The Riverside pub sits right next to the River Don at Neepsend in Sheffield, and on the river wall is a wonderful piece of work by local artist Phlegm.
Nikon F80, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 15 February 2020
Tag: Sheffield
A rainy Saturday morning
Although I have a lot of photos in my archive that have never been featured in the blog, and which I can easily delve into if I need to, I always feel slightly unsettled if I don’t have a supply of fresh images to use. There have been time where I’ve had several rolls all lined up to be scanned and chosen from, but at present I feel I’m running a little hand-to-mouth where new images are concerned.
Partly as a result of these feelings, despite the fact it was wet, windy, stormy weather at the weekend, I took a trip up town on Saturday morning to finish off the roll of HP5+ I’d started the day before when I made my competition entries.
I don’t mind wet weather – it’s far preferable to dry but flat overcast days as a rainy day throws up all manner of interesting possibilities (albeit with the side-effect of you having to try and keep your camera dry) – but as it was also windy it meant that, even getting the camera out of the bag for short periods would invariably involve a constant battle to keep (and wipe) water droplets from both the camera and lens. As a result of this several of the shots from the roll are not my best – there are a number of misses where I rushed things, and a couple of almost completely blank frames which I think might be from putting the camera in the bag without turning it off and then accidentally firing the shutter.
Nevertheless, I still have enough shots that I like to keep the blog going until I get the next processed roll back.
Today’s pair of images are taken a stone’s throw from one another (the same building can be seen in each) in Sheffield’s Kelham Island area, a former run-down industrial quarter that is now under the process of upmarket gentrification, and which I’ve photographed on several occasions.
Nikon F80, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 15 February 2020
K.I.S.S.I.N.G.
Painted on the wall of Fagan’s pub on Broad Lane in Sheffield, this lovely piece of art – named “The Snog” – hopefully cheers up commuters heading out of town at the end of the day.
Quite often there are cars parked in the space in front of the wall which block the view, but as there were none there on this day, I made a photo.
It was painted by local artist Pete McKee and if you click this link, you can find out more about it and even see a video of its creation.
Nikon F80, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 2 February 2020
Soon to be gone
A short distance south from Haggler’s Corner (see yesterday’s post) is a short row of businesses, only one of which remains trading – a wooden staircase manufacturer and supplier called Heeley Stairparts. Alas, this too is soon to close its doors. The reason for this is that there is a plan to widen Queen’s Road at this point, meaning that this row of buildings needs to be demolished.
I discovered this when a lady across the street from me noticed me taking photographs and asked what I was doing. As the road here is very busy, I couldn’t make out what she was saying so crossed the road once the way was clear. It turned out that she was the owner of the staircase business and thought I was from the council – she’d heard that the council sometime photograph buildings that are due for demolition (I have no idea if this is the case or not).
I quickly reasured her that I wasn’t there in any official capacity and had just been attracted by the low sunlight on the buildings (although these shots are B&W, the storefront is a light green colour that was glowing in the light), and we chatted for awhile about the reasons for the demolition and how it was a shame that so many older buildings in the city are torn down for re-development rather than being repaired and restored.
I’m not a stick-in-the-mud who opposes all new development – far from it in fact – and understand that sometimes buildings pass their useful lifespan, or are simply unsuitable for restoration, and this row of shops doesn’t stand out for any particular reason amongst others in the city – apart from than the staircase store, the other buildings seemed pretty run down. Nevertheless it’s a shame that the woman’s business is going to disappear and I wish her well in her future endeavours.
Pentax Espio 140M & Kentmere 400.
Taken on 18 January 2020
Haggler’s Corner
Hagglers Corner is a multi-functional space just on the outskirts of Sheffield city centre. It hosts live music and other events, has a cafe, a shop and provides spaces for local makers of things. I didn’t get chance to go in on the outing, but will try and make sure I give myself time to do so next time I pass.
Although this picture doesn’t really indicate so, Queen’s Road is a busy thoroughfare, being one of the main arteries into and out of the city centre. I managed to find a brief spell with a gap in the traffic to take my photo that emphasises the road leading into shot (and the zig-zag road markings denoting the Pelican Crossing.
The two towers above the roof of Haggler’s Corner are minarets belonging to the Madina Masjid that sits a short distance beyond.
Pentax Espio 140M & Kentmere 400.
Taken on 18 January 2020
The Old Queen’s Head
Dating back almost 550 years, the Old Queen’s Head is the oldest surviving domestic building in Sheffield, constructed at the end of the Plantagenet period. The building became a pub in the 1860s when the venue next door extended into this one. Prior to this the buidling was used as a house and may have been a banqueting hall before that. Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisonned in Sheffield in the late 16th century (although not in this building!) and it’s believed that this is where the pubs name is derived.
Holga 120N & Kodak Tmax 400.
Taken on 10 January 2020
Crucible Theatre
This is The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. It was opened in 1971 and, as well as hosting plays and similar performances, has been the venue for the World Snooker Championship since 1977. The theatre has an unusual stage layout with the audience sitting around three of its sides. The building holds Grade II listed status.
Just opposite (to the right of the scene in this photo) lies the Lyceum Theatre, a more traditional (and older – dating back 120 years) venue.
Holga 120N & Kodak Tmax 400.
Taken on 10 January 2020
I am not a number! I am a free man!
A small, selfie me, trapped in one of the spherical water features in Sheffield’s Millennium Square.
Holga 120N & Kodak Tmax 400.
Taken on 10 January 2020
Looking down towards Sheffield
This is the view from the edge of Lady Canning’s Plantation looking back towards Sheffield city centre, which lies around 4.5 miles away. It’s a nice illustration of how close you are to rolling countryside just a hop and a skip from town. The large block of a building that sits to the left of the image is the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
I think I botched the exposure somewhat as the shadowy area of the wall is showing significant grain. I love my OM-1, but it’s relatively simple metering can sometimes fool me into picking the wrong shutter speed / aperture combo.
Olympus OM-1, Zuiko 28mm f/3.5 & Ilford Delta 400.
Taken on 30 December 2019
Nineteen
A shot taken a couple of days before Christmas in typically wet UK December conditions. It was raining quite heavily when I took this so I perhaps rushed the shot a little. With hindsight I should have either gotten lower or angled the camera down to get more of the reflection in frame (and at the same time removing some of the somewhat uninteresting sky). I have thought about cropping it, but in the end decided not to.
I do like it though, and think it might be worth a re-visit if there are similar wet conditions (and an empty car park) again at some point.
Zeiss Mess-Ikonta 524/16 & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 23 December 2019
