lee.stephens' photostream  

... make lemonade.

It was very dismal and dreary in Manchester this week. I nearly didn't take the camera. I certainly figured there'd be nothing worth getting it out of my bag for. But then I spotted another photographer. As I often do, I looked to see what it was he'd spotted and the only thing I could see that might be interesting was the fact that the top of the Beetham Tower was lost in the mist. A little while later, I spotted an opportunity for something I figured might work. So here it is, the grandeur of the Deansgate Terrace, a magnificent brick structure, I think built for the London & North East Railway (LNER) in the foreground and the tower, the tallest in the UK outside London, receding into the mist.

Apparently the terrace was built in 1898 to hide the Great Northern Warehouse which was considered ugly at the time. The tower is a Hilton Hotel up to level 22, then it cantilevers out 4 metres where there is a bar called Cloud 23. Above are apartments from level 25 up to the triplex penthouse on level 47. It also hums during windy weather, the hum has been recorded at a B below a middle C.

I've deliberately processed it with that misty, drizzly, mizzly feel.

52 Weeks of Manchester is a project to document a city I visit several times each week. I plan to take a few pictures each week. I'm putting the good ones in a stack and I'll post a shot each week over the course of a year. Comments and questions are always welcome, especially critique!

It's been a tough day today, but here's a sunshine moment to end it. I spotted this fence the day before I took this shot, took some pictures and the very next day when the sun was out did the same again, what a difference the light makes.

I hope you all have a wonderful relaxing weekend. I need one!

52 Weeks of Manchester is a project to document a city I visit several times each week. I plan to take a few pictures each week. I'm putting the good ones in a stack and I'll post a shot each week over the course of a year. Comments and questions are always welcome, especially critique!

TIme for another looking up at architecture shot, b&w was the way to go with this one. A gorgeous shape to this building in Spinningfields. Didn't notice the name, I'll have to go back and check it.

Not a lot of originality in this shot, but I like it.

52 Weeks of Manchester is a project to document a city I visit several times each week. I plan to take a few pictures each week. I'm putting the good ones in a stack and I'll post a shot each week over the course of a year. Comments and questions are always welcome, especially critique!

Found in a back street, graffiti'd onto a wooden panel over a window. I'll know not to offer any young gentlemen of the 'hood any such snacks (if I'd taken leave of my senses and was eating some.) For those outside of the UK, Wotsits are the leading brand of cheese puffs.

I loved this the moment I spotted it. I tried a contextual shot of the graffiti in the environment, but the simple version was much clearer.

52 Weeks of Manchester is a project to document a city I visit several times each week. I plan to take a few pictures each week. I'm putting the good ones in a stack and I'll post a shot each week over the course of a year. Comments and questions are always welcome, especially critique!

Found off the usual pedestrian routes. I loved the faded detail of the (I assume) former occupants.

A detail shot, so, just a portrait to go in order to cover off the original brief!

52 Weeks of Manchester is a project to document a city I visit several times each week. I plan to take a few pictures each week. I'm putting the good ones in a stack and I'll post a shot each week over the course of a year. Comments and questions are always welcome, especially critique!

Happy New Year to you all!