Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025

IgersbirminghamUK organised a walk around Spaghetti Junction on a warm Saturday afternoon at the beginning of August. For this blog entry, I have 24 frames which is the number of a roll of film. These pictures were taken with either my iPhone or Fujifilm x100vi. The stories and sights under the motorway are always changing and always surprising. Enjoy this photo essay.

Figures

People move around the complex concrete structures. They look apologetic for their presence as the concrete really does enjoy its own company.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Figure in the subway
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
A walk home with the noise of cars above.

Cyclists

People move quickly on the towpath nobody wants to stay too long as they may get lost in the concrete.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Cyclist between the pillars.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
There is light in the dark that guides the cyclist.

Pillars

The main feature of the concrete structures is the pillars. Reaching to the sky they hold the roads in place. If the pillars disappear then there so will the roads.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Reaching for the sky
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
The height of the pillars dwarfs the people who dare wander next to them.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
The cathedral pillars of Salford circus.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Gaps between the Pillars.

Are you lost yet?

A line from the 25 paintings project by Bill Drummond.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
So easy to lose your way under the motorway.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
There is signage to help.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Colourful signs break through the concrete monotones.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
A scrawled sign lets you know where you are.

Traces of humanity

There are examples that humans have passed through the area.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Real Magic
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Birmingham, England
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
A smashing time.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Walk this way

Nature fights back

Nature is slowly eroding the concrete jungle. Trees and greenery have established themselves amongst the pillars.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Greenery lines the paths.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Trees in the sunlight.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Concrete vs nature standoff.

I hope you enjoyed this photo essay of my recent visits to Spaghetti Junction. If you ever have the chance to visit the area then do take up the opportunity. There are regular tours that take in Aston Reservoir and the more interesting parts of the canal network. The interchange does become very quiet at the weekends. During the week, there is construction activity focused on maintaining the pillars that are essential to holding the motorway network together. The highs and lows of a visit around the Gravelley Hill interchange are illustrated below. The highlights include the wonders of the construction and architecture. The lows are the faceless nature of the area which has areas that are not particularly inviting.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
The classical view of the pillars lined up along the river Rea.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Barbed wire and undistinguished areas of the Junction.

Are you wanting to read more about Spaghetti Junction then here are more of my visits about what lies beneath the M6. I recommend starting with this blog post that sets the scene for my photo essay.

My Top 4 pictures of 2023

Looking back on my photographic year, 2023 was an exciting one and there were several achievements including making the Landscape Photographer of the Year book. Two pictures were featured and these are described in my blog. Therefore I decide to choose four pictures that summed up my activity over the year. I love sunrises and sunsets in the golden hour. I have included a few of my favourite locations including Moor Street Station, Digbeth (including the Custard factory), Normandy Hill in Houlton near Rugby and the Lake District. My photographs have strong themes in the areas of Cityscapes and Street Photography. I do like a good reflection and trying to be different with my pictures. Let us take a look at my selection of photographs.

Sunrise at Birmingham Moor Street offers many street photography opportunities. Arriving early to take a picture of the sunrise, I looked around for a good view. The first London train was about to leave and another commuter train was just leaving. This scene made me think of the KLF song ‘Train to Trancentral’. The man pushing the button to release the doors, the sunrise and the golden train in the distance all came together at once. A very fortunate capture at Moor Street Train Station. (Taken with my iPhone 15)

Sunrise at Moor Street Station, November, 2023
All aboard, all aboard, whoa.

Normandy Hill is near Houlton in Rugby. The area of Hillmorton is nearby and the canal runs along the foot of the hill. The place used to have wireless masts for Rugby radio. The masts have been removed and the remnants of the bases are all that remain. When the conditions are right the hill has spectacular sunrises and sunsets. There are also views of the surrounding Warwickshire countryside. On a barmy night in July, I set up my travel tripod for my Fujifilm X100V. My camera settings were f/11, s 1/250 ISO 160. The sun was setting low and was just on the horizon. I pressed the button and realised that I had capture three people and their dog passing through the picture. The result was pleasing with the line up of the men and the sun outlining the shaggy coat of the dog. The rays of the sun were captured too. The atmosphere of the shot provides a permanent reminder of all the pictures that I have taken on Normandy Hill.

Normandy hill, Houlton, Rugby, July, 2023.
The last rays of summer sun on Normandy Hill.

Our family summer holiday was at Lowfield House in Little Langdale. Arguably, this spot is the heart of the Lake District and is the starting point for several walks. A place I wished to visit was Cathedral Cave, which is a short 45 minute walk from Lowfield House. Cathedral Cave is an impressive chamber. As a former slate quary, the cave is atmospheric with an open window in the wall allowing light into the cavern. There is a large slate cylinder that appears to be supporting the ceiling. There is a pool of water to the back of the cave which provided many reflections allowing one to appreciate the grand space of the cavern. Needless to say, I, like many photographers who visit this place, just wanted to take lots of pictures. The picture of Jim, my son-in-law, at the mouth of the cave proved to be a popular post on Instagram. Taken with the iPhone13.

Cathedral Cave, Little Langdale, the Lake District, August 2023
Jim standing at the entrance to Cathedral Cave. The surface water provided suitable reflections.

I spent a delightful Sunday afternoon wandering around Digbeth, Birmingham and came across @mr_h0spitalflip and his friends on the side steps of the Custard Factory. They kindly let me sit in and take a few pictures whilst they were skateboarding on the steps. I knew this was the best picture as soon as I viewed the result on the back of the camera. I was not using a burst on the shutter. Just one picture and I caught the skateboarder in the light doing the “Custard flip”. Taken with the Fujifilm X100v, ƒ/5.6, s 1/500, ISO 640.

Digbeth, Birmingham, October, 2023
The Custard flip

I also found my Top nine from Instagram and these show my most popular posts by the number of likes. The two UKLPOTY pictures feature heavily. There is a picture of Sandy and me. I was also pleased to see the blossom in Oozells square and my trip to the States feature in the high scores. All good fun!

My top 9 instagram posts in 2023.
My Top 9 Instagram posts in 2023.

Links to my Top 4 photographs of 2023. I realise that I do not have a blog about Normandy Hill and I shall write one up in 2024. I have also included my Top 4 ion 2022 for comparison.