Christmas in Manchester

December 20, 2020December 19, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

Christmas may be a smaller celebration in 2020, but it hasn’t stopped Manchester putting on its finest illuminations, bringing bling and bokeh to the city. READ MORE BELOW

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: The Ivy, Spinningfields

: Manchester Cathedral

: Exchange Square

: Exchange Square

: Spinningfields

: Royal Exchange Arcade

: Exchange Square

: St Peter’s Square

: House of Fraser, Deansgate

: Deansgate

: Spinningfields

: Deansgate Square

: St Peter’s Square

: Manchester Cathedral

I chose a dry, mild evening to walk a large circuit around Manchester city centre, stopping often to capture the lights.

There’s restaurant The Ivy’s declaration of love to the city, which has become an Instagram hit.

But my favourite is the cathedral tree which is a glittering frame with not a pine needle in sight.

The scourge of Covid is on the rise again and this Christmas is like no other. No matter how you’re spending it this year, have a safe and happy one.

Salford in lights

December 18, 2016December 17, 2016 / mikeosbornphoto / 18 Comments

During these long winter nights, Salford Quays is a blaze of light with its brightly illuminated modern high rises. But it’s been enhanced with a series of art installations around MediaCityUK which come into their own after dark. There are astronauts and Doctor Who icons, plastic trees and a mesmerising flotilla of little boats on the water which are bringing more visitors than usual to this corner of Manchester.

There are plenty of photographers among them, trooping around the quays with their tripods in tow. This spectacle is on the doorstep of my workplace, so I just had to join the crowd. If you’re quick you can catch the last night of Lightwaves 2016 on 18 December.

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A Christmas album

December 20, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

Christmas means a lot of things to an awful lot of people. Even to a photographer – who doesn’t really enjoy the festive season – it means something. Beautiful shiny little objects, blazing colours, warm light, bold bokeh and a great opportunity to capture a particular mood. I took my bagful of seasonal booty and photographed them in full daylight, then at dusk with candlelight and some background fairy lights.

I hope you enjoy this little essence of the season and have a very enjoyable Christmas.

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Juicy fruit

July 5, 2015July 5, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

This is the recipe for a sublime summer afternoon in west London. First, go and buy a delicious pile of seasonal fruits – strawberries, cherries, apricots, nectarines and blackberries among others. Then clip on your macro lens, set up your tripod and photograph them.

Home has a bright, airy loft conversion with plenty of white surfaces – a good impromptu studio space with ample light. The fruit behaved themselves and were happy to pose. The cherries even appreciated a misting of water in the heat to add depth and create bokeh.

And the best outcome of all – plenty of delicious fruit to eat and enjoy after the shoot. Surely it’s not unethical to consume your subjects?…