City Abstracts (January 2023)

A chance free hour provided an opportunity for abstract photography in Nottingham city centre and some subjects both new and old. The new was provided by the renovated bus station and the steps outside Nottingham College followed by canal reflections, an ever changing subject, covered many times over the years.

The bus station exterior is clad in rich earthy tones which complements the blue sky on a sunny day. The framing for the shots needed to take account of the steep point of view and any perspective correction. These were some of the results:

The steps outside the new Nottingham College are designed more for outdoor seating and it was the shadows that particularly caught my eye:

Canal reflections are an engaging subject. It is hard not to end up with hundreds of images. Each canal side building reflects in a different way with a variety of shapes and colours. The resulting photos can look dull on the back of the camera but then come alive when processed with a simple curve or levels adjustment. These are some examples from the many taken on the day:

Kennet & Avon Canal (January 2023)

A non-photographic trip to Wiltshire managed to produce January’s picture of the month and proves the value of always having a camera handy, particularly with a decent zoom capability. It also a reminder that sometimes one photograph is enough to tell the story of any particular day. 

The shot in question, catches sunlight coming through the smoke from a barge, moored on a frozen canal, trying to keep warm. The overhanging branches frame the whole scene. 

Canal Reflections (April 2022)

Canal reflections are one of the most engaging photographic subjects in the city centre. The flow of the water and the occasional wind movements warp the canal-side buildings creating a multitude of abstract opportunities where no two shots are ever the same. 

Added to this mix are the various colours from window frames, signs, canal boats etc. Some of these colours can look dull at the point of capture but this can be corrected or enhanced in photo software. I tend to find that most auto-corrections are enough to cut through the canal’s murkiness although a further boost of clarity always helps the final results:

City Canal (July 2020)

I have enough photographs from my session along the city canal in Nottingham to create another post. The first edit left out some images that I now think should be added to my photographic record of the day. This often happens when editing. I try to pick what I think is the best selection, often using the star rating in Lightroom and then cull to manageable number. Occasionally, maybe a day or so later, I will look at the culled images and think that some should have been in the first pick! 

In addition to the abstract reflections are these images of the canal museum. I particularly liked the arched segmented window over the dock and its reflection. More information about the building which dates from 1895 can be found here:

Lastly, two contrasting appearances of the city canal: a leafy scene in one direction and then graffiti and a road bridge just a little further along the path: