Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, August 2025

The newest addition to Paradise Birmingham, Three Chamberlain Square, is close to opening. This distinctive building sits next to the historic Town Hall and is stone’s throw from Victoria square. Its exterior design incorporates natural terracotta tones, giving a warm red ochre glow to the rows of vertical lines. Walking past the building, I often wondered what it would be like to look around inside and longed to visit the terrace on the top floor.

Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, August 2025
Three Chamberlain Square.

I was therefore delighted when an invitation arrived from Core, the marketing team promoting Paradise Birmingham. They were hosting a special Photographers’ Event at Three Chamberlain Square to mark World Photography Day.

Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, August 2025
The BT Tower framed by the red beams.

On a warm but initially cloudy afternoon, a collective of photographers gathered in Chamberlain Square near the new building. There were many familiar faces amongst the group, and we did not have to wait long before being taken into the foyer of Three Chamberlain Square. The entrance is impressive, with a large, open multipurpose area. After a short introduction, we went straight up to the ninth floor and the terrace.

Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, August 2025
The Birmingham skyline

The terracotta design was an instant hit with the photographers, and we all had to be careful not to photobomb each other’s shots. The photographic talent among the group was very high, and I knew their images would be excellent. My own thought was, try something different, easier said than done when surrounded by such skilled photographers.

Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, August 2025
Inside looking out.

Reaching the ninth floor, the sun broke through the clouds. Before stepping onto the terrace, I paused to capture the light as it streamed into the room. Then it was time for the terrace itself, which offered stunning views across the city. The red support beams provided a perfect frame for iconic landmarks. I was able to capture the Octagon, BT Tower, the Rotunda, 103 Colmore Row, and the Town Hall clock, each neatly framed by the beams. Using my telephoto lens I was able to capture the street scenes below.  The terrace was undoubtedly the highlight of the visit and will be an instant favourite for those working in the building.

We then moved down to the eighth floor to view the open-plan offices. I took several pictures, and while the space itself was impressive, my eyes kept drifting to the windows. People working there will certainly not be bored—the passing trams and other activities below may prove to be quite a distraction.

Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, August 2025
Colmore Row stories.

Although I had to leave before the full tour was over, the terrace remained the highlight of my photographic journey through the building. On my way back to the car, I captured a few final shots outside. What struck me most was the contrast of styles: the terracotta of Three Chamberlain Square set against the Roman revival elegance of the Town Hall, with the towering Octagon rising in the background.

Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, August 2025
Different Styles

Birmingham looks splendid with its mix of bold new buildings complementing the city’s historic landmarks.  Thank you to Paradise Birmingham for allowing us to photograph this beautiful building.

Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, August 2025
Picture of me taken by Eli Brown on the terrace. Thanks Eli.

If you like tall buildings then I have highlighted more reading about my photographic visits on my blog.

Are you lost yet, underneath Spagetti Junction, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, July 2025

As it happened, my car windscreen needed replacing in Nechells, so I had time to explore the canals. I headed for the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and walked along it to the lock below Holborn Hill. Turning left, I arrived at Aston train station. It is a five-minute walk from there to Spaghetti Junction and then a short descent to the Tame Valley Canal.

Are you lost yet, underneath Spagetti Junction, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, July 2025
The classic view of the Tame Valley Canal underneath the motorway.

Repairs are currently being carried out on the supports of the motorway, and there were many workers in and around the area. This made it relatively safe to stroll around. I stopped to view the art project run by Bill Drummond, former drummer of the KLF rock group and now an influential artist. He paints a line at regular intervals on the concrete walls opposite the towpath. The line currently displayed reads, “Are you lost yet?”

Are you lost yet, underneath Spagetti Junction, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, July 2025
Directions on the tow path

Luckily, I knew exactly where I was on the canals, and I walked further along to take pictures of the motorway pillars reflected in the canal water. There is some rubbish around, but also many opportunities for interesting photographs.

Are you lost yet, underneath Spagetti Junction, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, July 2025
Reflections and rubbish.
Are you lost yet, underneath Spagetti Junction, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, July 2025
Men at work.
Are you lost yet, underneath Spagetti Junction, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, July 2025
Ongoing repair work under the motorway.
Are you lost yet, underneath Spagetti Junction, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, July 2025
The old road and the M6 motorway.

Retracing my steps, I explored the junction where the Birmingham canals meet the Tame Valley Canal. This was also the site where most of the repair work was taking place. I then made my way to Aston Reservoir, accessing it just past a sports centre. The elevated sections of the motorway rise in the distance and overlook the water. I always find it amazing that speedboat races once took place on this small area of water.

Are you lost yet, underneath Spagetti Junction, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, July 2025
Aston or sometimes known as Salford reservoir with the M6 link road to the Aston Expressway in the background.

I have visited the Junction several times before and here are some of my accounts of my previous visits.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024

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.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
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. 

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
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 Photowalk, November, 2024
Manchester mural on the Rochdale canal by MehaArt
https://www.instagram.com/mehaart/
The cobbled towpath along the Rochdale Canal
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
The 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. 

https://www.instagram.com/mehaart/
I ‘m not a number.
https://www.instagram.com/mehaart/
New Islington and a part of Manchester that I had not seen before.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
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.  

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Through the arch, the new world beckons.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Underneath the rail and tram tracks at Castlefield.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Street artists, Dillon and Dutch (aka @dndwalls)
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Graffiti backdrop for the film set.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
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.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
A panorama of the Deansgate buildings with the canal basin in the foreground.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Tony standing in front of the Tram bridge.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
An enthusiastic resident says hello.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Another view of the old and new buildings.
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
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.  

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Bridge over Castlefield Basin
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
Futuristic 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.

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
A bear at Tony Wilson place
Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
A 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.  

Manchester Photowalk, November, 2024
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

Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024

London is an ideal place for urban photography as it offers so many different places that offer variety.  There are several large-scale cityscape vistas which sit with the smaller scale scenes taking in street art and street photography.  The start of my recent photo walk with colleague Peter Thompson was the Angel, Islington and from here we accessed the Regent’s canal. A link to this part of my photo walk is below.  Leaving the canal we moved around Shoreditch taking in some of the street art and catching people interacting with their urban surroundings.  Architecture was another focus of my lens.  Finally we finished off at Horizon22 which is also covered in a separate blog entry.  So sit back and be prepared for a roller coaster of pictures from my walk in Shoreditch. (All pictures taken on my Fujifilm x100v)

Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Two is company, three is a crowd. (Street scene in Islington)
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Street Market, Islington.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Love those old Toby jugs.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Telephone boxes
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Broken telephone boxes
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Inside a telephone box.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Street art with human interaction.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Transport catches up.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Taking time out.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Scary.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Conversation at the traffic lights.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Bull in a China shop.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
I do like this one!
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Powerful street art.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Incredible architecture.
Two churches and one bridge
Start at Birmingham Cathedral and take pictures inside then move down church street towards the pedestrian bridge over Queensway then make our way up Bennett's hill to St Paul's church and pictures inside the church there.  I will see if we can get access into both places.  What do you think?  Based on the following.

Andy Street says. "I’m pledging to launch an international architectural competition to build a NEW BRIDGE connecting the Jewellery Quarter & Colmore Row .  The link between two of Brum’s best areas isn’t good enough, we have to deliver an accessible link that celebrates the city’s heritage."
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/competition-fix-rickety-old-city-28913191
Little Red Riding Hood.
Two churches and one bridge
Start at Birmingham Cathedral and take pictures inside then move down church street towards the pedestrian bridge over Queensway then make our way up Bennett's hill to St Paul's church and pictures inside the church there.  I will see if we can get access into both places.  What do you think?  Based on the following.

Andy Street says. "I’m pledging to launch an international architectural competition to build a NEW BRIDGE connecting the Jewellery Quarter & Colmore Row .  The link between two of Brum’s best areas isn’t good enough, we have to deliver an accessible link that celebrates the city’s heritage."
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/competition-fix-rickety-old-city-28913191
Light and shadows by Liverpool Street station.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
A lone figure in Liverpool Street station.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Bishopsgate
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
More views of Bishopsgate.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Decisions, decisions.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Reflections and a selfie.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Happy hour.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Icing sugar window.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Cash only.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Street art.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Street car.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Elephants.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Where does it all go?
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Not happy.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Black and White Cityscape.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Colourful buildings.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Colourful railings.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Watching.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Sunglasses in Brick lane.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Picture perfect.
Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024
Pictures on a wall.

You made it to here and your reward are links to my other recent London Times postings.