I had been feeling a little jaded and in need of some new inspiration for my photography. To spark a fresh way of seeing, I decided to give myself a challenge: to photograph the Library of Birmingham without showing any books. It sounded simple, but it pushed me to look at the building differently and find views that have not already been captured a thousand times.
The Library of Birmingham never fails to surprise me. Its striking architecture, spacious interiors, futuristic escalators and sweeping balconies all have a story to tell. Although it is, of course, a library filled with books, I wanted to focus on its atmosphere and design rather than what sits on the shelves.
Autumn had arrived and the leaves on the trees were a deep contrasting red colour. The outside gardens are a peaceful place to visit. Visitors to the library enjoy finding quiet spots to reflect and relax from the busy City below.
For this project, I used three cameras: my Canon 5D Mark IV, my Fujifilm X100VI, and my iPhone. Each one encouraged a different way of seeing. The Canon, with its wide-angle lens, delivered crisp and detailed shots. The Fujifilm, which has a fixed 50 mm lens, performed beautifully in the softer light but required a slower, more considered approach. The iPhone proved surprisingly powerful when capturing reflections, as its lens can be placed right up against a surface to create playful and unexpected effects.
This collection of photographs shares what I discovered on that visit. It is my attempt to show the Library of Birmingham from a new angle and to remind myself that inspiration often appears when you look at familiar places in unfamiliar ways.
This is not the first time that I have photographed the library and you may well enjoy this earlier account. Be warned a few library books creep into the pictures.
