I never went into Softys’ Hard Stuff. In fact, I only went past it once, during a photo wander around Bolton, which is when I took this photo. The picture has now been used (with permission) by Manchester Evening News in an article about the adult shop’s genesis in a TV programme and subsequent run-ins with the law.
I went for a walk around the Northern Quarter, and then some other bits of central Manchester, and took a few photos in the low afternoon sun.
As yesterday was the first day for a week where it wasn’t pouring down, I grabbed the chance to head into the city centre and do some writing. Once I’d got a thousand or so words out, it was time to take the new camera, and have a walk through the back streets on the edge of the centre. There are still some run down buildings in the Northern Quarter, but also a number of more surprisingly unused ones nearer to Piccadilly. I also found an industrial age chimney, rising up out of a building halfway between a couple of the busier streets, that I swear I had never even noticed before.
Enjoy the gallery (you may have to click on the image to see it at Flickr). I have also added some of the images to the Ruins of Manchester collection in my Redbubble shop, so you can get prints, cards, and other items with them on.
Not only is it corrosive of press freedom but creation of the collective visual history of our country is extinguished by anti-terrorist legislation designed to protect the heritage it prevents us recording.
This campaign is for everyone who values visual imagery, not only photographers.
We must work together now to stop this before photography becomes a part of history rather than a way of recording it.
I’ve just printed out their bust card in case I’m stopped next time I’m photographing anywhere.
via BoingBoing
Or even don’t not photograph infrastructure, as the guy in this video was arrested twice despite not taking the pictures the Police accused him of. I was stopped at the Labour conference last year because I was walking around the G-Mex taking pictures of the security perimeter. I don’t know what it is about me that kept me safe from further harassment, mybe my jovial nature.
via BoingBoing
Not by me, I’m far too lazy. Sarah Hartley at The Mancunian Way has looked into access issues for photography in Manchester’s public buildings.
And the man himself is trying to make that easier by sharing his secrets for great nude photography.
Warning– All the links in this post are to pictures of naked women. Depending upon where you work, you may not want to click through until you’re certain no-one’s looking.
I want to be a photographer for the Domai website. Not only do they get to photograph gorgeous women they get to do so in some incredible locations.
There’s a special offer on for the rest of the month, so you can get more of the gorgeousness for less if you’re quick.
I’ve installed a firmware update to my camera that allows me to take a series of photos at set intervals, the perfect basis for a time lapse video. Once I’ve got enough pictures I shall have a go at assembling them. This piece outlines one technique I can use.