the heart of the birmingham waterways

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 10 November 2023].}

Phil - my friend and fellow photographer - and I have been plotting and planning a photo walk along the Birmingham canals for the last two summers. For various reasons, we didn't manage it.

We came close in mid-June last year, but the day I'd booked a train to head up there, rain was forecast, so we cancelled the day before. The forecast showed heavy rain on the day, so we'd made a good call.

But last weekend, we finally made good on our plans.

We coordinated to meet on the train at Warwick Parkway at about 10:43. However, that meant me waking at 06:00, getting out of bed at 06:30 and leaving my flat at 07:30. I arrived at Marylebone Station at 08:10, about 50 minutes before my train was due to depart, which was even earlier than I'd been aiming for.

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the heart of the birmingham waterways

We set out from Birmingham Moor Street at about 11:20 and walked along the canals from Livery Street Bridge to Spaghetti Junction (the M6/A38 junction), finishing shooting under the bridges at about 15:00.

We walked back to Aston Station, arriving there in time to get out of the rain that had just started and to catch the train back to Birmingham New Street to seek out some food for Phil and a pint for me.

Despite the rain at the tail end of the walk, we had perfect weather and a pleasant and creative day. Phil had technical issues with his camera but managed to work around them to a large extent. I had a minor anxiety attack in the last half hour, heading back from Spaghetti Junction to Aston Station, but it was an otherwise stress-free day as far as my body was concerned.

I shared my iPhone photos from the day on my Instagram on the day and over the following days.

These are just two of the over 300 photographs I took with my D700 in Birmingham.

Thanks to Phil for suggesting the walk and the wide-ranging and engaging conversation throughout.

We'll return in the spring (hopefully!) with some other friends of Phil's to revisit Spaghetti Junction and complete the ambitious circuit he'd set out for us that we didn't manage on Sunday.

cracked and blue

A quick post to say happy birthday to my good friend Phil. And happy 21-year friendversary!

I took this photo during our trip to Chichester in September last year. It reminds me of a lot of his urban texture photography.

first we take manhattan...

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 16 June 2021].}

So, a mere ten days ago, I wrote about feeling like my heart had been torn out of my chest. It turns out he didn't get it all the first time, and today I learned that the hard way.

Yesterday was hard. I was tender and tired and anxious but simultaneously hopeful and cautiously optimistic.

Clearly, I had no idea what today would bring.

I thought the worst would be less time between drinks. I didn't know last drinks had already been called while I was away powdering my nose.

And today, all the fight has gone out of me.

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untitled [tacheles, berlin, germany, 2001]

I didn't get to post a photograph from my travels before I had to take some time out last night, so I'm sharing these 35mm film photos of Tacheles in Berlin that I took in 2000 tonight.

Memories from 20 years ago that might have been revisited with another. But apparently, that's not to be.

Tacheles, as it was in 2000, feels like such an appropriate metaphor for how I feel right now: half-demolished, half-derelict, yet full of art and creativity, and somehow still standing despite everything. Somehow. It also had a beer garden.

I scanned these today from glossy black and white prints with the Photomyne app on my iPhone. For me, it's no substitute for scanning negatives with a proper flatbed scanner. While it may be worthwhile for some, I think I'll save my money to put toward an actual negative and photo scanner so I can share my older work with you from time to time.

Also, after a long week or so of sunshine and warm weather, today is closing with rain as it was ten days ago. I believe a thunderstorm is coming our way.

The rain and The Cure are intermingling to alternately calm me and punctuate my sorrow.

direct your energy

^{[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 10 June 2021].}

Note to self.

I had a productive day today.

I managed to keep my focus for much of the day, though distraction caused by life slowed me down twice during the early afternoon and evening.

After focussing on work for clients for much of the day, I was looking forward to some photo editing but struggled to find the right image that I wanted to share.

I initially wanted to create and post a new lost in her own world collage. But I was struggling to find the right image to add to my template, so I moved on. I didn't want it to be forced.

Then I kept bypassing albums to review for a photo because they were images suited to #TravelTuesday or #SepulchralSunday posts or my Love letters to London.

As I was about to give up and have a cheese and cracker supper while watching some TV, this one popped up. So I edited it on the spot to share.

It's a promo for the gym in an archway in Thamesmead, here in London. But the lines, the light, the colours and the message caught my eye when visiting there in August 2019.

Perhaps I need to get it printed on a canvas to hang in my bedroom/workspace to help me on days when I feel like I'm wading through molasses. On days I'm struggling to see past the latest (emotional, mental, financial) hurdle placed in my path.

terrain de jeux

^{[I originally posted this image as early access for my Patreon patrons on 3 March 2021].}