The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition visited the Waterhall in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. This is the second year that I seen WPOTY, and the images were just as impressive as those shown last year at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry. The photographs were incredibly powerful, and the exhibition is a must-see.
A Christmas arch at the entrance to the marketPermanent and temporary architecture.
As we had a late afternoon slot at the museum, we decided to stay in Birmingham for the early evening. Our first stop was The Sun on the Hill. The pub had a lively buzz and offered a selection of interesting beers. However, we were eager to visit The Pigeon in the Park, a pop-up pub within the Cathedral Christmas Market.
Street scene from the market.Helta skeltaAngels singingThe Pigeon
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In my opinion, this Christmas market is a much better option than the Frankfurt German Market, which tends to be overcrowded. While the prices are still high, they are comparable to those at the main German Market. I prefer the area around the Cathedral as it is easier to move around. There are several excellent food stalls, and, of course, the famous pop-up pub.
StreetfoodMaking your mind up.Steam cookingDecisions, decisionsWandering through the stalls
The top floor of The Pigeon in the Park offers a panoramic view of the activity in Cathedral Square. Sipping a pint while people-watching is a great pastime. Groups often gather, hopeful of securing a table on the balcony. Below, the stalls are bustling, and the delicious aroma of cooking wafts up to the pub.
Light movement
The Pigeon in the Park is a fantastic spot to enjoy a drink on a cold winter’s night in Birmingham.
Rob at WPOTYOn the balcony
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If may wish to see what Birmingham looked like last Christmas as I have a blog about it.
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.
The Majors Green viaduct.
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.
Red car over the Drawbridge Can you read the noticeboard?
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.
It is rude to stare.Can’t you see I am fishing.Yes I am!
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.
Looking over the aqueduct.Is that a heron or a flamingo?Slow down, take a seat and watch the world go round.A bus passing along the High Street over the canal.Under the bridge.
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.
Stop
I have several posts on the Stratford-upon-Avon canal and I have included a link to the Kingswood junction which is further south.
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.
China Lane
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.
Overlooking the Rochdale canal from Ducie Street
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.
Manchester mural on the Rochdale canal by MehaArtThe cobbled towpath along the Rochdale CanalThe Kitty bridge central to all the reflections.
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.
I ‘m not a number.New Islington and a part of Manchester that I had not seen before.Artwork outside the Cafe Halle
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.
Through the arch, the new world beckons.Underneath the rail and tram tracks at Castlefield.Street artists, Dillon and Dutch (aka @dndwalls)Graffiti backdrop for the film set.Rings and torsoSteel circlesDiscarded dollsThe surreal installation being put on one of the steel bridge supports
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Portrait of Teresa one of the participants helping in the installations being set up.
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 panorama of the Deansgate buildings with the canal basin in the foreground.Tony standing in front of the Tram bridge.An enthusiastic resident says hello.Another view of the old and new buildings.Looking up the Rochdale canal.
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.
Bridge over Castlefield BasinFuturistic Manchester
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.
A bear at Tony Wilson placeA snapshot of the buildings overlooking Mayfield Park.
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.
A last look at Piccadilly station.
So this was my recent view of Manchester and you may wish to view my last visit to the city in 2022. Enjoy
The shop designers at Selfridges Birmingham are always ahead of the game when Christmas arrives. Yes I know Christmas is arriving earlier and earlier each year. These pictures were taken on 4th November when we went in for a shopping expedition. I love the ground floor of Selfridges and the attention to detail is wonderful to see. Seeing the Christmas decorations reminds me of when I was growing up in Manchester as a young boy, my parents took me into Kendals department store on Deansgate. I was so excited to see the store’s decorations and the feeling of expectation of what Father Christmas may bring me.
The Selfridges’ Christmas TreeThe lights and the reflective spheres.
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When we visited, the first port of call was the ground floor to see the various shops all set up for Christmas. I enjoy seeing the Lego sets (yes the boy in me is still there), looking at the Christmas cards and this time checking out the extensive Jellycats stand. I also visited the White company as I know that is the place Sandy likes. I was planning ahead for her birthday and Christmas in the next few months.
Having a marmalade sandwich with Paddington.
We had brunch at the Medicine Bakery. Before Covid, I had a dental clinic at Boots every Monday. I used to spend an hour taking photographs before arriving at the Medicine Bakery for a coffee and a croissant. Then I hotfooted across town to Boots to start the day. Their pastries are wonderfully light and the filling is delicious. Just outside the café, Paddington was on a bench eating marmalade sandwiches. It would be rude not to have a picture of Siân and Mason with Paddington.
The Bull at Selfridges.
The Selfridges Bull, not to be confused with the Bullring bull, was sporting some splendid Christmas decorations. The rest of the shopping centre was also getting into the spirit of Christmas and I am sure that I will be back again several times over the festive period.
The Bull Ring shopping Centre is quiet on a Monday morning before the Christmas Shopping begins.
There will be many more blog posts before Christmas but if you wish to revisit Christmas 2023 then I have the following link for you to visit.
The Jewellery Quarter is a picturesque part of Birmingham. In the centre of the neighbourhood are two cemeteries, Warstone Lane and Key Hill. Both graveyards are the resting place to the great and the good of Birmingham. During the day they are a quiet tranquil place where the peace is occasionally interrupted by workers from the Jewellery Quarter taking their lunch break. At weekends, there are groups of people touring the cemeteries. At night, the place is an ideal setting for more ghostly happenings.
The candlelit path to the catacombsThe Warstone Lane catacombs with lights and pumpkins.The pumpkins on display with the different carvings.
The JQ BID put together a Pumpkin Extravaganza which was centred around the catacombs at Warstone Lane Cemetery. IgersbirminghamUK were invited to take photographs of the event. The evening included visiting the various stalls that had set out their Halloween displays. Activities included the opportunity to carve your own pumpkin. The Friends of Warstone Lane and Key Hill cemeteries had put out a display of skulls and other interesting spooky objects. The Coffin Works were demonstrating how to make badges using techniques normally used on coffins.
A hearse on displayMake your own medalFriends
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A frightened pumpkin
There were tours of the catacombs and our guide, Josie, gave us a historical background to the area plus a few ghost stories as well. The low light made photography difficult but there were still many opportunities for pictures from the lights of the Pumpkins which were arranged in front of the doors of the catacombs. A spooky night was enjoyed by all as the pictures show. Thank you JQ BID for your organisation of the event.
Josie, our guide, in the Catacombs.Spooky atmosphereGhosts walking amongst us.
If you enjoyed this blog about the IgersbirminghamUK photographic meetings then follow the link below and look out for details of our meetings on the IgersbirminghamUK Instagram page.
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.
Orelle restaurant is 24 floors up on the top floor of 103 Colmore Rd. As part of the IgersbirminghamUK team, we were invited to take photographs in 2022 just before the restaurant was open to the public. The views from the restaurant were outstanding. At the time, I remember saying one day “I will be back for a meal”. Fast forward to our 40th wedding anniversary and our three daughters gave us money as a gift to use for a meal out. Reading the reviews, I noted that Orelle was voted the best restaurant in Birmingham in 2024. Furthermore, the reviews for the Sunday lunch menu have been consistently rated as good. Therefore, we booked and looked forward to our day at Orelle.
Sandy and Damien celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary
Leaving the lift on the 24th floor, the view of Birmingham takes your breath away. The view of the city is spectacular and I immediately spotted the Rotunda and Moor Street. The restaurant has a convivial ambiance and the staff are polite and courteous. We were shown to our table by the north window which gave us an uninterrupted view over St Phillip’s Cathedral and Snow Hill . Our waiter was very attentive to our needs, and we ordered our drinks and then reviewed the menu. Sandy is allergic to shellfish and the waiter explained that he would alert the kitchen and as a check we would notice a pink sticker on our order. This indicated that the kitchen were aware of the allergy and ensured that no utensils or plates were mixed.
The view over St Philip’s cathedral.
Sandy chose the warmed sourdough bread with salted French butter. The bread roll was generous and there was plenty for both of us. This was useful as I selected the Ham hock terrine with pickled vegetables, pineapple and toasted sourdough. I used the remaining bread with my starter. The food was well presented and the terrine had a pleasing flavour.
Our lunch prior to adding the vegetables.
For our Sunday lunch main course, we both selected the Surlonge rôtie which was 35 day aged Cumbrian sirloin. There was a generous sized Yorkshire pudding and the vegetables came in small pans placed in the centre of the table. If I had one criticism then it must be the gravy. There could have been a more generous serving. Luckily the amount of gravy was just sufficient for both us and we did not have to ask for more. The meat was cooked to our preference of medium with little fat and we tucked into a good lunch.
For drinks, I chose a beer and selected the excellent 21 Pale Ale Citra made by Brew by numbers. I saw that there was an excellent range of wines. Sandy chose a non-alcoholic cocktail which was not to her taste. She persevered with it but then reverted to water. We should have exchanged the cocktail for a more pleasing one.
Following on from the main course there was space for dessert. Sandy and I parted ways. Sandy chose the Chocolat et Yuzu which was a milk chocolate mousse, walnut brownie, yuzu caramel and vanilla ice cream. I went for the Crème brûlée consisting of spiced orange, macerated berries and vanilla sable. Both were nicely presented and were lovely end to the lunch.
Chocolat et YuzuCrème brûlée
Throughout the meal, we admired the view and watched the clouds move through the landscape. We saw the trams and trains pass through Snow Hill. When we started, the restaurant was relatively quiet but when we finished by late afternoon, the place was full and there were one or two parties waiting to sit down. Not once did we feel rushed or interrupted by the activities of a busy restaurant.
Looking up to the top of 103 Colmore Row
Overall impressions
Sunday lunch at Orelle is all about the experience. The view from the top floor is unparalleled and provides a super backdrop whilst you are enjoying your food. The meal was very good. Service was of a high standard and we both enjoyed our Sunday lunch menu. One may say that the place is expensive but this was a special occasion. The expense was worth it as we had a marvellous time. We reflected over coffee that whilst we would not be making Sunday lunch a regular pursuit at Orelle, we would come back again. I would recommend a visit and you will understand why the restaurant is voted as the best in Birmingham.
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.
Our “hoist” to the top.
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!
The crown of the Octagon.The view of the sunset over Edgbaston Reservoir.Capturing the sunset.
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.
The view from the OctagonThe Cube103The BT TowerMosques on the skylineSnow Hill 1 to 3Moor St and the Rotunda
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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.
Tram passing through Victoria Square.Cars on the Expressway.
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.
Final look at the sunset glow on our way home.
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.
The rush hour into the City along Suffolk Street Queensway.A Bus moving down Broad street.Centenary Square Cambrian Wharf.St Paul’s ChurchThe Big Pen and the JQ in the early morning mist.The mist rolls in.
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.
Interviews for BBC West Midlands Radio.
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.
Bolt and BokehHoist CallHook and crane
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.
Sunset memories.
I have given a link to some of my other visits to skyscrapers and hope you continue to read my photographic journey.
Sixteen-acre ward has been a project that I started in March 2021, and I have visited the area at regular intervals since. The wood was in the news, when the initial plans for the HS2 line revealed that it would cut into the wood. Therefore, trees were felled, and an old ancient pond was duplicated in a new location nearby. This new pond has signage and chains to protect this nature venture. Over the years, the landscape around the wood has changed drastically. This is my fourth visit to the wood. As with the previous ones, I was interested to see if anything had changed since my visit last year.
The new pond is covered with vegetation. No entry to the pond.A crane rears its headOvergrown
Fortunately, my drive to Berkswell village was not difficult as the HS2 works will close access to various roads around the area at a moment’s notice. I parked my car near to St Mary’s Church, Berkswell, and walked along the boardwalk. There is a footpath that runs up the hill over a farmer’s field. This footpath meets up and follows the HS2 route I reached the part of the HS2 track which passes by Sixteen-acre wood and goes onto meet Kenilworth Rd.
The landscape has really changed.Drainage and fencesNot a place for swimming.
A year on and I noticed that the vegetation is starting to reclaim much of the area. The new pond is thriving although it could do with some trees around the parameter. Meanwhile the old pond has not given up and there is still life around an old tree has collapsed into the water. Walking down the designated footpath there is a sharp contrast. On the left side beyond the steel fence the large land moving vehicles were resting as it was a Sunday, a day of rest. The earth had been moved into heaps of brown soil and there were lines of plastic pipes lined up for draining the water. On the right-hand side, the wood looked in a sorry state. Some of the vegetation is recovering but there are still scars around the knocked down trees. Some of the trees looked like scarecrows contrasting against the bleak sky. What did catch my eye was the number of butterflies and dragonflies that were present. Nature is slowly attempting to get back to its feet after being interrupted by the HS2 works.
The old pond looks out at the new landscape.The trees look bare.Crows fly above the trees.We are still here.DragonfliesNew places to restButterflies
These pictures show the amount of construction that is happening as the pace of building is now moving quickly. In the midst of this construction, there were some beautiful butterflies and I must have seen around 10 different types of insects. There was a hoard of dragonflies that are living in the stagnant water created around the HS2 trenches. Someone once told me not to worry about HS2 as everything will grow back once the viaducts that are planned are completed. I wait to see if this will be true as the scars in the land look very deep. I now have my 4th entry into my 16 acre wood project and I will return next year to see what progress has happened and whether nature is coping with the changes forced on the landscape.
HS2 construction is gathering pace.Earth moving equipment waiting for Monday morning.The stagnant water has encouraged the growth of the dragonfly population. The wood is to the left of the picture.
The University of Birmingham campus is very picturesque. Whenever there is a feature about the status of UK universities, the major news channels will film on the campus at Birmingham. The popular views are when a summer graduation is taking place in the Great Hall. This will be followed up with views of Chancellor’s Court and the Green Heart. The later lies in the centre of the university campus and showcases the stylish buildings that surround the area.
The platform with the University Crest in the foreground with the organ and stained glass window in the background.
Therefore, I was very excited to be involved in the organisation of an IgersbirminghamUK on the University campus. The Instameet plan was to visit two buildings, the Great Hall and the University library. We gathered for a briefing in Chancellor’s Court and then the University security team kindly opened up the Great Hall. The building was being prepared for a conference, hence the poster boards in the centre of the hall. We were given time to wander around and take photographs. The Grade II-listed red-brick hall was built in 1900 and the impressive architecture includes beautiful ceiling lights and a magnificent 32ft organ.
The stained glass window with the different subjects taught at the University.
The large stained glass window that overlooks the hall depicts all the different subjects that are taught at the University. Some of the subjects have changed over time. Having been given full access to the hall, we were able to view the windows and the organ close up. I was pleased that I could take pictures from where the academic staff normally sit. Early in my academic career I sat on the seats high at the back and as I became more senior, I progressed towards the front where the Vice Chancellor stands as he congratulates the graduands. The degree ceremony is when they receive their certificate and become graduates of the University. Following our visit to the Great Hall, we went out into the marble rotunda foyer and up to the first floor. This allowed us a closer view of the ceiling and a look down to the foyer. There was an exhibition “A History Through Objects” which highlighted research and innovation at the University. Many of the photographers took close up pictures of the items on display.
Looking down to the Foyer.The entrance to the Library.
Our next place to visit was the University library. This modern building was opened in 2016 and sits in a prominent position overlooking the Green Heart. The building has a distinctive exterior design with vertical yellow lines interspersed by windows. We were given access to training rooms 1 and 2 which are on the top floor of the building. These rooms have panoramic views of the campus. Picture taking through the windows is tricky due to reflections on the glass and I should have brought my polarising filters to reduce the glare. I was fascinated by the design of the ceiling which provided interesting shapes and the lighting added different contrasts against the walls. I have been in the library many times and I took the opportunity of getting some extra pictures of the large spaces, careful not to interrupt the University users.
Views of the Green Heart and Muirhead Tower.View of Old Joe.Views of Chancellor’s court and Old Joe.
Finally there were some pictures of the Green Heart and the picture of the coats of arms that were taken from the old library. Several of the IgersbriminghamUK group met for coffee at Costa Sports. Sitting in the sunshine we were able to discuss both our good and bad pictures. The University is such a great venue for a photography meeting and we hope to return at a later date.
Looking up to the roof of the Library.One of the many interesting views in the Library.
Thank you to both Campus security and Library services for allowing us to visit and a special mention to Tony Moran, International Communications Manager at the University of Birmingham for enabling this visit to take place.
The University crests at the centre of the Green Heart.
The pictures featured were taken by myself and if you wish to view the series of pictures that were taken by the other participants at the Instameet then follow this Instagram link #igbUK_meet_UoB.
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