Category Archives: Urban scene

Regency Square, Brighton — with added Thing

Saturday 27th February 2016, 12.25pm (day 1,647)

Regency Square, 27/2/16

Regency Square was first laid out in the early 1800s and was one of the first sea-front housing developments in Britain with social cachet; until that time the upper classes wouldn’t have dreamed of living near the sea, which was full of smelly fisherman types. But it was a success and became the template for many similar British seaside towns since.

What the Georgians would have made of the 450-feet-high tower that has sprung up at the end since last I was here, I have no idea. It’s nicely corporate, being sponsored by British Airways, for no immediately obvious reason, and is to become the “tallest moving observation platform in Europe”, or something. At least it will be until someone else builds a bigger one, which may turn out to be equally pointless and intrusive. I’m not a conservative — surely anyone following this blog can see  that — so I’ll judge anything new on its merits. At the moment, I just can’t see that this has any.

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Sunreturn

Thursday 25th February 2016, 9.30am (day 1,645)

Sunreturn, 25/2/16

Yesterday, did I mention signs of spring? Here’s another one. The sun officially clocked returning to the front of the house, after four months of being hidden behind the hill every morning. I depicted this, with a different shot, back in February 2014, (Feb 21st in that case), but it’s a notable day every year.

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Just in case you were wondering

Sunday 21st February 2016, 4.15pm (day 1,641)

No pies, 21/2/16

The big question is, of course — if not in the red van, then where? Inquiring minds want to know.

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Crossing the road

Friday 12th February 2016, 9.30am (day 1,632)

Crossing, 12/2/16

Sometimes you don’t even realise you’ve got the shot until it’s been sitting on your camera all day then you upload it. This was just a general scene but once I saw how glorious her hair was she became its obvious subject. Had to crop it down a lot, hence its loss of sharpness and increased grain — but that’s then helped by going monochrome.

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Freight train

Thursday 11th February 2016, 8.00am (day 1,631)

Freight train, 11/2/16

Still occasionally to be seen on small, provincial British railways. This monster bombed through Hebden Bridge station slightly in advance of the 8:05 to Manchester, headed for unknown places.

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Exchange Square, Manchester

Wednesday 10th February 2016, 10.45am (day 1,630)

Exchange Square, 10/2/16

I know we were here less than a week ago, with the dragon, but he’s moved on, and this was the best picture I got today to celebrate a strange atmospheric condition in Manchester this morning; an odd blue cast to the light, a weird dryness in the air and a burning yellow ball above, giving nostalgic reminders of times long past. It was very pleasant. I like here how the Corn Exchange is reflected in the glass.

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Sunday market, Hebden Bridge

Sunday 7th February 2016, 11.35am (day 1,627)

Sunday market, 7/2/16

Limited horizons today, and don’t expect much else to change over the next couple of days either. It’s marking season. And the weather continues revolting — this is as good as the day got. There have been about half a dozen sunny days in three months, if that.

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Have a good day?

Friday 5th February 2016, 9.15am (day 1,625)

Homeless pitch, 5/2/16

The title of this post is taken from the graffiti in the background. I hope he did have a good day, but I have no way of knowing for sure.

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Dragon (presumably Chinese)

Thursday 4th February 2016, 3.05pm (day 1,624)

Dragon, 4/2/16

This creature suddenly appeared in Exchange Square today. But I think we’re safe — it appears to be tied down. The guy in front seems keener to take a picture of something else, anyway, suggesting he isn’t feeling threatened.

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My courtyard

Wednesday 3rd February 2016, 10.00am (day 1,623)

My courtyard, 3/2/16

My office has been in the Ellen Wilkinson building for ten and a half years, plenty of time to become familiar with its charms which, on the whole, are pretty minimal. With the exception of this courtyard in the centre, which I love, because as I am sure I’ve said before, all three entrances to it hide in plain sight and amazingly few people ever use it. It’s one of the few spots on the Manchester campus where you’re guaranteed some peace and quiet.

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