New Month, New Interpretation

The start of a new month and the start of a new season (meteorologically speaking). Here is a new interpretation of a photograph I originally took some 16 years ago of Shepherds Thorn Lane where I have walked a succession of dogs over the last twenty-five years. New month, new interpretation - same old beauty.

Halifax Faces

Towards the end of the 19th century, most towns would have at least one professional photographer's studio. It was a time when ordinary people began to have their photos taken, and such photographs - in the form of small "carte de visites" or slightly larger "cabinet cards" - became family treasures. The studios were keen … Continue reading Halifax Faces

Antiquity And Modernity

I seem to remember - although it was almost sixty years ago - I was trying to capture the contrast between the antiquity of the statues in People's Park, Halifax, and the modernity of what was then Percival Whitley College in the background. Now the bits of that building that remain within the shell of … Continue reading Antiquity And Modernity

Soul, Grace And Majesty

Stand on any hillside surrounding Halifax, and you should be able to make out the town's three great spires: Square Church, the Town Hall, and All Soul's Church. Perhaps the most majestic of the three is Sir George Gilbert Scott's graceful All Soul's which stands on Haley Hill just north of the town centre. Scott … Continue reading Soul, Grace And Majesty

The First Tram In Space

This is a view of a road I knew so well. I used to walk down from school and then take a short cut from Clover Hill Road to Well Head and then the Bus Station for the bus home. There won't have been tram lines there in my school days, but somehow the memories … Continue reading The First Tram In Space

Monochrome Home

There is something about old black and white photographs - the way they flatten and simplify scenes; the way they mask so much and reveal even more. I'm sure we saw scenes in black and white as soon as we looked through the viewfinder back in those days - we had monochrome eyes. Colour was … Continue reading Monochrome Home

An Excursion To Burslem

We all have ways of passing the hours; exercises in pointless occupation that relax and revive our troubled minds. I like to wander through my old negative albums trying to track down where I took photographs half a century or more ago. Today's excursion on Google Earth took me down Newcastle Street, Burslem - fifty-four … Continue reading An Excursion To Burslem

Ring O’Bells

I took this photo of the Ring O'Bells pub in Halifax over 50 years ago. You can tell it's old, not because its a black and white photo (there are filters that can fake that), nor because the building is old (it's even older now). It's partly the signage - or lack of it - … Continue reading Ring O’Bells

A Portrait Of Lena

Dear Lucy, Just a card to wish you many happy returns of the day. I had not got a proper birthday card so I thought perhaps you would like this as well. It is not a very good one but you can see who it is. I remain yours sincerely, Lena Bush.