that you may like.
Each year photographers share their top photographs and I am no exception in doing this. I wrote a blog about my personal favourites for 2021. Now it is the turn of 2022 and I have limited to my top 4. Why four? Well the arrangement works well for Instagram and I am not such a fan of the Top 9 where the pictures are even smaller. The four pictures that I have selected all have a story to tell. The picture may have done well in national or local competitions. There may have been some nice comments about the style and composition that were pleasing to hear. I hope you enjoy the selections.
Regency Wharf This picture received a commendation in Landscape Photographer of the Year in 2022 and was featured in the published book. This was quite an achievement for me as this is a very competitive competition and a place in the book is very much sought after. I wrote a blog about this picture and it explains how and why it was taken.
Regency Wharf, Birmingham, My picture of Regency Wharf, Birmingham that was Commended in LPOTY2022
Westside BID winner Last year I failed to get shortlisted for the inaugural Westside Business District Calendar competition. So this year, I entered in again and I came first which was I was so pleased about. The prize was £175 voucher to an exclusive restaurant next to the ICC Birmingham. The winning picture is below and a description of how it was done in covered in my blog.
My winning photograph for Westside BID calendar.
Broken Life I am not very good at Still Life photography and it was one of my assignments in a 52 week photography group that I belong to on Flickr. I am not sure why I went for this picture approach and it was well received on the Weeklies. It was my only shortlisting last year for #wexmondays. I am going to do more photography like this for 2023 so watch this space. Also read my blog about how it came about.
A place setting with broken plates and cups. What has taken place?
In January 2022, I spent the morning walking around Gas Street Basin. The area was bathed in beautiful sunshine and I took several photographs with my Fujifilm x100v. Several of the photographs came out really well. I was lucky with the light and the weather. Plus there were several people walking along the canal tow path. There were two stand out pictures that I took that day. The first was from outside the Tap and Spile public house on the west side of the basin looking towards Regency Wharf. This picture was highly commended in the urban view category of UK Landscape Photographer of the Year. I also took pictures on the other side of the basin. One part of the basin that used to be difficult to access is The Wharf which has access to various offices including the Pakistani Consulate. On that morning I found that the barriers had gone and there is now public access to the area where you can access the canal bank. This gives you a great view of the Bistrot Pierre restaurant building. The morning was still and quiet providing excellent conditions for reflections of the restaurant. As luck would have it, a passerby came into the picture and looked backwards. I snapped him and found that he was centred perfectly. The picture turned out well and did not need much adjustment post processing. There was a good reaction on social media when I posted the picture. Therefore when the Westside BID calendar competition came up then I entered this one along with several others. I was pleased to learn that I was the overall winner for the competition with my Bistrot Pierre picture and my prize was £175 vouchers for the Craft restaurant in Brindley Place next to the ICC. There was also a cheesy write up of my win which I include here. The title was “Dentist ‘reflects’ on top prize in Westside BID’s 2023 calendar competition”.
The picture is available to purchase from my website. I include an account below how the picture was taken, the camera used and the post production notes.
On a cold but very bright January morning, I went into Birmingham with my camera. I planned to walk around the City, with a focus on Brindley Place and Gas street Basin. The sun was low and there was an intensity about the light. By mid-morning, I found myself in Gas Street basin outside the Tap and Spile pub. I looked across to the imposing red-bricked building displaying the large stencilled letters, Regency Wharf. The scene looked as if someone had suddenly turned on a bright spotlight. The basin was lit up and the building was radiating the light. The water was perfectly still, allowing mirror like reflections. A person was walking on the tow path towards the canal bridge. I could see that his route would take him in front of the Regency Wharf sign. I lifted my camera, looked through the viewfinder and took several shots of the lone person moving along the path. I was thinking how these pictures would turn out but then quickly moved on as more interesting scenes were developing around me. I took more pictures in and around the area all of which did very well when posted on my social media channels.
Regency Wharf – Damien Walmsley
Camera settings for the picture
The picture was taken on 11th January 2022 at 11.06 The camera was the Fujifilm x100v Focal length – 23mm Exposure was 1/10000, f/4, ISO160
Postproduction notes
The RAW file (Fuji – RAF) was opened in Lightroom and the light was so good that there was not much that that needed to be done to the image. I brought out the shadows and reduced the highlights. There was a small amount of saturation added. Once these basic adjustments were done, I took the image into Photoshop and made the decision to crop the picture to highlight the centre of the image. It may be argued that in the original the background to the Regency Wharf building, highlights the new buildings of Birmingham. However, my crop aims to highlight the legacy of Birmingham with a hint of what the future holds.
As I wanted to quickly upload the picture onto Instagram, I used an unsharp mask and then levels on the picture, but it was minimal editing. The light was so strong that the reflections in the water were excellent.
The original view of Regency Wharf prior to cropping.
My personal reflections of LPOTY
I submitted 5 photographs for the LPOTY competition. in early summer, I was taken aback when several people on social media shouted out that they were no longer progressing in the competition. I had not received such a notification and on the website, it was asking for submission of a high resolution picture of one of my pictures. There was a mixture of anticipation but confusion. Eventually, I found my email informing me that I had been shortlisted. It was in my spam filter! The RAW files and more detailed explanation of the processing of the picture were submitted to the LPOTY team. There was another long wait. The FAQ on the website said that if I had not heard anything by October then my entry was unsuccessful. As there were no emails in the first 2 weeks of October, I was just happy that I had been shortlisted. It was on a train journey on the Tuesday afternoon prior to the Sunday announcement that I got the email saying that my picture was Commended in the Urban View category. I was so pleased but the rub was that I had to keep it confidential until now. My family are pleased for me and my friends who have been on my photographic journey were happy as well.
People reading this blog will want to know what it takes to be successful in the competition. Several things spring to mind. Always believe in your picture taking and be content with your own work. Social media is not necessarily a good barometer of a successful picture. Be resilient, this was my fourth attempt since my first entry back in 2018. Listen to constructive criticism and research into how others take their photographs. Always be ready to learn and never take rejection of your pictures personally. Pick yourself up and take the camera on a walk. I will be entering again in 2023 and I know it will be just as competitive as ever. However, I will see what happens and happy to enjoy the experience of entering again.
I planned my day to take in three locations of the Key to the City Brum around the West Midlands. Each venue is very different but they were linked by the way that I planned my visits for the day. I was to find out that these particular venues were very photogenic. Also each of the venues had wonderful stories connected with them. I started at Minworth Green Bridge and then moved over to Streetly Gate. Finally I drove to Washwood Heath to see St. Margaret’s Church. It was a memorable day and I hope I have captured not only my enthusiasm but those of the people I met on my journey.
Minworth Green Bridge
The canal bridge and the doorThe information about the contents
Minworth Green Bridge is on the boundary of the City of Birmingham. It is the furthest north of the key locations and the road bridge crosses over the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal but these are not reasons why it was chosen for the Keys to the City. On one side of the canal bridge is an iron barred door. Making my way down to the door, I came across a family who had just closed the door and were walking along the canal towpath. I got my key out and opened the lock. The opening of the door required some force and once inside there was a surprise. In the narrow long space behind the door, there were several hefty planks of wood. The Canal and River Trust had left an information notice about the use of these wooden planks. When the canal needed to be drained for repair, the planks are used to block off the water. There are grooves in the canal walls which house the planks. This practical solution to the maintenance of the canal was described in the door notice.
Selfie on opening the doorThe opened door reveals it contentsThe door at Minworth Green Bridge
I closed the door and locked the padlock, making it ready for the next visitor. The family returned and they told me that they were on half term holidays and the Key activity gave them a chance to visit different places. For myself, there was the opportunity to take some pictures of the canal including a boat that was moored up by the bridge. I left reflecting on a peaceful spot with an intriguing door.
A canal boat in the distance
Gatehouse, Streetly Gate
This site was a treasure trove and when I arrived there were already people inside. I met, Ian and James, father and son, who were also visiting the place. For a small room, the Gatehouse at Streetly Gate near to Sutton Park has so much to offer. Ian and James were on their first key visit. They were very enthusiastic about the project and were keen to know about the places that I had visited. Ian and James are pictured in the Gatehouse. This project is a great way to meet new people and I explained to them that I undertake a 100 Strangers photographic project. Both were happy to be photographed in the Gatehouse for my project.
Ian and James at the Gatehouse
Once they left. I investigated the contents of the Gate house. The building was used by the park authorities for checking in visitors to the park. There were many items on display and the pictures and posters provided snippets of the history. Only now am I able to show these pictures, as at the time I did not want to spoil the visit for other key holders who wished to experience the excitement of learning what is inside.
Looks like it is still being used.Keys are a prominent feature Entry Fees!Someone wants to be a rangerOpen doorCup of Tea anyone?Memories from the GatehouseNo mobile number then?A different take on the Selfie reflection.A picture from another time.A map of Sutton Park.
When you visit somewhere that is just so full of atmosphere then it leaves a memorable impression. This describes my visit to St Margaret’s Church, Ward End, Birmingham. As a visitor to the community, I was given a warm welcome to the centre. This venue in the “key to the city Brum” was a hidden gem in more ways than one. The building is a Grade II listed former Church of England parish church in Birmingham. In the church are stained glass windows by pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones. There is also a bust by Peter Hollins of 1848 that celebrates William Hutton (1723-1815) who provided the first account of the history of Birmingham.
Stained glass windows by pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-JonesA bust by Peter Hollins of 1848 that celebrates William Hutton
There was a memorable encounter with Kaniz who is the Community Development Practitioner at the centre. She explained to me about the centre and the role it plays in the community. I was shown the “key to the City Brum” exhibit and provided with a cup of coffee and biscuits whilst I looked through the contents of the cabinet. Kaniz was a photographer but after the pandemic fulfilled her desire to get involved with the community. She was very keen to give something back and help others. Kaniz agreed to be in my strangers’ portfolio. The picture is taken in the hall where there is a community meeting taking place.
Kaniz is a Community Development Practitioner.
The contents of the cabinet had past parish newsletters and other historical mementoes. There was a celebration of Metro-Cammell, formally the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company (MCCW). Metro-Cammell had a factory in Washwood Heath near to the church. The company manufactured railway carriages, locomotives, and railway wagons and with increased world wide competition the factory was forced to close in 2005. The cabinet contained models and books from the era that the factory was at full production.
Celebration of Metro-CammellInside the cabinetKey to the cabinetHistory of the Church in the glass cabinet
I wandered around the church grounds and loved the architecture which was juxta positioned with the brutalist flats neighbouring the church. The #KeytotheCityBrum highlights places which have living history. Many of the venues inspires visitors and gives a background to the historical development of the City of Birmingham.
The council flats contrast sharply with the ChurchThe entrance to the Church
I visited Manchester as part of a PhD examination at the Univeristy, and it gave me the chance to see the city again. Manchester is part of my early life and as a dental student, I loved being in the city. In the seventies, life was very different, but the music scene was a big part of my life including Punk Rock, and the rise of Joy Division and the Buzzcocks. Manchester looks and feels very different today and I struggle to find the same landmarks in many parts of the city. Old buildings have been renovated. High rise living is everywhere. You can now stroll along the Rochdale canal rather than being able to walk on the water due to the rubbish.
The Manchester tram seen from Piccadilly station.
These are the pictures taken on my walk from Piccadilly Station to the University of Birmingham and back again. I walked through the Gay Village along the canal and then onto Oxford Road. I varied my route the next day to take in a few more areas as I returned to Piccadilly station. Cities like Birmingham and Manchester are under constant change and all for the better in most cases. I hope you enjoy my view of Manchester.
CyclistsWW1 memorial Piccadilly stationPhotographing along the canalLook no handsG-A-YThe 8th DayLight and shadows on the canalFlowers on the canalYoung people on the canal
I, also, found myself getting caught up in this rollercoaster of a celebration of the motorway junction. Following on from my recent visit to the junction, IgersbirminghamUK organised a photographic meeting for the week of the celebrations. Just under 40 photographers arrived on a Sunday morning to be briefed on the planned photographic walk under the M6. The group photograph was a popular picture and was even featured by the national IgersUK Instagram page. All the photographs taken during the walk may be found under the Instagram hashtag #igbuk_meet_spagjunction. There are some very good pictures that show the relatively unseen world underneath the Spaghetti Junction.
IgersbirminghamUK participantsThe quietness of the canal with the Junction in the distance (selected for the BBC England’s Big Picture).A view of the columns holding up the Motorway.Nature is reclaiming the area underneath the Spaghetti Junction.
The events of the meeting were recorded by the BBC and the report by reporter Laura Mcmullan featured interviews with me and other photographers. Following the publication of the BBC news item, I was invited by the University of Birmingham to write an article on what lies below the Spaghetti Junction from a photographic viewpoint.
Broken glass in Salford CircusDiscarded and broken shopping trolley.
Although I was busy with the organisation of the meeting, I did have time to take a few pictures myself as featured in this blog. I wonder what the place will be like in another 50 years. Meanwhile, I know that I will be passing over the Junction in the future as I hurtle in and out of Birmingham.
I always wonder how I miss local attractions when I have lived in the area for most of my life. Kingsbury water park and Drayton Manor Park are near to each other and the family has enjoyed many days out in both places. What I had overlooked over the years is Middleton lakes which is owned by the RSPB and is situated between the other two major venues. The RSPB reserve is next to the Bodymoor Heath Aston Villa training grounds and adjacent to Middleton Hall. The latter was closed when I visited but the RSPD car park was open and once there, I set off to explore the reserve.
Birds on a feederLet’s hop between the twoWith the addition of a woodpecker
My first port of call was the bird feeders and as I placed myself behind the hide, several birds visited included blue tits and a woodpecker. I had brought along my 400mm zoom lens and was able to get some good close ups. My walk up the river path took me to the Birmingham and Fazerley canal. The path took me past some nooks and crannies near to the river. Here I was able to stand in the woods and get some great pictures of the birds who came along.
A chaffinch in the woodsA robin says hello
I walked past the canal onto the flatlands and there were hundreds of seagulls flying around although there were a few other birds such as Canada geese present. I did spot my first butterfly of the season, an orange tip. The reserve is well set out and you can get good views of wildlife. I spotted swans, herons and partridges although I was not quick enough with my camera for some of them.
The wetlands at Middleton LakesThe wetlandsBlowing in the breezeOrange tip butterflyFlying geese and my aerial shots need some more practice.
I did enjoy the visit but was left frustrated as I did not capture the flying birds as well as I had hoped. As I walked back reflecting on how to get better images, there were two ducks on the canal bridge walls. Getting my iPhone out I took a close-up picture of the birds before they moved on.
What are you staring at?Hope you enjoy the view.
My duck stare picture did get a positive set of viewing on my social media channels. The picture of the lakes was featured on the lunchtime BBC weather report. These features made for a satisfying end of my visit to Middleton Lakes.
My picture feature on BBC Midlands weather report.
What lies below is a theme for this and my next blog. Spaghetti Junction is 50 years old in May 2022. Millions of car drivers pass over Spaghetti Junction as they hurtle past Birmingham. Many are on the M6 heading north or south to their destination with no thought about what is below. For others the Aston Expressway is the main northern route into Birmingham and is a spur off the Junction. The sprawl of roads spit out cars to Erdington and 6 ways along the Tyburn Road. People live in Gravelly Hill immediately adjacent to the junction. The area is a mixture of concrete, noise and fumes. The Junction celebrates 50 years in May and at the time was seen as a landmark construction. Over the years it has become synonymous with Birmingham.
The layers of the Junction from the River Tame to the Signs for the Aston Expressway
As a photographer what lies below is much more interesting and is seldom seen from above. The first part of the junction to investigate is Salford circus which is the link roundabout for many of the local roads to the motorway. It is not clear what the planners had in mind but the inner pedestrian area of the junction is an unfriendly concrete jungle. It is covered in litter and graffiti tagging. It is not a place to visit alone and luckily my photographic colleague John Bray was with me. The concrete pillars are giants holding up the roads above. The area is under attack and the hero is nature as it attempts to reclaim the area.
What wonders what the planners had in mind for the underpasses.The sound of broken glassNature is fighting back on the concrete.Tagging and signsHaving someone with you when visiting is essential.
Kicking our way through the rubbish we make ouir way through the underpasses and cross the busy junction to reach the canal access steps. Running under the Motorway the canals also make a junction. There is where three canals come together namely the Birmingham and Fazeley, the Tame Valley and the Birmingham and Warwick Junction canals. Flowing alongside the canals is the River Tame. The area has numerous bridges criss crossing the canal and the light peeks through vents above. There are grafitti strewn around the place. Cyclists and walkers move around in a surreal dance. Walking eastwards the Motorway passes Star City and the area is reminiscent of many TV programmes. This is probably because a great deal of car chase filming takes place around here.
Concrete everywhereAccess to the canalStarting to explore underneath.A view of the Star City entertainment complexA place where many movies car chases are filmed.
Moving westwards there is a bridge tunnel where there is graffiti which in the past was renowned for its beauty and craftsmanship in previous years. When we visited, there was just a white washed wall with a prison window. I am unsure of the meaning of this painting. The site is used as there is a shaft of light that comes down from above the junction onto the canalside.
Underneath the heart of the junction.The “prison window” graffiti. Reflections and stagnations in the water.The deep green canal.Traffic thunders above.Constant repair of the road structure goes on.Looking back along the canal.Bolts hold the roads together.
The canal path leads under all the roads that form the Junction and there is repair work on several of the bridges. A path along the Aston Expressway eventually comes out onto Aston reservoir. This is a hidden feature in the shadows of the Motorway. It is relatively peaceful and a contrast to the distant noise of the traffic. Moving along the perimeter and keeping the river Tame in view, there are trees and shrubs which are reclaiming the land underneath the tarmac. This becomes the end of our journey underneath Spaghetti junction, and we head home back on the M6.
Aston ReservoirSpring Blossom against the concrete pillars.
There are likely to be birthday celebrations on its big 50 birthday but meanwhile here is a BBC link celebrating 40 years.
I just love taking pictures of street art around the West Midlands. As a companion piece to my photographic walk around Royal Leamington Spa, this is a detailed look at the street art around the Grand Union Canal area. There are several wall murals that are worth highlighting and many are curated by the Brink Street Art group. Each is interesting and whilst I know some of the artists, the vast majority I am unsure about. I have put down the Instagram link to Brink Street Art Group if you wish to find out more about these images. I will update the blog to give the recognition to the artist and their mural so please contact me. If you are visiting Leamington Spa, then they are worth a visit to see.
Those eyes!The pen is mightier….Almost Neon light eyesCheese, cat and a mouse. @JulesMuck
BalancingAcross the canal.A pair of eyes.Crow in the moonlight.The beauty of swans.Colourful street art by N4t4
Poppy field in Bewdley Postcard£3.00
Bluebells pin buttons£12.00 – £14.00
Colour Splash – Wine tumbler£24.50
