Filmwasters

Which Board? => Photo Essays => Topic started by: This-is-damion on March 02, 2013, 01:39:40 PM

Title: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: This-is-damion on March 02, 2013, 01:39:40 PM
So this was actually my attempt for the recent collab -stranger in a strange land - I only got the film back today. Instead of wasting my efforts its here in a small essay...  a document of my walk to work through the centre of Birmingham - taken over 10 days (just to clarify -the walk only takes about 10 minutes as the crow flies...not 10 days)

Mid Feb, 6.15am in Birmingham is not the warmest place to stand around for 25 minutes - still I like it because only an hour or so later and it starts to fill up with people, cars, vans

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8521468644_ee84205398.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8521468644/)
back of new street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8521468644/#) by This-is-rice (http://www.flickr.com/people/thisisrice/), on Flickr

Since they built the Mailbox, this previously undesirable underpass now how has coloured lights and attracts a better class of glue sniffer.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8520357083_6f23014b23.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8520357083/)
underpass2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8520357083/#) by This-is-rice (http://www.flickr.com/people/thisisrice/), on Flickr

Victoria square houses one of Birminghams best buildings.. The Central Library.  Its been called all sorts of things from a monstrosity to a horrible concrete box  - I'm a big fan though, it has character and its different from the bland modern buildings that have followed it.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8384/8521469384_399775af12.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8521469384/)
victoria square (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8521469384/#) by This-is-rice (http://www.flickr.com/people/thisisrice/), on Flickr

Like an Architectural slap in the face - next up is the new Library - considering there is nothing wrong with the old one and given the state of the economy I thought £188mm was a bit toppy for a second library only 30 seconds walk from the existing one but what do I know.. I'm only a rational human being working far too many hours to pump my tax dollars into a second library. 

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8521469774_1b809d7224.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8521469774/)
The new library (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8521469774/#) by This-is-rice (http://www.flickr.com/people/thisisrice/), on Flickr

Finally all good things must come to an end... I arrive at work just in time to clock in at 7am for a another fun filled 12 hour day mindlessly twatting my life up the wall.   On the plus side they do have a nice atrium.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8520358225_133cd9b650.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8520358225/)
office 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/8520358225/#) by This-is-rice (http://www.flickr.com/people/thisisrice/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: Phil Bebbington on March 02, 2013, 07:09:16 PM
Nice work, Damion. The beauty of you missing the cut is that we get to see the lot!
Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: LT on March 02, 2013, 09:00:02 PM
These are great. I love how they get lighter in sequence - like you took them all on the same walk to work.
Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: Francois on March 02, 2013, 09:29:51 PM
Good series.
Somehow, I think it's probably nicer the other way around (Leave work, walk around the city before going to bed)
Title: RE: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: This-is-damion on March 03, 2013, 12:24:03 PM
Im pretty pleased with how they turned out, except none of the expected people trails appeared..... I might continue it for a few more weeks
Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_342 using Board Express
Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: Ed Wenn on March 04, 2013, 03:49:21 PM
Damion, this is a great series; clean and a little bit haunting. It's just a shame your commentary was so serious. Lighten up dude.
 8) :D ;D
Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: Ed Wenn on March 04, 2013, 03:50:04 PM
Quote from: This-is-damion on March 02, 2013, 01:39:40 PM
Finally all good things must come to an end... I arrive at work just in time to clock in at 7am for a another fun filled 12 hour day mindlessly twatting my life up the wall.   On the plus side they do have a nice atrium.

Possibly my quote of the year so far.....
Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: This-is-damion on March 04, 2013, 06:16:06 PM
Cheers Ed....

The Atrium has the effect of making me look like a newsreader when im on a video call.

Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: Ed Wenn on March 06, 2013, 11:36:26 PM
And here is today's skinhead news....

(Sent from Tapatalk 2)

Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: astrobeck on April 24, 2013, 03:15:29 PM
Not a too shabby walk to work you have there.

Most cities have a certain amount of atmospheric grime about them...this looks all shiny.

Enjoyed it!  :)
Title: Re: Walking to work through an empty Birmingham
Post by: John on May 12, 2013, 12:25:54 PM
Impressive stuff Damion, nicely done. So hard to get the shadows and highlights right in this type of photography. First 2 shots are my favourites.