During a recent visit to Europe I transited via Birmingham Airport and to break up the journey, I spent the evening and half a day in central Birmingham, at a Premier Inn located at the famous Bullring shopping district. Goodness, there am I taking a holiday from the shopping capital of the world only to stay in another mall? However, I found the whole photographic experience very different compared to the sights, sounds, light and fragrances of the Middle East.
So a murkey day in rainy Birmingham was going to be a challenge. As the girls went off to do some retail therapy they left me to my own devices. So me and the Fuji decided to head off and try and grab some interesting shots.
First off I was looking out the window and saw the tram directly beneath us. Whilst we have a metro in Dubai, it is up in the air as opposed to something which integrates in to the daily hustle and bustle of life.
It was such fun walking the streets in the UK. The people, architecture and textures were so different.
I took the picture below as I particularly liked the idea of a flower seller in a concrete jungle.
I also decided that I needed to locate the famous Bull and take a couple of photos of my own.
Having photographed said Bull from anterior and posterior it was mission accomplished and as the rain came lashing down, (I now remember why I like living in the Middle East so much), I headed back indoors to see how the UK Mall experience, from a photography perspective, differed from my regular friday outings at The Dubai Mall.
Actually I was pleasantly surprised. Since I now carry my camera everywhere (the benefit of the wonderful Fuji X Series system of cameras and lenses) I have become more acutely aware of my surroundings and it did not take long to find a few interesting subjects.
I then came across this wonderful barbers shop. It was a bit of a juxtaposition in that it was really trendy and modern yet in an "old school" and traditional sort of way.I really liked the scene and especially the lighting.
I also came across this really interesting Lebanese Restaurant, Le Comptoir Libanais. When I walked in it was so vibrant and I was immediately greeted by a charming young lady, who only happened to have grown up in Abu Dhabi. What a small world! She was delightful and let me take a few shots of her and the restaurant.
Then, as I was really getting in to my photographic stride, the lights went out! Story of my life. The whole mall was plunged in to darkness as someone, somewhere, had clearly pulled the wrong plug out of the wrong socket.
So, security marched us all outside and as we were standing around in the freezing cold I noticed a group of restaurant employees all standing together having a cigarette break. I just loved the scene and contrast between them and their surroundings. The flip screen and silent shutter of the Fuji meant I could take this shot without anyone being the wiser.
So I headed back to our hotel, pleased with my first opportunity to try out some street photography in the UK and looking forward to a return visit and to exploring the parts of central Birmingham that I missed due to the good old British Weather!