So, why?

SO, why do I enjoy street photography, and why in particular do I enjoy getting up at early o’clock to take pictures around Birmingham?

Well I should first mention that it must be a family thing; my Dad is a professional photographer, he did wedding photos (my own included) and enjoys landscape. My brother is an Army Photographer and has been to Kenya, Belize and eastern Europe. I found I had a thing for it during the pandemic when we were meant to be isolating. I was unable to sleep one night, and I wondered what Birmingham was like being all empty so I jumped in the car armed with my Pixel 4 smartphone and took a few pictures. I enjoyed the lighting that the early morning gave me, also the peacefulness and the fact it was pretty much me, on my own.

So my photos went on instagram and facebook, and people said they were decent and I should go to college to study photography and take it further. So at the ripe age of 40 I enrolled at the City of Wolverhampton College and passed a level 2 in photographer (equivalent to a gcse) then returned again to secure a level 3 (A level). Both qualifications are awarded by the University Of Arts College in London, and are internationally recognised…..

Anyway, street photography…..

Basically, I enjoy it. I enjoy seeing the leading lines. The different light and shadows. A fleeting moment than will be lost forever. The reflections. The quietness, or the noise.

And Birmingham?

Well in a former life I worked as a receptionist at a busy and popular hotel in Birmingham. I checked out a guest one morning and when I asked if he enjoyed his stay, he replied he will never return to such a drab concrete jungle. Well to be fair he had a point, smallbrook queensway (where the hotel is based) is a concrete jungle (sorry not sorry) but not all of it. Digeth is the epicenter of all that is cool about the UK’s second city. Birmingham has miles of canals. The beautiful edgbaston reservoir is ten minutes out of the city. Further a filed you have the licky hills and waseley common. And of course in 2022 Birmingham hosted the commonwealth games.

And its not just Birmingham where I enjoy taking photos. There’s Wolverhampton, Dudley, and Bilston which are all part of the Black Country.

Have camera, will shoot!!