Tag: night photography

December 2nd – Coming up from Caldmore (‘Karma’ to locals), passing over Church Hill in Walsall at 6pm, I couldn’t resist a few night shots around the church. The view of Paddock, is one I’ve found fascinating for years, particularly at night. Just about the last large concentration of tower blocks in Walsall, oddly they survived whilst others were demolished. The church and grounds are wonderfully atmospheric at night and offer great views of the marketplace and beyond to the north, and the Ditch area and Ablewell Street to the east. A century ago I’d have been overlooking a heaving, densely packed slum. How times change.

November 27th – today, I have a cold and didn’t feel too much like exerting myself. I finally forced myself out as the daylight was dying, and after a surprisingly energetic thrash over the common, I headed north over Chasewater. The moon – not quite new, I think, but quite slender – and clear air made for a decent sunset. It’s been a long time since I went round Chasewater in the dark, and I forgot how exhilarating and beautiful it could be.

November 25th – Sadly, I took some photos this morning that weren’t good enough to use, so today, I just have these I took at Rushall Church on the way home from work. There’s been a church here since 1220; the current one – The Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel – being built around 1856, with the elegant, thin spire added later in place of an older, square one that was thought to have been centuries old. It’s a gorgeous church, tucked away in the side streets off the Lichfield Road in an almost rural location; at night it’s beautifully lit and brilliantly atmospheric, with the busy, crowded churchyard adding to the atmosphere. At 6pm I was undisturbed and the church and surrounding streets eerily quiet. A hidden gem.

November 18th – The night photos continue. Sorry if you’re getting bored with them, I am trying to vary them a bit, it’s just that I’m mostly on my bike right now when it’s dark, and today was no exception. I escaped for a spin over to Whittington at 4pm, and was captivated by the traffic when crossing the A38 footbridge at Weeford. Looking south, the top photo shows traffic on the A38 itself, Little Hay Lane and M6 toll, off to the right. The lower picture was taken on the flyover taking Jerry’s Lane over the A5 Bypass near Packington Moor, with Lichfield TV transmitter in the background. I’ve been trying variants of these for a while and these are the first such long-exposure shots I’ve been happy with. Oh well – should see some daylight tomorrow…

November 17th – I had hoped to break the chain of night photos today, but it wasn’t to be. The daytime was grey and distinctly unphotogenic, and coming back from Rugeley in the dark at 6pm, passing through Chorley, near Burntwood, I took this. The Nelson isn’t a pub I’ve frequented much, but in winter, or when returning from a long ride at night, the lights of this welcoming, handsome inn tell me that I’m nearly home. 

November 15th – when people from outside visit Lichfield, they expect it to be rather twee and quite rural, as the guide books would have us believe. However, those knowing the city well realise that there are bits that are very, very urban, like here at Stowe, on Eastern Avenue. The flats, urban environment and traffic are worthy of any suburb of Birmingham, and are reminiscent of Erdington. Maybe Brownhills isn’t so far away from it’s posh neighbour, after all…

November 14th – Leamonsley is old, old Lichfield. Up until about 20 years ago, it was a distinct village, or hamlet on the Walsall Road into Lichfield, but it has since been laid siege to by modern housing estates and ribbon development. Subsumed by the terribly expansive sprawl of an expanding city, the once separate community retains it’s architectural and social identity, as well as one of the best – probably the best in my opinion – church in Lichfield. Unusually, the street lighting here is provided by very white metal halide lamps which give the streets an eerie atmosphere after nightfall. I love this place.

November 14th – Although Lichfield has lost many of it’s public houses, the rot doesn’t seem as bad in the city as elsewhere in the Midlands, possibly due to the tourist trade. There are many bars scattered about the centre, often with individual styles, quirks and features. I’ve never drank in the Horse and Jockey in Sandford Street, but it sure looks gorgeous at night.

November 14th – Lichfield Trent Valley railway station at night appears even more grim than it does in the day. The harsh lighting, surprisingly dark corners and hard, human-unfreindly surfaces make it oddly photogenic. I hate this station with a passion, and curse every time I carry my bike over that footbridge, but the metalwork and gas discharge lighting hold my attention at night. Dystopia or beauty? I can’t decide.