photography | Being 42

Oct 27 2023

Leaves on the wonky steps

Thursday 26th October 2023, 3.05pm (day 4,445)

Autumn has hit in Manchester too, of course. These steps are to be found on Princess Street, as one arrives in Manchester city centre on the walk back from work (my walk, anyway). I think of them as the wonky steps because they are, aren’t they? Why those slopes or mini-ramps are present I have no idea. Accessibility-wise they would only take, say, a pram or bike up to the first platform, with three-quarters of the steps left to go after that. Maybe the builders were just having a creative moment back in the 1970s.

Tagged 54, autumn, gallery, leaves, Manchester, photography, photos, steps, University of Manchester

Oct 26 2023

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Daily Post, Hebden Bridge, Landscape

Still working on the roof

Wednesday 25th October 2023, 9.15am (day 4,444)

The roofers have been working on Nutclough Mill for weeks now. Months, even. But there are worse mornings to be up there.

Today is, as you may notice, day 4,444 — twelve years and two months, more or less. I did think about finding something 4-related to mark it, but this photo was always going to be today’s shot once it was taken. Nevertheless the number is worth noting, particularly as Stafford, last Thursday, was place number 444. Which if nothing else shows I am maintaining a steady diet of one new place every ten days.

Tagged 54, gallery, mist, Nutclough Mill, photography, photos, roof, weather

Oct 25 2023

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Daily Post, Urban scene

Danish guys hang out

Tuesday 24th October 2023, 4.30pm (day 4,443)

In Manchester, at some point in most weeks in the autumn there will be an influx of visitors from some European place or other, because either United or City will be at home in the Champions League — or lately, if it’s United, some lesser competition, but they did make the CL this time round. Today it was the fans of FC København (or Copenhagen if you like). They seemed an agreeable enough bunch, but didn’t see a win: United took the game 1-0.

Tagged 54, crowd, Denmark, Exchange Square, fans, football, gallery, Manchester, photography, photos

Oct 23 2023

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Daily Post, Urban scene

Exchange Theatre door

Monday 23rd October 2023, 9.45am (day 4,442)

The guy’s still asleep, it seems. Quite a few of the doors of premises on Cross Street, if they haven’t been opened by this time in the morning, are occupied by rough sleepers most days.

Photographically this was one where I was planning for someone to walk past. The coffee cup’s usefully placed too.

Tagged 54, Cross Street, gallery, homeless, Manchester, photography, photos, sleeper, sleeping bag, steps, theatre

Oct 22 2023

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Daily Post, Transport, Urban scene

King Edward’s Wharf, Birmingham

Sunday 22nd October 2023, 10.45am (day 4,441)

It is said that Birmingham has more canals than Venice, and it’s a believable stat once you start walking around the place.

Tagged 54, Birmingham, canal, gallery, narrowboat, photography, photos

Oct 22 2023

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Art and architecture, Daily Post, Urban scene

Under the M6

Saturday 21st October 2023, 10.40am (day 4,440)

The water is that of the Tame Valley Canal. Above, thunders the M6, doing its rounds just north of Birmingham. Whoever marked the crossing point of these two transport arteries with this piece of work was inspired. Someone else’s art, again, but worth sharing.

Tagged 54, art, bridge, canal, gallery, graffiti, M6, motorway, photography, photos, skeleton

Oct 22 2023

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Daily Post, Sport

Pinball wizard

Friday 20th October 2023, 2.55pm (day 4,439)

“He stands like a statue, becomes part of the machine, feeling all the bumpers, always playing clean… Plays by intuition, the digit counters fall, that deaf dumb and blind kid, sure plays a mean pinball….”

OK, this guy’s probably not deaf, dumb or blind, but hey. The Tilt bar in Birmingham has 20 fine altars at which to worship. Dammit though, that’s a pub two days in a row. But I am on a long weekend.

Tagged 54, bar, Birmingham, gallery, photography, photos, pinball, pub

Oct 20 2023

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Daily Post, Interior

The Old Picture House, Stafford

Thursday 19th October 2023, 11.25am (day 4,438)

Wetherspoons, the pub chain, are a company of ambiguous attractions: but one thing they do have going for them is good taste in premises. The Old Picture House in Stafford is magnificent. I suppose it would be great if it were still a cinema but at least it is in use. And yes, I was in there at 11.25 in the morning, but hey, so were several other people.