A tale of two cathedrals

It was inevitable we’d visit both of Liverpool’s Cathedrals while we were there last November. It never fails to amaze me that both of these buildings were completed during my own lifetime and they’re so different. When we arrived at the Anglican Cathedral the sun was gradually dropping in the sky, creating some beautiful effects as it hit the stonework.

Downstairs in the Lady Chapel.

The seats had all been removed from the nave, creating a very uncluttered view as I looked back towards the crossing.

When in Liverpool it’s only correct to photograph a Liver Bird!

The last time I visited the Metropolitan Cathedral I took lots of photos, documenting the modern architecture, so this time I decided to take a more abstract approach, using the shapes and light I found around me.

One thing I missed out on last time was seeing the crypt as it was being used for university exams. This time it was open and it was wonderful to finally see a glimpse of what Edwin Lutyens had in mind in his design for the Cathedral. This huge crypt was built from millions of bricks, but the advent of World War II stopped construction and the Cathedral which was eventually built above it is very different (and much smaller) than Lutyens’ original design. It’s estimated that is Lutyens’ design had been built in its entirety it still wouldn’t be finished today!

Photos taken 19 & 20 November

Literary lines

Yet again I find myself horribly behind on my Photoblog posts so I’m starting another attempt to catch up with more regular posts. Some photos will be recent, while others, like these, were taken several months ago!

One of the places on my ‘must visit’ list when we went to Liverpool last November was the central library. Admittedly, not a typical holiday destination, but I’d see photos of the modern atrium and the 19th century circular reading room online and they struck me as places I’d like to photograph. I didn’t get very far with the modern part of the library as I could really have done with having a zoom lens on my camera to make more of the shapes. But that gives me a good excuse to come back sometime!

The Picton Reading Room, on the other hand, suited the two small prime lenses I had with me just perfectly and I spent a happy half hour exploring its beautiful lines.

Photos taken 21 November 2024

The iron man

Crosby beach has been a location I’ve long wanted to visit, to see Antony Gormley’s Another Place. During our short break in Liverpool last November we headed there on our first morning - a very crisp winter’s day, with snow still lying on the hills beyond the bay. The 100 cast iron sculptures of Gormley’s own body are spread across the beach, looking out to sea and we were lucky enough to arrive when the time was still very low, so we could walk among them.

An hour later, as we walked back to the car, the tide was rising quickly, offering up an entirely different perspective on this amazing art installation.

Photos taken 19 November 2024

Chasing the light

When I was a student I often used reading week as an excuse to make the most of cheap morning tickets for the cinema to catch up on films I wanted to see - a decadent luxury I haven’t enjoyed since then - until this week! When I discovered that I Am Martin Parr, a documentary about photographer Martin Parr was showing at the Picturehouse in Cambridge I booked up for an 11.15am showing and it reminded me of my student days.

Martin Parr is particularly known for his colour photography, but the film included some of his gritty monochrome photos from his younger days in Hebden Bridge too. Around Cambridge the sun was out much of the time, so I decided to go black and white for the rest of the day, exploring the city centre, seeking out curious scenes and beautiful light.

I could have cropped out the solitary leg from this image, but I decided that leaving told more of a story - as thought the cyclist was chasing her out of his lane!

Why did the pigeon need a bicycle?

Caught in the spotlight

Mind the stripes…

I can’t resist a cute dog and these two were both looking very alert as I bent down to photograph them.

The light along Senate House Passage was interesting and as I waited to catch the shadow of a cyclist in the pool of light this little girl came skipping along, without a care in the world.

I finally caught my cyclist, and captured the shadow of the man behind him with the spoke of his wheel too!

Photos taken 25 February 2025

Rustival

At some of the classic car shows we attend there are restrictions on the types of car you can bring, or perhaps a decree about the age of the vehicle. At the end of September we went to a different sort of show, held at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, where anything and everything was welcome - Rustival.

Alongside the usual classics there were also more modern cars and the one thing they all had in common was they they were their owner’s pride and joy. I particularly liked this Citroen DS - a car which looks as modern today as it did when it was first launched in 1955.

I have no desire to own a big American classic like this, but I’m always drawn to their curvaceous lines and shining chrome!

My favourite photo of the day for its simplicity.

Photos taken 28 September 2024

Bodies of work

When I was invited last year to go and conduct a recorder group in Manchester I immediately decided to use the trip as an opportunity to do some long overdue architectural photography around Salford Quays while I was there. When I arrived there was still a couple of hours left before sunset so I set off to look around and get my bearings, as well as figuring out some possible locations for the following morning.

On the Friday morning a heavy autumn mist had descended on Salford Quays, but that just made things even more atmospheric…

I’d gone to Salford with an open mind about what I might photograph, but I found myself creating several small bodies of work around various parts of the Quays. One of the things that caught my eye was the way the modern architecture on the waterfront was reflected in the shimmering water of the Quays creating colourful abstracts.

While most of my images focus on single buildings, with a vista this dramatic I felt a panorama was also needed to capture the scene, from the Lowry Centre on the left to the Imperial War Museum on the right.

My attempt to create some abstract shapes from the exterior of The Lowry was foiled by this pigeon!

The interior of The Lowry is a riot of colour - a mix of complementary shades of orange and purple. The stark lines of the modern architecture just called out for some minimalist abstracts

Elsewhere in the building the tones are more muted, but no less photogenic.

Another panorama of the Quays - these are the buildings you see in the background on the BBC’s breakfast television show each day!

My circuit of Salford Quays eventually brought me to the Media City Bridge, a cable stay swing bridge which crosses the Manchester Ship Canal, which seemed to call for a monochrome look to highlight its string lines.

Finally I ended my day at the Imperial War Museum. The interior didn’t particularly inspire me, but the curving lines of the exterior have lots of possibilities. I can’t help but wonder what these swooping lines might look like with some low, raking sunshine - a sight I’ll have to hope for on my next visit.

Photos taken 15 November 2024

The magic of candlelight

Last autumn an event popped up on the Southwark Cathedral website which piqued my interest - a candlelit photography evening. I assumed there would be at least some electric lighting so I was surprised to find the Cathedral entirely lit by candles - quite a photographic challenge. Fortunately tripods were permitted, so that made life easier and the slow nature of the photography did at least mean I would have a limited number of images to edit at the end of the evening!

There were only a few dozen of us taking photos so it was easy enough to keep out of each other’s way, and the gloom at the back of many of the scenes made it easier to camouflage the odd photographer who did walk into shot!

As I set up for the photograph below I was initially frustrated when the verger walked into the frame and sat down to check his phone. With hindsight though it’s actually my favourite image of the evening and I think he adds a welcome focus to the picture.

Candlelight reflected off parquet flooring.

Photographs taken 13 November 2024