Octagon, Birmingham, August, 2024

The newest and tallest building in Birmingham is the Octagon which is 155 m (509 ft) tall.  The skyscraper will have 49 floors and is dominating the Birmingham skyline.  The picture shows how dominant this building will be across the City. The platforms at Snow Hill Station are uneven and puddles form after the rain.  I took this one in a large puddle to show the dominating structure. I am looking forward to taking more pictures of the completed skyscraper. Watch this space.

Octagon, Birmingham, August, 2024
Different styles between the Library and the neighbouring Octagon.
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.