Sorting through some old photographs of mine from half a century or more ago, I came across this one of the then Halifax Parish Church (now, Halifax Minster). Dating the photograph is tricky - the fabric of the church itself hasn't changed all that much in centuries. The real time-stamp is, of course, Beacon Hill … Continue reading Minster Memories
Found, Preserved And Shared
This photograph, taken 100 years ago in Andermatt, Switzerland, perfectly illustrates the joy of Found Photographs. The ability of a handful of grey and sepia tones to capture an age and tell a story is, as always, astonishing. Such lost and forgotten works of art deserve finding, preserving and sharing.
A Pint In Paris
Although I took this photograph over forty years ago, not all that much has changed in the intervening years. The signage on the Shears Inn has changed, along with the chimney pots, and there is a good deal more vegetation around these days. It is, however, still worth wandering down from Halifax town centre to … Continue reading A Pint In Paris
The Grocer Of Mirfield
I bought this old Victorian studio portrait by the Huddersfield photographer William Sellman for a few pence from a second-hand stall. A written caption identified the sitter as the delightfully named Booth Denton, who turns out to have been a prominent grocer from Mirfield, a couple of miles down the road from where I live. … Continue reading The Grocer Of Mirfield
Plastic Skittle
Ask me for one of my most endearing visual memories of Halifax in the 1960s and 70s and I’d say the 14 foot high plastic bowling pin that graced the top of the Halifax Bowl at the junction of Broad Street and Orange Street. It seems like it was one of the most permanent features … Continue reading Plastic Skittle
Van Gogh In Thurgoland
We took a walk down this footpath last week, and there was something almost Van Goghian about the scene. When I got home, I asked my mate AI to translate my photo, and my thoughts, into a new reality, and this is what it came up with.
A Sepia Milestone
Sixteen years ago, as a bit of a joke, I started a on-line weekly forum for sharing old photographs called Sepia Saturday. Over the years, it has brought together people from all over the world who love to share old photographs from their collections. This week is our 800th Sepia Saturday, and my contribution is … Continue reading A Sepia Milestone
Solace In Skeggy
This has always been one of my favourite photographs of the East Coast. I took it in the early 1980s at a time when I was struggling with the gradual loss of my hearing. For whatever reason, those empty skies and forsaken piers seemed to suit my mood at the time. Somewhat strangely, I found … Continue reading Solace In Skeggy
Autumn By Gravity
This little collage of Autumnal fruit and leaves was created by nothing other than gravity (not that I am suggesting that gravity is an insignificant force; it's up there with love and malt whisky in my estimation). It featured in an exhibition held on the driveway of the local crematorium. Well worth a visit.
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