I may well remember, remember the fifth of November, but, for the life of me, I can't quite remember where I took this photograph. In my defence, I could add that it was almost sixty years ago and the building was on its last legs then. I have a feeling it was on the hillside … Continue reading Remember?
Picture Window
One of the windows at Cannon Hall in Barnsley had a mesh screen on it. It did interesting things to the shapes. The window frame became a picture frame. The exhibition inside became a viewing platform for the exhibition outside.
Burnt Cotton
This image is taken from a 1903 picture postcard of the River Calder in Brighouse. The card, which is from my collection, was sent in October 1903, and the message on the reverse states, "We have just been witnessing an enormous fire, a cotton mill burnt to the ground." The mill in question was Ormerod's … Continue reading Burnt Cotton
Conspiracy In Stone
Far be it from me to start a conspiracy theory; I don't like conspiracy theories..... but has anyone else noticed the similarity between the stone cherub carved into the side of Halifax Town Hall and the 47th President of the United States? There is something about that look which makes you wonder whether Calderdale is … Continue reading Conspiracy In Stone
Found Magic
This is another of those "Found Photographs" that inhabit old photo albums of unknown people in unknown places. Part faded and part stained sepia with age, it measured no more than 3 by 2 inches. Nevertheless, it is a work of art that could justify a place in many an art gallery. Zoom in on … Continue reading Found Magic
Reflections On Bull Green
I walked up to Bull Green roundabout the other day to pass the time of day only to discover it wasn't there anymore. One gets used to this kind of thing as one gets older, but even so, it was a bit of a shock. To mark its passing - and the end of October … Continue reading Reflections On Bull Green
Trolley Shelter 3 In Blue
Halifax provides a home for many fine pieces of sculpture. There is, of course, the Duke of Wellington Regiment Memorial at the top of Woolshops, the statue of Prince Albert in Sparrow Park, not to mention a couple of fine pieces by my own brother! But the trolley shelter in the Woolshops Car Park has … Continue reading Trolley Shelter 3 In Blue
Electric Beauty
Built in 1909, Brighouse's Electricity Works, which is situated on the main Bradford to Huddersfield Road immediately next to the canal, is a functional structure built with a Yorkshire faith in substance over style. The exception is the small stone date plaque, which matches in Art Nouveau elegance anything that can be found on the … Continue reading Electric Beauty
Grainy Sheffield
These days you can add grain to an image with a click of a Photoshop filter. Forty-odd years ago, when I took this photograph in Sheffield, grain wasn't an optional add-on; it was the inevitable consequence of a fast film on a dark day. The grainy shapes in the distance are the Hallamshire Hospital and … Continue reading Grainy Sheffield