There is one certainty in Birmingham: Digbeth always changes. For anyone interested in Digbeth photography, this makes the area endlessly fascinating. New buildings appear, artwork evolves, and the streets never look the same from one visit to the next.
New Buildings Transforming Digbeth
One of the most noticeable recent developments is the new block of flats being built opposite the Custard Factory. The building stands on the former site of the old Peugeot Garage and Irish Centre. From a photography point of view, this construction is already changing sightlines and creating new contrasts between old and new Digbeth. We wait and see if these contrasts are really beneficial to the area.
Cranes overlook Digbeth
As more people live closer to the city centre, Digbeth continues to evolve into a place where work, culture, and residential life sit side by side.
Digbeth adds extra colour to where we live. @MrPenfold
Street Art Through a Photographer’s Lens
For Digbeth photography, the street art is a major draw. New shops and restaurants continue to open, while the artwork on the walls constantly changes. Because there are only a limited number of spaces, older murals are often painted over to make way for new designs. Some murals stay the same.
Fresh graffiti now sits alongside long-standing pieces. In some areas, heavy tagging covers earlier murals in a more random style. Even so, bold colours and striking shapes continue to dominate, making Digbeth a living canvas for urban photography.
Love this artwork from @miscfitFigure in the Archway.Arch reflections (artists unknown)
Photographing a Changing District
This post is a roundup of some of the new scenes and artwork I’ve photographed recently. Wherever possible, I’ve credited the artists. If any credits are missing, please leave a comment and I’ll update the post.
The yellow door (artwork @phithblake and @Fum.ArmadaBike lineup (artist unknown)Blue mural on the walls of the Red Brick Market (artist unknown)
I’ll be back in the new year to focus once again on Digbeth photography during the blue hour, which is one of my favourite times to capture the light and shadows in this changing part of Birmingham. One thing remains true — Digbeth always changes.
I follow Imbue on Instagram and enjoy his thought-provoking artwork. Over the last few weeks, my Instagram feed went wild with notifications about his forthcoming exhibition. The images circulating included the Mona Lisa as viewed on mobile phones and a horse constructed from Amazon boxes. The exhibition was called ‘Lost All Meaning’, so I headed down to Digbeth to see the artwork. I do enjoy contemporary art. Having lived through the glam rock, punk and new romantic music movements, the album covers were always treasured. Imbue’s work captures much of that excitement and brings it right up to date.
The exhibition space for the Imbue artwork.
I arrived at the building on Floodgate Street and was immediately drawn to the walls where Imbue had arranged his work. A food and drinks machine was set up to dispense “faith healing” drugs. I bought a pack from the machine dispenser, and inside the blister pack, the tablets were arranged in the shape of a cross. This religious theme ran throughout the exhibition, with pieces such as The Fall of Man (UV print on a used MacBook lid) and McChurch, which, when cut out, resembles a McDonald’s Happy Meal box. The 100 Phones exhibit depicting the Mona Lisa was remarkable, though it makes me feel I really must go and see the actual Mona Lisa now!
Faithhealers make a cross.Mc Church which if brought allows you the option to but out and make a box.Close up of the 100 phones Mona Lisa.
Many of the prints were mounted on the wall and arranged in a 3-by-3 grid, including Leonardo da Vinci–inspired printed circuit boards with images of the Mona Lisa, Salvator Mundi, and Saint John the Baptist. Kids with Guns used shooting targets with added Mickey Mouse ears, a powerful indictment of the world’s current gun problems. Nearby was a bullet encased in a bottle, designed to be used in a 3D-printed gun.
Leonardo da Vinci seriesShooting targets for kids. A bullet for a 3D printed gun.
The theme of 3D printing ran through the exhibition, with the interplay of technology and everyday life presented not only to shock but also to make you think.
Liquidising Alexa which I have to admit is such a good idea.
Two large exhibits dominated the centre of the warehouse. The horse made from Amazon boxes must have stood 12 metres tall, as shown in the photos. Quite a few home deliveries were needed to construct this horse. To my mind, it resembled a Trojan Horse. Very fitting, as we bring Amazon boxes into our homes without a moment’s thought.
The Amazon Boxes Horse.
The other large exhibit was a veiled statue that Imbue had secretly scanned during a visit to the Louvre. The replica of Antonio Corradini’s Femme Voilée rotated in front of a bank of 3D printers. Small white statues were being printed and stored in a box, ready to be sold. This work raised many questions: how is it possible to scan such famous statues and then make them accessible to all? Did Imbue “steal” the statue from the Louvre, or is this simply how art will be shared in the future?
The veiled lady in front of a bank of 3D printing machines.A reflection of the veiled lady in the 3D printing window.The one that I want.
There were many other exhibits, too many to describe in detail. There are several accounts of the exhibition on the Internet each featuring their favoured artwork.
Personally, my favourite work was DNArk. I am currently watching a cheesy but entertaining TV series on the Syfy channel called The Ark, where the last of humanity is sent into space carrying the DNA of the animal world. Imbue’s artwork consists of a transparent boat with multiple rows of red vials representing DNA samples. It left me wondering: how are we going to preserve the world’s DNA if we keep destroying the environment?
DNArk
The bonus of the visit was meeting Imbue himself and taking his picture. He was open to conversation and happy to discuss his artwork and the ideas behind it. The exhibition only ran for a few days, but I will be on the lookout for his future work. Imbue has created artwork that resonates with today’s technology, cleverly weaving in references to past masters while exploring how we interact with the modern world. The role of religion seems to have morphed into technology, as people reinvent the world around them.
The artist, Imbue.
As a photographer, I appreciated how the exhibition was staged against the backdrop of an old industrial engineering workshop. The natural light from the ceiling windows and the texture of the walls provided the perfect setting for the artwork. As always, I used my X100VI for most of the pictures, whilst favouring my iPhone’s wide-angle lens for the overall views.
Lost all Meaning.
I found this exhibition space interesting as last year I was at the same place for the final day of the Floodgate an entertainment complex. As ever Digbeth changes and I have added my blog link below.
This photography exhibition celebrated the work of Henry Chalfant Living in New York City in the early seventies and eighties. Chalfant befriended the newly emerging Graffiti artists who were painting the subway trains. The city was run down and there was rampant crime and homelessness. Businesses left the city leaving behing areas with problems of drugs and homelessness. The subway system reflected this period of decay with fewer people willing to risk journeys due to crime and train breakdowns. Young people started spray painting the trains in the depots. This upset New Yorkers who did not like the tagging of the subway trains as to them it epitomised the depth of decay.
The Exhibition Entrance featured the photography of Henry Chalfont.
I remember visiting Manhattan in 1980 and 1988. There were still no-go areas such as the area around Alphabet City and I visited St Patrick’s cathedral the day after a killing in the church. But I do remember the exciting and energetic Greenwich Village gay parade that took place during my visit in 1988. There was a feeling of new life and the city was regenerating and rediscovering itself.
The details of the subway carriages. Many of these designs are gone but recorded as pictures.
Roll forward 40 plus years and the young spray painters are now world-renowned artists. The exciting music scene of Hip Hop sprung out from this period.
The set out and curation of the pictures was cleverly done.
The Epic Story of Graffiti was held in one of the empty department stores in the Bullring. This was brought to Birmingham by Birmingham Hippodrome and Soul City Arts. On opening night, this colourful exhibition brought Chalfont to Birmingham and the pictorial history of graffiti and hip hop was celebrated. The exhibition was curated by one of our very own street artists, Muhammed Ali Aerosol. I visited on a quiet mid-week morning and had the place to myself. A visually striking display of countless trains tagged with graffiti was on a long display board. I found it fascinating looking at all the artistic designs sprayed on the trains. Chalfont had paid attention to small details such as lining up all the trains in numerical order.
Watching the video on Hip Hop.
There were pictures of the young artists and moving displays that made you feel as if you were in an underground station. I sat and watched a video about hip hop and interviews with the young New Yorkers excitedly telling the interviewer about their life. I also enjoyed reading the quotes that were placed around the exhibition.
Ready for Hip HopThis quote is so true.
I had spent time before the exhibition opened photographing the Graffiti in Digbeth so I was in the right space to appreciate the brilliant photography of Henry Chalfont and what the exhibition had to offer. There is a further in depth review by BBC Birmingham.
Finally a nostalgic view of the streets of NYC from 1980 when I visited as I student.
Streets of NYC, August 1980.
I love to photography Graffiti and Digbeth offers the best of the street art in the City. Here is one of my blogs on Digbeth.
I am always on the lookout for new street art in Digbeth and on social media I learnt that there was new artwork by Fokawolf under one of the railway arches. Another popular street artist, Gent48 frequently puts out vibrant murals and his new artwork was mentioned in recent instagram posts. My third reason for a visit was to take a look at the Colour Palette of Digbeth by Stacey Barnfield. This made it the perfect time for one of my regular visits to Digbeth, giving me the chance to refine my street photography techniques. I have experimented with different ways of capturing people, and a recent visit to London had proved quite successful. Now it was time to see whether the streets of Digbeth would be just as receptive.
Story by the arches.
The railway arches are a defining feature of Digbeth and often make a strong impression in photographing the area. I took the opportunity to capture the stories that unfolded beneath them. My Fujifilm X100VI was set up with back-button focusing, and as the sun was shining, I attached my Urth polarising filter to cut down on glare. The resulting images tell distinct stories, and I was pleased with how they turned out.
Twist again and again.
When searching for street photography opportunities, the combination of artwork and typography is incredibly helpful. Timing is everything. I try to blend into the background. Focusing away from the subject while drawing them into the story is often a delicate balancing act.
Let us sort the city out.Red Brick Market soaking up the sun.The colours of Gent48
Eventually, I found the Fokawolf piece—a large printout of the Chuckle Brothers pasted under the arches on Heath Mill Lane. Although I took many shots of people passing by the artwork, I was not satisfied with the initial results. Then I noticed someone approaching down the road. I waited in position. This is a useful technique: appearing to photograph the artwork and then capturing the subject as they enter the frame. I pretend I am still waiting for the right moment, even though I have already taken the shot. This approach only works in certain situations, but when it does, it can be very effective.
The chuckle brothers by Fokawolf.
I also took some close-ups and other images of the surrounding streets. Digbeth naturally lends itself to photography. The colours of the street art are vibrant, and the architectural features add depth and texture. Messages on the walls and passing people add narrative and character to the photographs.
The colour palette of Digbeth.Close ups of Digbeth.The dentist in me appreciated this close upThe green heart of Digbeth
Enjoy my latest venture into Digbeth, and there are more adventures and photography in Digbeth in my blog.
While organising a walk for the photographic group Negative Space, we explored Digbeth using the canals as our guide. After lunch, we headed back into town, walking via Shaw’s Passage. I was pleasantly surprised to find the community garden open, so as a group, we went in.
The entrance to the community garden
The garden is a small green space situated close to the HS2 works. In fact, the HS2 project is not particularly welcomed here, as one of my pictures shows. The walls of the garden are adorned with street murals several of which I have always wanted to see. Such colourful images add to the space’s character. A path around the perimeter leads to the back walls, where I met one of the volunteers, who was dressed as a bumblebee. (I have forgotten his name, though I believe it began with an H.) His striking yellow-and-black costume stood out, and he was more than happy to have his photograph taken.
Street art and bath tubsA resident bee keeperHS2 is not welcome hereArt on the walls
Compost was the main topic of conversation that day. A few members of Negative Space were particularly enthusiastic about learning how the volunteers in the garden produce and distribute the compost. As it was early March, spring was only just beginning to emerge, so much of the garden’s work was focused on preparation. At the heart of the space is a beehive, though activity there was also just beginning.
Discussing the merits of compost.Watering can at the ready.Bee hive and flags
My aim is to return in the summer when the garden will be in full bloom and compare my photos from then to now. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my record of this visit.
I love January days when there is a clear blue sky and the weather is dry and crisp. We have had a few cold days like these, which have also featured bright sunrises and warm sunsets. January is also a great time to photograph the streets of Digbeth. Warm colours are created as the sun sets, highlighting the character of the old industrial brick buildings of the area. The brickwork soaks up the light and emits a deep warm glow. Checking my TPE, I found that the setting sun aligns along Floodgate Street during the golden hour.
Long shadows starting to form along Floodgate Street.The Moon above Spiderman at Luna Springs
Wrapping up warm with plenty of layers of clothing, I arrived at Moor Street Station. My route to Digbeth took me past the old Typhoo tea factory, which is under renovation and will soon become the new Midlands headquarters for the BBC. Along the way, I met fellow photographer Simon MacCreedy, who was out with his trusty Pentax. We caught up on the latest news and talked about our photography. Simon specialises in black and white photography, and his work is worth exploring, especially on his @Macindigbeth Instagram account.
Striding towards with ambition.
After saying our goodbyes, I headed to Little Ann Street. The sun was low, and only the tops of buildings were still bathed in light. Shadows crept across the street but had not yet obscured the words “Striving forward with ambition,” painted on the side of the Performers and Screen and Film School building, part of the BIMM Music Institute group. The sign was created by FokaWolf, a subversive street artist known for parody and satire.
Adam and his mate flagged me down and asked for a picture of them in their car. They had heard of @dammodammo.Long shadows in the sunset.A billboard with a message seen on the High Street.
On Floodgate Street, long shadows stretched behind pedestrians walking along the pavements. Having taking a few pictures, I walked over the canal to Montague street to visit the Digbeth Loc. Studios where the filming of the forthcoming “Peaky Blinders” movie is taking place. The film studios were established by Steven Knight and he commissioned Mr Murals to paint a mural the building of the iconic Peaky Blinders characters. The hand-painted street art features the characters, Thomas Shelby, Ada Shelby, and Alfie Solomons, with a scene of Birmingham from the past behind Thomas Shelby. It is a fantastic piece of art, though not the easiest building to photograph.
Part of the Peaky Blinder mural on Montague Street.The eyes have it, Alfie, Ada and Thomas.
Back on Gibb Street and Floodgate Street, the sun had almost set. I lingered, taking pictures, and noticed the sky beginning to change colour as the blue hour approached. Standing at the entrance to Gibb Street, I saw the city’s high-rise buildings silhouetted against the deepening blue sky. Searching for the best view, I crossed over the high street to the newly laid tram tracks. Standing on the tracks I saw classic leading lines that conveniently pointed back towards the city. I know that his would be a good picture. After activating the RAW function on my iPhone for the most detailed information, I captured several shots and was very pleased with the resulting pictures.
The tracks of the city.
The temperature was dropping fast, but I was determined to photograph more of Digbeth during the blue hour. The contrast between the warm streetlights and the cool blue sky created vibrant, colourful scenes. Eventually, the cold won, and I retreated to the warm carriages of a train back to Olton for dinner at my daughter’s house. Reflecting on the day, the two to three hours spent in Digbeth were worthwhile and added another chapter to my photographic diary of this dynamic area of Birmingham.
The yellows and blues along Floodgate Street.The classic view of Gibb Street.Yo Birmingham
I have done many visits to Digbeth and I am spoilt for choice. I have narrowed down my selection of my two more popular blogs on Digbeth. I hope you enjoy reading them. My first choice is a visit to Digbeth in January 2024 but the setting is in the morning. My second is a study of the street art and the pictures were taken during the day in July 2020. Enjoy!
The winter months are an ideal time to photograph Digbeth. The lights that criss-cross the main streets are a feature of the area and are turned off around 8am. Just before this happens, the white lights stand out against the “blue hour” sky. At this time of the day, the colourful streets are enriched by the light of the dawn. The next ingredient for a good photograph in Digbeth is when rainfall has happened in the previous few days. Digbeth has several large puddles which provide ideal opportunities for reflections. Over the years, I have learnt where these puddles are likely to occur.
Floodgate street in the blue hour.Fancy a game?Classic puddle photography in Gibb Street.More classic views of Gibb Street.Green lights
My urban photography is done with wither my iPhone or Fujifilm x100vi. The pictures in this blog are from both cameras and you should be able to distinguish between the two picture styles that they produce. The iPhone gives vibrant colours whilst the Fujifilm gives a grittier feel to the pictures. I like both effects.
The colourful smiley by Tempo33 on Hack StreetMore Hack Street graffiti.This art by Golden Boy is still there on Hack Street.
Arriving in Digbeth, I plan to walk around the following streets, Lower Trinity, Gibb and Floodgate. I do visit other streets that lead off from the crucial three as these pictures show. The street art in Digbeth constantly changes. Newer pieces appear, older artwork gets tagged whilst some of the murals remain untouched. When photographing in Digbeth, I try to capture the interactions of the locals with the street activities. There are a few people moving around on their way to work at the Custard Factory or the industry units around the area. Pre pandemic the area was very busy but post pandemic people are working from home so the footfall is less. However I am still able to capture people on the street. I am building up a large portfolio of images from Digbeth although I am not alone and many other photographers pitch up on the streets. The area still retains its charms and I see the slow but persistent march of gentrification which is changing the Digbeth scene. I hope the area still retains the charm that makes Digbeth a place to visit in Birmingham.
Your friendly neighbourhood……Follow the leader.Seen on Adderley Street (part 1)Seen on Adderley Street (part 2)Easy Rider on Upper Trinity Street.Trainvaders, Lower Trinity StreetMade in Digbeth, Lower Trinity Street
Technique used for my puddle photography
The iPhone is ideal for this style of reflective photography. The lenses can be placed close to the surface of the puddle to provide a perfect reflection. The technique I employ, once I have located an ideal puddle, is to orientate the phone in landscape with the 3 lenses placed to the bottom right for the picture. The iPhone has no flip out screen so bending down is necessary which may be difficult when you are standing in a large puddle. I generally use the standard view or the wide angled setting. Care is needed not to place the iPhone lenes so low that they touch the water. The focus may start jumping to the nearest point in the puddle which will leads to blurring of the background. Looking at the screen is difficult, so some guesswork of where you are focussing and handling the phone is necessary. I must keep remembering to toggle the RAW setting although the resulting pictures on standard Live View are of sufficient quality to withstand the post editing.
Sticker wall still going strong.More views of Floodgate Street with only a few cars around.
If you want more views of Digbeth then follow my links through the blog posts below.
The Floodgate featured in one of my favourite pictures which was taken in Floodgate street during the early hours of morning. Although I had never been inside the venue, I have passed the front entrance on many occasions during my photographic visits to Digbeth. When I heard that The Floodgate was closing then I knew that I had to photograph the place before it closed. On a Friday afternoon, which was the penultimate day of the venue being open, I ventured into the place and brought a drink at the bar. I asked the staff whether I could take photographs of the inside and they kindly said that I could go ahead. So a big thank you to them for this blog.
Baseball cagesThe Floodgate RacewayBeth who works at the Floodgate with artwork in the background.
The Floodgate is one large games entertainment venue with curling, baseball, table golf and model car racing amongst the sports that punters can take part in. I met Beth who worked in the Floodgate. Beth explained that the Floodgate was closing due to the sky-high rent. When Beth told me the figures that they were being charged for rent then it is no surprise that independents are struggling. Digbeth is undergoing changes and the early success of independents has attracted larger businesses who want a slice of the action. Digbeth is becoming a very popular part of Birmingham (if it was not popular already). There are plans for several high rise residences to be built in the vicinity. Many of the old warehouses and industrial units are being earmarked for demolition with a complete revamp of the area planned. Already the Boxpark franchise will be pumping 5 million pounds under the nearby railway arches that will create bars and restaurants. The independents have difficulty in matching this sort of investment.
The Floodgate had only just opened for the evening and apart from a few customers playing curling, I had the place to myself for taking pictures. The Floodgate has one large bar area situated in the main warehouse. Table tops are in the form of baseballs and colourful murals adorn the walls. There are baseball cages and an impressive model car racing track. The latter has a set of seats complete with steering wheels where people can control the model cars they see in front of them around the track.
You never know who you will meet in the darkWith a little help from my friendsHole 18 – Table GolfThe Trotter’s car and other lights.
Leading off from the main warehouse, there are two games areas . The walls are covered with colourful graffiti art that glows in the UV light. The area is a psychedelic experience and the Jimi Hendrix song Purple Haze came to mind. I enjoyed taking pictures with both my cameras, the Fujifilm x100vi and my iPhone. This is where the new Fujifilm with IBIS worked well. Such pictures taken in low light with this camera would have been impossible without a tripod in the past. The iPhone is well known for its low light photography, The curling lanes were surrounded by lights and a ceiling of springs. The table golf set up looked impressive when set against the graffiti. The area was a little spooky with no people present. Beth did tell me that there were stories about ghosts in the warehouse and occasionally I felt a presence as I wandered around the darkly lit areas of the table golf rooms.
Outside CurlingGlory DaysNHS Angel wings in the light
Under the arches
The outside area has more curling lanes and baseball cages that are set against a backdrop of the towering railway arches. The cameras now had to deal with strong light and harsh shadows as for once it was not raining.
My final shot was of Beth and other staff in the bar area. It is sad to see such places closing but I guess this is progress. The early charm of Digbeth with venues taking advantage of the old industrial warehouses is slowly disappearing. The Floodgate is an example of creating different types of entertainment. Such places will disappear and be replaced with new shiny establishments that will cater for most of the new residents that will be entering Digbeth.
Beth with the Floodgate bar in the background
Floodgate Street
If you enjoyed this blog then please take a look at my other Digbeth entries starting with Digbeth Art from July 2020
Initially the weather forecast for St Patrick’s Day was rain but someone must have had a word with heaven. The rain stopped and the sun started to show itself from behind the clouds. Bradford Street in Birmingham is as straight as a die and runs parallel to Digbeth High street. At the top of the hill by Trinity Church, the floats, dignitaries and people were congregating.
The Lord Mayor by one of the Irish banners.Getting ready to paradeReady to sing Dirty Ole Town by the Pogues .Irish DancersThe Dana FanclubSitting in the cabDrum ReadyIn the greenAll those flagsPeaky BlindersThe day was warmSwan ready
The entry code was you had to wear something green and St Patrick was there overseeing the proceedings. The Peaky Blinders were behaving themselves and they had brought their own police force. Irish dancers and marching bands were adding to the entertainment. There were a group of dancers who had flown in from Bolivia. Their costumes contributed to the colourful noise around them. The scooters were polished so well that you got blinded by the reflections from the chrome work and mirrors. The floats were being loaded up and the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress were greeting everyone and having their picture taken. With so many photographers around it was not long before the West Midland Mayor, Andy Street made an appearance. Everyone was so friendly and the atmosphere was one of excitement and merriment.
The parade on Bradford StreetThe BRMB bus loaded with dignitaries The Guinness hats were everywhereHaving fun was the aim of the day.Which will it be?
Then the parade was due to start so we rushed down the street to St Anne’s church. People were lining the barriers as you went down the hill towards the city centre. Even the dogs were dressed up in the Irish tricolour flag. The parade was long and varied, stopping every so often to let the marching bands and the Irish dancers demonstrate their skills. People waved towards the floats and people in the floats waved back. Everyone was so happy.
Dancing in the greenChrome workTaking time out.Leprechauns and MinionsBolivian coloursWaving to the crowdsShane McGowan by Tat VisionJust hanging aroundColours galore
. Some of the big names in construction were there including Murphy’s and Mahoney’s. The Irish came over to Birmingham and contributed to making the city an industrial powerhouse. The parade reflected this contribution and everyone reacted to celebrating the rich history of Birmingham. These pictures are my own interpretation. At an event such as the St Patrick’s Day parade every type of photographer is out and about. BBC teams and local newspapers, amateur photography organisations and the casual mobile phone snapper were in their element. Everyone wants their photograph taken.
The line up in a floatThe builders’ merchant (even I have used them)I am getting tired now.It was not just people who were having fun.
The BBC coverage is the best starting point for a record of the day’s events although a quick search of St Patrick’s Day Parade, Birmingham will open up many more.
BBC account of the parade
The next parade in Birmingham will be Pride 2024 and here is my account from last year.
Digbeth is known for streets of light and the area looks it best when the sky is dark. But not too dark. An ideal time to take photographs is during the blue hour. The warm yellows of the streetlights reflect on the colourful buildings. I watched a PhotoPills YouTube video on the Art of Travel Photography. The guest photographer was Scott Stulberg who said if you want to get the best pictures then you have to go out at night. So my first blog of 2024 is all about Digbeth in January.
Early workers walking down Gibb StreetMama Roux’sXOYO
The blue hour is great but you must get up early and that is not easy unless you plan to go out in January. The sun rises at around 8 o’clock and therefore you can get into the city early and be ready for the golden hour. The rewards are many and I know this, as last year my photograph of Floodgate Street taken on an early January morning was “Highly recommended” in the Landscape Photographer of the Year awards in 2023. Making sure I was there at the right time helped. If you are lucky enough to be around after a night of rain then the streets light up with multiple reflections. My aim as always is to be different but also to fit in a few of those classic views.
Iconic DigbethYellow TongueOnly in Digbeth
Arriving in Digbeth early in January I was hoping that Floodgate street and Trinity Street lights would be on but I was disappointed. The lights were off but I guess it was a Monday morning. However Gibb street was ablaze with lights and this is where I concentrated my efforts on my picture taking. I walked up and down Gibb Street looking for pictures of the shop windows and the street art. There were a few people moving around and coming into work at the Custard Factory. My cameras were the trusty Fujifilm x100v and my iPhone 15 proMax. I set up my mini tripod for some of the pictures with the x100v and went for high ISO to catch the people moving around. I did move around Floodgate and Lower Trinity Street to take pictures as there were still some neon lights on to assist early risers to find their way to the Custard Factory.
Shiny Digbeth
Lingering and loitering is a good plan as I waited for people to pass through entrances. I aimed to catch their silhouettes against the street art. Some photographers advise to have your camera on burst function so as to capture several pictures. In this way you capture the moment. However, I like to take in the surroundings and press the shutter button when I am ready. Yes I miss a few pictures but I am generally happy with what I get.
The Green ManDJ GymChanging Street Art – this is Mike Skinner and the Streets by Robbie Jeffcott. Those eyes…..Window ShoppingBaked in BrickDetails on the railings.Details on the wallsBlinking of an eye on Floodgate Street
The neon lights throw up some strong colours as my pictures show. I took many more pictures before the daylight overcame the night. The buildings reverted to a grey colour and Monday daytime was beginning. The time had come to move on and find a hot cup of coffee to warm me up.
Looking back along Gibb Street
Postscript – This is another of my Digbeth picture series which are a popular read. Please check them out below.
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