We arrived in Manchester round 10:30 and went to see the current exhibition of Hip-Hop at the Urbis. This was not really my cup of tea - as I never really got into this genre of music, must be my age. Don't get me wrong, the exhibits were interesting and informative. We stayed for about an hour and half and then hit the streets of Manchester!!!
The day was overcast but dry - this gave any building taken a neutral background, which I happen to like. The first set of image were taken around the Urbis building and surrounding area. I had decided to use digital format due to its flexibility and I wanted to capture colour and manipulate thereafter in CS4.
I took this first image for the shape and the aqua colour of the glass. The side of the building has a ghosting effect that looked interesting. As the building is quite tall I chose the widest lens in my kit - 20mm prime. As there was movement in front of the building I chose a fairly fast speed at 125th Sec. I also wanted a large portion of the building in focus so a long D.O.F was used - F11. If I was to shoot this again I would put the camera on a tri-pod and slow the shutter speed down. That way the movement of people would become blurred and add to the ghost effect of the building.
Image 2 was shot for its shape and interesting structure. I have also chosen to change this to grayscale as I thought it would just simplify the image with its complicated structure. A fast shutter speed was chosen (although the wheel was stationery at the time of capture) 125th sec. Same lens as before as I wanted to get as much of the wheel in view as possible, then by moving closer crop the frame as appropriate. F22 for aperture to get as much detail of the background buildings. If taking this image again as with picture 1, I would mount on a tri-pod and use a slow shutter speed to get movement in the picture, taking a number of images at a slightly different angel. These images then could be overlayed each other in Photoshop to create one picture. A bit like Idris Khan image of all the Bechers Gas holders.
The first image was taken for the glass squares and how the perspective changes against the stone pavement. Also, the reflective property of the glass captures interesting shapes. I used 28mm prime lens as I wanted to focus in this perspective effect. F18 for a long D.O.F.
Image 2 was taken purely for its many, different shapes. I also wanted to show the old with the Tudor style building, the 60s with the Arndale square block, and the modern with the big wheel. I chose grayscale as I think the image suits the better contrast this effect gives - see image below for a colour version.
I took this image for its graphic frontage. I was trying to get that Eggleston look. This didn't quite work. I needed to be a lot closer to the graphics, with far more colour in the composition. I also need a different angle to shoot from. Camera data 28mm lens, f18, 125th Sec.
Image 2 is just a different view point of the big wheel. The perspective of this shot was intriguing. All the lines draw your eyes into the composition.
Image 1 is a slightly different shot of the above but in colour. Image 2 was taken for the perspective - the eye being drawn into the composition. At this angle the reflective nature of the building is also increased.
Both these images were taken in response to a lecture given by Chris Aughton on Urban Art. Chris highlights the space invader artist who invaded cities with his mosaic designs. He also gave guidance on street art, tagging and stenciling. I took the first image as it's one I have walked passed many times when I worked in Manchester, but gave it little thought. I liked the position of the extractor fans above the design. Camera data 20mm prime lens f8 at 125th second.
Image one, yes you guessed, was taken to get that Eggleston look. The vibrant colours and graphics particularly attracted me - its what you expect from this type of shop. Camera data: 20mm prime lens, f2.8 and 125th second. Image 2 is of a Tag as highlight in Chris Urban lecture. I took this image for the background colour as much as the graffiti. Camera data: 20mm prime lens, f4 at 125th second.
Then it was a short trip across town to Salford. We had the options of the Lowery and Imperial War Museum North. At the Lowery there was an exhibition by the photographers Anderson and Low of a circus troupe based on the exotic cost of Blackpool. These were amazing photographs. The photographers really captured the artistry of the performers within in the compositions. I can highly recommend this exhibition. When I came out of the Lowery I took the chance to take some images whilst walking to the War museum.
Both these images were taken for there shapes and structure.
This first image reminded me of some of the cubist paintings seen whilst research the subject for History of Image. The next set of images where taken with the Bechers in mind. As I found out its very hard to get into a position to take that very flat monotone style the Bechers are renowned for. By studying the Bechers I have learnt the art of looking for the beauty in the mundane!!
These were the last shots of the day as is was time to see the Don McCullin exhibition. I had been to the National Media Museum in Bradford last year to see McCullins exhibition on Northern Life. Both these exhibitions show McCullin's mastery of photograph. He has a unique way of capture emotion within his compositions. With this new exhibition McCullin has demonstrated the horror of war but has also cleansed himself from some of the horrors he has seen and captured. His images never glorified war but tried to show empathy with his subject. I got the impression he has been able to move on from this period in his life, and is using his skill to capture remarkable landscapes.
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