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Urban and street photography news and essays

Simplifying urban photos

Simplifying urban photos

I was on a walk around the Glasgow University campus in search of interesting scenes that include white combined with another colour. The idea was to simplify the style of my urban photos. I’ll never be a minimal photographer but aiming for a more laconic expression wouldn’t hurt.

How to display photographs in your home Pinterest board

How to display photographs in your home Pinterest board

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED! How many photographs of your friends and family have you got stored on your PC’s hard drive or IPad? What would happen if your hard drive crashes? We are a digital generation but we live in a visual-material environment. Photographs are meant to be printed,…

Glasgow cityscapes and rooftops

Glasgow cityscapes and rooftops

After my foray into the urban aesthetics of back alleys and rubbish bins I decided to explore Glasgow cityscapes and rooftops. I was searching for the juxtaposition of ‘classical’ and industrial forms, textures and materials from an elevated vantage point. The Lighthouse building has two observation platforms and I used them to…

Lanterns for 2016 Burns Carnival

Lanterns for 2016 Burns Carnival

The amazing 3,000 lanterns of various shapes and sizes lit Dumfries streets during last year’s Big Burns Night parade. This year Doonhamers are challenged to break this record with 4,500 lanterns for 2016 Burns Carnival. How are they going to complete such a monumental task? A series of lantern making workshops have been…

Glasgow pre-Xmas 2015 shopping rush

Glasgow pre-Xmas 2015 shopping rush

Just before Christmas I set out to photograph an urban roof cityscape series in Glasgow but was so seduced by bright colours and the whole festive atmosphere that I paused to snap a few street photos of the Glaswegians during their seasonal shopping rush. Unlike the last year I had already missed the “official” Xmas…

Kingholm Quay winter sunset photography

Kingholm Quay winter sunset photography

I witnessed the most amazing sunset through a little window on our landing overlooking Kingholm Quay. Intense reds and oranges lit up the distant skies over the river Nith – and here I was, at home – letting this amazing winter sunset photography opportunity slip through my fingers. For the few past…

Urban picnic at Friars Vennel with Moxie & Co (Part 2)

Urban picnic at Friars Vennel with Moxie & Co (Part 2)

In Part 1 I already shared some images from the first ever Urban Portraits Dumfries project shoot outside Waterstones Dumfries with Moxie, Roman and their three delightful kids (and lots of books). As you remember, we used the magic bag technique. Moxie brought a bag full of unexpected items which we could…

Trompe l’oeils of Friars Vennel

Trompe l’oeils of Friars Vennel

One sunny day in June 2014 I stood with my camera in the middle of Friars Vennel, Dumfries, staring at the row of colourfully painted houses whose façades were decorated by trompe l’oeil murals. There they were  – an illusionary Paws to Buy pet shop, Gifts and Accessories and Byre Antiques, aligned…

Urban photography in Glasgow – back alleys

Urban photography in Glasgow – back alleys

Back alleys, reserved minimalism of exposed pipework, splashes of bright colour against the stonework and cheerful rows of rubbish bins inspired my recent exploration of urban photography in Glasgow. Wandering past a deserted back alley I was struck by the juxtaposition of waste and glamour. A colourful assortment of Glasgow City Council (rather…

Crazy Golf family fun at Dock Park Dumfries

Crazy Golf family fun at Dock Park Dumfries

On a sunny afternoon, armed with a telephoto zoom not to disturb the game, I went to Dock Park to document some families playing crazy golf. Dock Park, developed at the end of the nineteenth century, epitomises the Victorian idea of green spaces in urban centres where people of all…

Massive Outpouring of Love – Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action

Massive Outpouring of Love – Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action

On Saturday I brought some warm clothes to Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action collection hub at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Dumfries. I then stayed behind to document an overwhelming compassionate response to the humanitarian crisis, local community efforts and positive atmosphere at the drop off point. The…

Lunch at The Shabby Scholar, Carlisle

Lunch at The Shabby Scholar, Carlisle

I went to Carlysles Court to take just a couple of images for a student area guide as The Shabby Scholar, an award-winning boutique-style tapas bar that is located there, was recommended as one of the best and amiable places for students.  An urban gem situated in a cosy courtyard in…