WELCOMING THE SPRING WITH THE BEST VIEW IN BIRMINGHAM!
I’m pretty sure I’m not alone when I say that I can’t wait for Spring! It feels like it’s been Winter for an eternity so when the amazing people at Orelle, Birmingham’s hottest spot for fine dining (and even better views!) got in touch and asked if I’d like to welcome the Spring in style, it was a resounding yes!!
I’m pretty sure I’m not alone when I say that I can’t wait for Spring! It feels like it’s been Winter for an eternity so when the amazing people at Orelle, Birmingham’s hottest spot for fine dining (and even better views!) got in touch and asked if I’d like to welcome the Spring in style, it was a resounding yes!!
If you have any connection with the Birmingham food scene then Orelle will have been on your radar for quite a while. The awesome guys from D&D London had been planning something special for their first restaurant in Birmingham and they certainly found a great spot for it! The 24th floor of 103 Colmore Row offers 360 degree views of Birmingham. But as an additional treat, they also have a fantastic cocktail bar on the ground floor.
And it was a cocktail that was the main attraction and the perfect accompaniment for welcoming in the Spring! You see, I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Orelle are launching their own Speakeasy! A secret cocktail launched each month that can only be accessed by those with a special password! I obviously can’t tell you what it is but what I can say is that I happened to be at the bar and uttered the words ‘Golden Key’ and before I knew it, a kindly gentleman behind the bar nodded at me and said ‘Certainly, Sir’ and the magic commenced…
Please note: I received a cocktail for free for attending this event but no other payment or controls were in place, in exchange for publishing this content
The first cocktail to be launched is the ‘Equinox Sour’, a celebration of the changing season it’s a Pisco-base mixed with fresh Spring flavours including, Elderflower, Fresh Lemon and Butterfly Pea Flower.The highlight being the addition of lemon which turns the cocktail slightly pink from its deep purple colour, referencing the changing of the seasons and lighter days and evenings.
However, as much of a treat as the Equinox Sour was, there was something else that had piqued my interest, and that was the views! Even though the promise of a beautiful sunset to mark the changing of the season would have been the perfect way to say goodbye to the Winter - This is England, so of course it was raining! Nonetheless, the views are breathtaking no matter the time of day or night and regardless of the weather conditions!
“I can safely say, those views never lose their appeal and you certainly have to experience them in person to appreciate them.”
In truth, I’m no stranger to the building. In fact, my relationship with the site started many years ago when I joined a group of other photographers to photograph from the roof of the Natwest Tower, which stood on the site before being demolished and replaced by the new 103 Colmore Row.
I was very fortunate to photograph the building throughout its construction and was present at many of the key milestones. I even got to interview the guys from D&D when they first saw the new restaurant space before it was transformed into the beautiful environment you now see. So I have been fortunate to see the panoramic views on many, many occasions. I can safely say, those views never lose their appeal and you certainly have to experience them in person to appreciate them.
However, back to the fun stuff and after watching the Equinox Sour slowly transition from a deep violet to a beautifully layered mix of pinks and purples, it was time to taste it! Wow, is all I’ll say. I’m no cocktail connoisseur, but what I can say is it certainly got my attention! I can see why it’s creator, Tiago Bastos, Orelle’s bar manager thought that this would be the perfect accompaniment to bring in the fresh, bright new season! If only the weather had been a bit more fitting, but I’m not complaining…
After pretty much glugging the cocktail down, I couldn’t help but grab some shots of the views - regardless of how many times I see them, there is always something new to appreciate. In truth, these are far from my best images I’ve taken from this vantage point but I actually really liked the moody ‘Blade Runner’-esque vibes - I could even live with the warm reflections from inside the restaurant which almost felt like light leaks on an old roll of film - something I would know all about!
And while I’m at it, how amazing does the restaurant look?! I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of trying the food yet but one thing is for sure, anything would taste better in these surroundings, possibly even my cooking! The warm, welcoming interior screams class with just enough of a hint of fun, and when combined with the ground floor cocktail bar, you can certainly tell that the guys at Orelle are offering something truly special for visitors from Birmingham and beyond.
Thank you again to the guys at Orelle and ReWired PR for the very special invite and complementary cocktail. If you get the chance to experience the bar and restaurant for yourself, don’t forget to utter the magic words (Golden Key!) to one of the bar staff for a very special treat - Oh, and grab some photos of that view!!
About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
Disclaimer: All links to Amazon UK are affiliated links - you will still pay the same price but I will receive a small commission for providing the link. All information provided in this blog is intended either for educational or entertainment purposes and is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, further research/professional advice should be sort before making purchases/implementing any advice given and no responsibility is taken by the author or parties mentioned here within.
2022 in Review - Looking back at a crazy year!
To say that 2022 has been an odd year would be a bit of understatement. Everybody knows that the last few years have been a challenge. The 2020 Pandemic ruined lives, businesses and the economy and things were not too much rosier in 2021! So I think we were all hoping that 2022 might finally be the year where things felt a bit more normal.
2022 in Review - Looking back at a crazy year!
To say that 2022 has been an odd year would be a bit of understatement. Everybody knows that the last few years have been a challenge. The 2020 Pandemic ruined lives, businesses and the economy and things were not too much rosier in 2021! So I think we were all hoping that 2022 might finally be the year where things felt a bit more normal.
Well, if financial uncertainty, global events and a sense of impending doom were the overarching feelings of the previous couple of years, 2022 was pretty much standard in that case. However, I don’t want to look back on a year and just complain about the doom and gloom. I just think it’s important to acknowledge that this has been a very testing time for everyone and 2023 is likely to be just as difficult!
Slow Beginnings
Being self employed has taught me one thing and that is that it’s a very unpredictable lifestyle. One week you can be run off your feet and the next it's Crickets and you start panicking that you’ll be out of business by the weekend! Well that is how January felt for me. Although there were a few interesting little jobs, there is always a bit of a delay as clients and business get back into their own rhythm.
By February and March, things were getting much more into a steady routine and work was coming through from regular clients again. Two in particular were Aston Villa Football Club who were updating some of their hospitality offerings and Tom White Waste, who need to rebrand their website and took the chance to capture new imagery.
Both clients required multiple day shoots and as with every late Winter/early Spring shoot - the weather would have a big impact on both jobs. Planning is essential but also being completely up front and honest with clients is strongly advised. Having a ‘Plan B’ if the weather is too bad to shoot is pretty much essential at that time of year.
Interestingly, a lot of my clients throughout 2022 required a lot more video in addition to traditional photography and this allowed me to really stretch myself both in terms of learning new techniques and in the gear I use. Throughout the Spring I had to update my main camera, I plumped for the Canon R5C for those that are interested - as well as buying a lot of additional lighting and sound recording gear.
The additional investment was fully justified as the work continued to come in and having the peace-of-mind knowing that the equipment could handle all of the clients requirements was worth the outlay alone.
Things were heating up!
Going into the Summer, I was more than aware that it was going to be a big one as Birmingham was due to host the Commonwealth Games. This was massive for the city when I was asked to help capture certain events, I was completely over-the-moon. I’ll be writing a post in more detail about the experience but it was two weeks of utter madness with long days, huge amounts of editing and physical exhaustion by the end of it! I loved every second though and our amazing city completely smashed it!
By this point, the weather was also going into overdrive with the UK recording record breaking temperatures and for the first time ever, I had to adjust a shooting schedule because it was too hot to work! I’m used to dragging myself out in the depths of Winter but I couldn’t quite believe we had to reschedule shoots because of the risk of heatstroke and worse - a wise decision though and one that I’m glad the clients agreed with!
Birmingham’s incredible Summer continued as Unboxxed brought their ‘Polinations’ event to Victoria Square. In the space just a couple of weeks, the square had been transformed from the hub of the Commonwealth Games (outside of Alexandra Stadium!) and into a mystical forest complete with evening light shows. It was a complete spectacle and one that I was once again, very proud to be part of.
I went on to shoot several more events with Unboxxed which involved exploring a converted oil rig in Weston Super-Mare, complete with plants, a huge cascading waterfall and eyes! However, that was just the tip of the iceberg they also had me photograph the solar system! No telescope needed though, this was a scale model laid out across Liverpool! Though it spanned some 10km so after walking to Pluto multiple times, I was ready for some time off!
That wasn’t a possibility though as between regular clients and huge events, I was having my busiest year ever! It’s not uncommon to work seven days a week when you’re self-employed and this was certainly the case for me. Regular shoots and huge amounts of editing were slowly but surely taking their toll. I never complain about being busy, it’s a privilege to be in this position - but self-care is equally, if not more important than work!
Finding a balance…
By the late Summer/early Autumn, I need to reset a little and find a bit of time to decompress after a very hectic few months. I don’t have too many means of escape, I like a drink but have to stay level headed, I like football but I’m commonly working on match-days. So I turned to the one thing that gives me a huge amount of pleasure and that is film photography.
I had purchased a new camera in particular that I was really excited to use and set about finding time wherever I could to get out with it. The camera in question was a Bronica GS-1. It’s a medium format beast that is commonly overlooked in favour of the Mamiya RB/Z67 or the Pentax 67 systems.
When I first picked it up, I knew it was the right choice for me though. It is slightly smaller than its competition (but in no way a small camera!) but still produces a huge 6x7 negative and had a beautiful waist-level viewfinder that makes everything look amazing. It was a pleasure to be out shooting film but the work kept coming in.
By mid-Autumn, I’d already worked with around 15 new clients in addition to my regulars. This was quite mind blowing to me as I was already passing work over to fellow photographers - something I love to do if I get the opportunity. This did mean that there wasn’t going to be any big holidays or adventures this year - not too much of a problem in a cost of living crisis!
Gearing up for Christmas…
Going into the final few months of the year, I was very conscious that I would start getting enquiries about prints etc. for presents. This is brilliant as it’s always special for me to see my work in print. I decided not to push this too much as I am really aware that lot’s of people have been struggling financially this year.
Being completely honest, this year has been a struggle for me as well, regardless of being incredibly busy. Personal situations and living conditions have been a huge strain and being financially conscientious is a must! This all lead me to think that this really isn’t the year to be encouraging any unnecessary ‘gifting’ for gifts sake - though I always appreciate anyone who likes my work enough to hang it on their walls!
Throughout the year another issue cropped up that I had never seen coming. I was working more & more in other cities from Brighton to Edinburgh and many place in between! However, rail strikes had a big impact on getting too and from many of those jobs and having good ‘Plan B’s’ were essential.
Looking ahead…
I often have to pinch myself and I still find it amazing that people pay me to do something that I get so much pleasure from. I’ve already start booking jobs for January & February and can’t wait to get stuck into next year.
I have a few more personal plans next year and need to take a bit of personal time out to make sure I’m in a good place mentally & physically. 2022 threw up and few nasty surprises and more than ever, I’m realising that taking care of myself is a huge priority!
I’m also looking forward to getting out with the film camera more and actually sharing some of the results! I pretty much didn’t post to any social media for the entirety of 2022! Again, I will be writing a post sharing a bit more detail about this but all-in-all, I feel ready to start engaging a little more next year.
Finally, I am always looking forward to working with existing clients and get very excited about working with new people. I love meeting new people and can’t wait to see who I get to meet in 2023 and what experiences that might lead too!
A huge thank you…
More importantly than anything, I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to anyone that I’ve worked with, anyone that has asked me to do more than one job! Anyone who has been on a 1-2-1 with me or purchased a print! Also, anyone that has simply dropped me a message or left a comment on social media - I’m truly thankful for any kind of support that I receive!
I can’t wait to get stuck into 2023 and wish you all an amazing Christmas and New Year! :)
About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.
Disclaimer: All links to Amazon UK are affiliated links - you will still pay the same price but I will receive a small commission for providing the link. All information provided in this blog is intended either for educational or entertainment purposes and is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, further research/professional advice should be sort before making purchases/implementing any advice given and no responsibility is taken by the author or parties mentioned here within.
A Roof With A View - A Unique Vantage Point!
Another week and another rooftop with spectacular views over Birmingham! I was incredibly lucky to be invited to grab some shots from the roof of House of Fraser, one of Birmingham’s most recognisable buildings. As if this wasn’t good enough, it also meant that I would be taking in some pretty special views of ‘Christmas in Cathedral Square’ - Birmingham’s Independent Christmas Market at St Philip’s Cathedral.
Another week and another rooftop with spectacular views over Birmingham! I was incredibly lucky to be invited to grab some shots from the roof of House of Fraser, one of Birmingham’s most recognisable buildings. As if this wasn’t good enough, it also meant that I would be taking in some pretty special views of ‘Christmas in Cathedral Square’ - Birmingham’s Independent Christmas Market at St Philip’s Cathedral.
The event which is being staged by Colmore BID and partners, provides a fantastic market for some of the city’s best Independents and more importantly for me, looks fantastic too! My day had started at 3.30am and after multiple jobs, a very fortunate meeting and spending 12 hours outdoors in close to freezing temperatures - it was time to get on the roof and take in the beautiful scene!
Arriving at House of Fraser, the staff greeted me and were incredibly friendly and accommodating. Even though they had offered hot drinks and a chance to warm up, I was keen to get straight to the roof and try to capture sunset - which wouldn’t disappoint! It was kind of strange seeing ‘behind the scenes’ at House of Fraser, including a very cool workshop in the upper floors of the building that felt like I’d been transported back 50+ years!
As we made our way out through the final security doors and onto the roof, I almost ran to the barrier to take in the view and pretty much blanked my hosts as I started scrabbling to get my camera out! As with my previous excursion to the Rotunda (read all about that Here) I would be shooting a mix of digital and film - so there was no time to waste!
I quickly started grabbing images as I knew the best of the light would be gone in the first twenty minutes or so and as I’d planned to get some film shots as well, time was not on my side! I ran around trying to find which compositions worked best for me.
Digital Images
Shot on Canon Eos-R with 24-105mm lens
Purely for speed and convenience, I took my digital camera with me as well and I’m glad I did as I was happy that I’d got some shots ‘in the bag’. This meant I could spend a little more time planning the film shots. I pretty much always shoot landscape shots with a graduated filter and it work well in this situation as the sun set - it really helped balance the exposures well.
Overall, I’m really pleased with some of the digital images and it’s very nice to have my ‘safety blanket’ camera with me. About the only thing I wish I could change would be to have some snow or frost on the ground to give it a slightly more ‘Christmassy’ feel - but that might have to wait for another time!
I took full advantage of my time and even shot some of the the other buildings around me such as Bank House and the Rotunda! I switched to the longer lens to grab some close up shots of the market. It was great to have such a unique perspective. Later, after I’d left House of Fraser, I also grabbed a few shots from ground level - just to show how cool the markets look!
FiLM PHOTOGRAPHY - KODAK PORTRA 400
Shot on Mamiya 645 with Kodak Portra 400 and 55-110mm lens // Developed and Scanned at home
This was the highlight for me! For any of you following me on social medium, you’ll know that shooting film has been a bit of an obsession for me for the last couple of years. Every opportunity I get, I try to shoot film. On this occasion, I thought Portra 400 would work well, as it has a bit of warmer feel to it! I was certainly not disappointed with the results!
I knew from previous experience that I would get the best from the film before the light had completely faded, so I rushed to get as many shots as I could, just tweaking my compositions while the sun was setting. Some of the shots were a little difficult to expose as I wanted to make sure there was enough shadow detail - but on the whole, I think they worked out pretty well!
FiLM PHOTOGRAPHY - Cinestill 800T
Shot on Intrepid 4x5 Mk iv Black Edition with Cinestill 800T and Nikon 90mm lens // Developed and Scanned at home
So for anyone that’s shot even a little bit of film, you may have heard of ‘Cinestill 800T’ - For those unaware, it’s a type of film that us film photographers go a bit nuts over! It is a ‘cinema’ film that (when used correctly) just makes everything look amazingly cinematic! I won’t bore you with the details of how and why - but it can make some truly spectacular images!
However, one of my little journeys out wouldn’t be complete without me screwing something up - and this trip was no different! To cut a long story short, when I switched from 400 speed film to 800 speed - I forgot to change my metering to account for this! I’m an idiot, I know… So I think the images were a touch over-exposed.
That said, I also don’t think this scene was ever going to get the best from Cinestill so it wasn’t a great choice by me anyway. Some of the shots came OK, but overall, I am far happier with the Portra 400 shots.
Final Thoughts…
I’m the first to admit that I am very fortunate to get access to some of these places and subsequently, some of the best views in Birmingham. However, I always do what I can to make the most of these opportunities and create the best images I can so everyone can enjoy them! Overall, I’m pretty happy with these images and in particular, how the film images came out! Hopefully, there will be even more roof top excursions in the future!
The Best View in Brum? Possibly...
It’s not everyday that you get asked if you would like to take photos from a building with some of the best views in Birmingham! So when the awesome people at Staying Cool at the Rotunda reached out to me, I jumped at the chance! In truth, I’ve shot from here a few times in the past but the opportunity was too good to turn down.
It’s not everyday that you get asked if you would like to take photos from a building with some of the best views in Birmingham! So when the awesome people at Staying Cool at the Rotunda reached out to me, I jumped at the chance! In truth, I’ve shot from here a few times in the past but the opportunity was too good to turn down.
However, as I am pretty much my own worst enemy I decided to make my life even harder by shooting film and not just any film, but Large Format! If this means nothing to you, don’t worry! I’ll save the boring stuff until later but let’s just say it’s a bit tricky at the best of times!
More concerning was that on the day, the weather wasn’t exactly inspiring and having been on a video shoot all day, I didn’t have much time to prep! So after a flying visit home to switch from ‘video mode’ into ‘pretending to know about film photography mode’ - I grabbed a few different cameras and literally ran across town to the Rotunda.
After a very brief ‘hello’ I grabbed the keys to the Penthouse (excuse the flex) and made my way to the 20th floor! Walking into main room, you can’t help but be drawn to the floor to ceiling windows as the view slowly reveals itself. Quite simply, it’s one of the best views in the city, well in my opinion at least… However, there was no time to get all slushy, the light was fading fast and I need to set up the big camera!
Over the course of the next hour or two, I didn’t stop switching between cameras, loading film and basically panicking that I screwed something up and predictably, I did!… If camera stuff interests you, I’ll put some more details below. However, if you’re just here for the pictures, have a little look-see below… Huge thank you to Staying Cool and if you ever get the chance to experience these views in person, it really is a must! Check out their website below…
Digital Images
Shot on Canon Eos-R with 24-105mm lens
I certainly didn’t feel confident ‘just’ taking film cameras and I’m glad that I took the digital camera as a backup! The early evening shots were a bit uninspiring. However, after sunset, the city lights up and I was really happy with the night shots. It was easy to just concentrate on the ‘big’ view and I certainly ‘filled-my-boots’ with landscape images. However, it was also interesting to pick out little scenes and pockets of light. I wish I’d taken a longer lens as well but this shoot was more about the film photos anyway.
Overall, the digital images are pleasing and apart from the grey weather during the day, I’m happy with how the rest of the images came out.
Medium Format
Shot on Mamiya 645 with Kodak Portra 400 and 55-110mm lens // Developed and Scanned at home
This is where the evening started to get interesting. I’m usually pretty confident with metering for film but judging exposures at night can be a bit of a nightmare. All of these images were taken on the Mamiya, a fantastically easy camera to use for Medium Format but even so, there was still plenty of opportunity for me to makes mistakes. I set the camera up on a tripod and set about getting some exposures.
I was a little concerned that the exposure times (with added reciprocity to account for film failure) were only coming out at around 8 seconds. I was convinced that they would be nearly double this and something inside me was screaming out to ‘go longer’. However, I’m glad that I didn’t. I think these images are exposed pretty well and even though they could have done with a bit more light, I kind of like the slightly moodier look in comparison to the digital images!
For those interested in film photography and all that goes with it - I did develop the rolls of film/4x5 sheets at home using a C41 process and then scanned the negatives myself. I’m pretty sure a lab could have got better results but there is something incredibly rewarding about be in control of the entire process!
Large Format
Shot on Intrepid 4x5 Mk iv Black Edition with Kodak Portra 400 and Nikon 90mm lens // Developed and Scanned at home
If the Medium Format shots were where things got interesting, then the Large Format shots were where everything went badly wrong! I have a bit of experience under my belt with the Intrepid 4x5. However, it is also one of the most complex methods of capturing an image that I have ever come across. In good weather, on a flat surface and no wind - it can be a relatively straight-forward process.
However, on the 20th floor of a building in strong wind and dim light… Yeah, it becomes a challenge. I know what you’re thinking, ‘Excuses, excuses…’ But even seeing through the ground glass on the back became a challenge as the light started to dip. With the wind whipping the dark cloth and battering the front of the camera - I was more concerned with trying to keep exposure times short than I was with checking every last detail before taking the shot!
Ultimately, this was my downfall, rushing to get the shot! I had made one major error that I simply hadn’t spotted whilst the camera was set up in front of me. I hadn’t double checked that the front/back standard were angled correctly. This would completely mess up the focus and what I had mistaken for ‘depth of field’ (whilst the lens was wide open to compose the image) was actually just ‘out of focus’.
This was a bit of a schoolboy error and as I developed the images and checked the negatives, my heart instantly sank as I knew they were ruined. Not to worry though, this was just another lesson learnt and something I’ll be more conscious of in future - Happy to share my mistakes though, I’m sure they won’t be the last!
Final Thoughts…
Overall, I’m happy with most of these images and certainly have learnt a few valuable lessons. More importantly, it was just a fantastic experience to take in the views and enjoy watching the city transform from day to night. I can’t imagine there are many better views of our wonderful city than this! To experience it for yourself, follow the link below to check out Staying Cool’s website.
Get Your Print Order by Christmas - Last Date for Ordering!
There is no doubt that this has been a crazy year and to be honest, it almost doesn’t feel right suggesting that people buy prints at a time when we know things are very difficult for so many people! However, if you had planned to order a print as either a present for a friend or relative (or maybe as a gift to yourself for making it through 2020!) then the last date for receiving orders to guarantee delivery before Christmas is the 4th December 2020!
Christmas on Cannon Street, Birmingham
There is no doubt that this has been a crazy year and to be honest, it almost doesn’t feel right suggesting that people buy prints at a time when we know things are very difficult for so many people! However, if you had planned to order a print as either a present for a friend or relative (or maybe as a gift to yourself for making it through 2020!) then the last date for receiving orders to guarantee delivery before Christmas is the 4th December 2020!
Christmas at St Martins, Birmingham
Christmas at St Philip’s, Birmingham
I really think that this year, more than ever, we all need to take good care of those nearest and dearest to us. However, if you have a little extra left over, there are also plenty of others that could really do with the support. Below are a few ideas of how you can help those that need it most, including many of Birmingham’s best Independents/Restaurants & Bars etc. during these incredibly difficult times!
LoveBrum - A fantastic organisation that shines a light on some of Birmingham’s best charitable organisation and a great place to start if you really want to help others
Independent Birmingham - The place to go to find all of the best Independent traders in the city and I’ve linked directly to their Christmas Buying Guide!
Bite Your Brum - Birmingham’s best foodie blog to quench your thirst for supporting all of the amazing bars & restaurants in the city - linked direct to the Christmas Gift guide!
Finally, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and even though it’s going to be a very different one for so many reasons, I hope you make the most of it and of course, stay safe.
I provide all of this content for free, so if you’d like to support me, please consider making a small donation ;)
Disclaimer: All links to Amazon UK are affiliated links - you will still pay the same price but I will receive a small commission for providing the link. All information provided in this blog is intended either for educational or entertainment purposes and is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, further research/professional advice should be sort before making purchases/implementing any advice given and no responsibility is taken by the author or parties mentioned here within.
Modern Nostalgia: A Backwards approach to Photography
I have been struggling with my photography lately. Call it ‘Photographers Block’ or maybe actual apathy but either way, something just hasn’t gripped me like it use to. Recently, I went out for an evening stroll, mainly just to clear my head but with the intent of grabbing a few photos. I found myself drawn to the same old things, dereliction, grime, dirt and basically anything on the more run-down side of life. As I stared at the old shop frontages, the run down streets and pictured how they would look with my heavy-handed edits, it suddenly dawned on me, I am a nostalgia whore… I pimp myself out to anything that has even a remote whiff of sentimentality.
This is nothing new, I’ve pretty much spent my whole ‘photography life’ trying to make my images look like they are from another time. In fact, Birmingham itself has a weird duality of personality between being this historic relic that should be preserved for future generations and every available derelict space being knocked down to make way for the ‘latest in modern living’. In fact, there are people out there so attached to the past that they simply must live in converted old factory units, as long as they come with all of the trappings of modern life - even I couldn’t resist that level of ‘authenticity’.
However, having more than a subtle nod to the past seems to be the new craze in Photography, well not new, but certainly more prevalent than ever. I see images all over social media that could be plucked straight out of the back-catalogue of any 1970’s photographer worth their salt. Even more, I see people returning to shooting film to try to achieve that authentic feel, something than simply ‘can’t be recreated in Lightroom’ so instead they are returning to the darkroom. This got me thinking about why so many of us are so determined to add a feeling of Nostalgia to our images and why we would even waste thousands of pounds on modern equipment, only to apply filters to make the image quality, well, worse.
As I continued my walk, thinking deeper and deeper about why I am personally drawn to a whimsical sense of past, a thought crossed my mind and seemingly got stuck there and wouldn’t budge. Quite simply, maybe we just always associate the past as being better than the present. Now that may not ring true for everyone and it certainly isn’t intended to be so sweeping, but I do think that most people have a tendency to remember the past in a more favourable light. Music, food, sport, fashion.. everything was better when you were younger, right? Well the truth is, probably not… But that doesn’t mean that we don’t hark back to a time when our lives were less stressful and our fashion choices a little simpler.
However, there is one important person that we are missing out and that is the viewer. Why do nostalgic images appeal to the non-photographer viewer? Well, from what I see it is simply that, we like old things because they remind us of a better, simpler time… a time pre-Brexit. I love the work of Fred Herzog, but have no attachment to 1960’s Canada. I’m constantly amazed by the work of Saul Leiter but have no reason to feel sentimental about New York nearly 70 years ago. Even Gregory Crewsdon and Todd Hido have their enigmatic ‘can’t really place a time on them’ style of images beguile me and they are working very much in the present!
So what does it all mean… Well, for me personally, I doubt I will be changing my style anytime soon, though the more I see the same style of images, the more I know I need to do something different. Whereas I hugely enjoy the work of many photographers that shoot with film, find beautifully nostalgic scenes or even just apply film grains to give their images more ‘feels’, I do think the nostalgia bubble will eventually burst. The main reason for this? Well you can only fake authenticity so far.
However, these are just the ramblings of a photographer trying to cement a style and work out the ‘why’ - and I will continue to dream of living in my modern abandoned factory unit with just the right-level of ‘voice activated heating’ whilst looking at bare-brick walls with images of run down 1970’s American petrol stations in the desert… Maybe one day… What are your thoughts on this? Please leave a comment below.
Bullring & Grand Central After Dark - The Sequel!
Back in May 2017, I was very kindly invited to visit the iconic shopping centre along with a great group of photographers, to explore the site after closing hours. It was a fantastic experience (read about it HERE) so when I was recently invited to do it again, I simply couldn’t say no! However, it wasn’t just the potential of plodding through the centre away from the hustle & bustle of the daytime that drew me, I also wanted to see how my ‘eye’ had changed and see how the photographs would differ from my original visit.
Things started out the same as last time as I was accompanied by some of Birmingham’s best photographers, which always makes me feel slightly out-of-place but soon after, the Bullring’s team made us feel right at home and gave us pretty much free rein of the store. However, this time we had access to a pretty much empty Grand Central as well! An opportunity that none of us could resist, so that’s where we started!
I’ve never really appreciated the scale of Grand Central until seeing it pretty much empty. The huge voluminous atrium feels overwhelming with all of the daily commuters removed. Occasionally, a person would pass through the space and offer a stark contrast of scale, being dwarfed by the huge span of the Grand Central roof. However, it was the closed shops, restaurants and stands that really caught my eye. There is something almost eerie about a lifeless place that you are so use to being busy, it almost feels like being in a post-apocalyptic film, where you are the only survivor (along with a bunch photographers, a PR team and a security guard!).
After exploring the space for a little while, it was time to turn to photography and I was quickly drawn to the abstract reflections in the store fronts. Something about the colours drew me in and I started to experiment with abstraction, layering reflections and colours on top of vaguely familiar items, such as chairs and tables. All too soon, our time in Grand Central was over and we passed through LinkStreet and back to the main event, the Bullring.
In contrast to my previous visit, I was drawn more to the details this time around (though I took my fair share of ‘wide’ shots - an opportunity not to be missed!). The dimly lit store created pools of light and shadows from the stores that had left lights on - which immediately drew me to the areas of contrast. In particular I was drawn to silhouettes of the often over-looked plants and foliage in the centre. We descended through one side of the centre and made our way towards the ‘Selfridges’ side of the Bullring.
As we neared the end of our adventure and made our way back up to ‘street’ level, again it was the scale that really caught my attention, it’s all too easy to overlook the sheer scale of the Bullring. As we said our goodbyes and I made my way home, it was clear that once again it had been a fantastic opportunity, but I also found it interesting that this time around, I’d been more drawn to the details and abstraction - maybe a reflection on my own growth as a photographer - or more probably just an attempt not to go for the ‘typical’ kind of shots. Either way, it was a fun way to spend a few hours photographing a hugely popular area with all of it’s inhabitants removed!
Thank you to The Bullring & Grand Central and thanks for putting up with me @veritymilligan, @alpha.brum, @ocuk and @frasermcgee
Unfiltered Lives: A Project in Collaboration with Birmingham University
I am always up for a challenge, being self-employed, you learn to say ‘yes’ more than you say ‘no’. So when I was approached by University of Birmingham to take part in a very special project, the ‘yes’ had already slipped out, way before I knew the full details. However, the more I go to know, the more I was ready to do something a little different.
The commission itself was to portray the ‘unfiltered lives’ of recipients of a very special programme administered by the College of Social Sciences. The research focussed on the lives of black and ethnic minority businesses and received support via peer-to-peer mentoring, which was overseen by Professor of Leadership and Enterprise, Kiran Trehan.
However, for me, the project represented a chance to get out of my ‘comfort zone’ and create images a little different to my normal day-today work. Whilst taking headshots etc. is not new to me, creating specific environmental portraits and showing the business owners in their places of work, provided it’s own new challenges.
The project allowed me to not only explore the inner workings of some of these businesses, but also to experience first-hand, some of the challenges and pressures faced by them. Whilst creating the images, I got to hear the stories of how the research had helped the individuals overcome not only the pressures of running a business, but the incredible strain that it had put on personal relationships. Ultimately, the peer-to-peer mentoring and the support of Prof. Trehan and her team, had helped them through some very difficult times.
As a self-employed individual, I was amazed to hear how similar some of the businesses struggles had been to my own whilst ‘growing’ - including confidence issues, fear of failure and the obvious financial concerns. However, I was somewhat surprised and concerned to hear how there had been additional pressures for those coming from a black and ethnic minority background, including the fears of acceptance. This only cemented how important Prof. Trehan’s research and support had been to these individuals and how the University itself was working towards shining a light on these difficulties.
The project culminated in an exhibition of the images being displayed at the University’s new ‘Green Heart’ - and beautiful thoroughfare used by students and visitors alike - a fitting place for these ‘unfiltered lives’ to be showcased.
You can learn more about the business and the research at the University of Birmingham website.
Special Thanks to:
Longbridge Student Photography Competition - Your Chance to WIn a Camera!
I have mentioned in the past that I am very proud of being born in Birmingham and in particular, Longbridge. The area is most commonly known as being the historic home of MG Rover (and all of the iterations of the company before that!) - the factory was even used as a production facility during the second world war!
However, in more recent history, Longbridge is now known for it’s complete reinvention and it’s new town centre. Bournville College along with various shops, bars and restaurants have all found a new home in Longbridge and this has also brought about huge residential development. St Modwen have been at the heart of this redevelopment and have played a huge part in helping many new residents find a home in the historic area.
So when I was approached to judge a student photography competition showcasing Longbridge, I simply couldn’t say ‘no’. The competition is open to students in the area and the closing date is the 19th July! So get shooting!
More details here on the St Modwens site! Good Luck!
A Foggy Morning in Birmingham
Nothing drags us photographers out of bed quicker than the chance of a bit of fog and mist. After a few busy days, I was completely ready for a lazy Sunday morning until I popped my head out of the window and saw, well, nothing…I quickly got ready and pretty much ran into town. Conditions were perfect and a bit of fog mixed with patches of light, always makes for interesting images.
I was very pleased to see plenty of the local photography community hoovering up images so keep an eye out for those. Here are a quick selection of some of mine of Birmingham drizzled in a pleasant layer of fog…
