Author: mikeosbornphoto

Fifty shades of blue

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July has been a month of grey clouds and heavy rain here in the UK. There’s been little blue sky and that invigorating, electrifying colour.

I’ve combed back over five years of photographs to bring you this true blue gallery from travels near and far.

The Croatian coast produced a post dedicated to blue back in 2017, while Salford – just a walk away from my Manchester home – can dazzle on a bright day.

Do the blues put you in a good mood? Please share your thoughts below!

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Manchester summer

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July. While southern Europe battled wildfires in intense heat, Manchester and the UK were stuck in a rut of cool temperatures and torrential rain.

Here’s an ode to June, when dry and sunny weather graced this city.

It was an era of warm photography walks in my neighbourhood of Castlefield.

Wearing shorts was the norm, local waterways were still, and the colours on new apartment blocks pinged deep into the long evenings.

What will August bring? Inevitably more worrying signs of climate change which are a huge deal for us all.

How has the weather been with you? It’s less of a banal question these days…

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Manchester’s new arts Factory

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The Manchester International Festival is in full swing, bringing the arts to Manchester’s residents and visitors alike.

It now has a brand new home, a purpose-built £210m building officially named the Aviva Studios, which will be the base for Factory International going forward.

The 2023 festival has spawned a blockbuster exhibition of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s visually arresting immersive sculpures.

But instead of flocking there, I went to see the exterior of the new building at close quarters and tested its pulling power for the photographer.

THE VERDICT? FIND OUT BELOW

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Critics might say that the squat front building, made with corrugated metal, is nothing more than an overblown shed.

But I was immediately immersed in the plethora of textures and angles that radiate from this apparently simple construction and took a wealth of shots.

The tall ribbed concrete of the second section of the building is quite an edifice, with a bank of windows and more corrugated metal at the rear where few of the festival-goers were straying.

The unfinished Factory building seen in winter during the First Breath installation

The unfinished building was on show in winter for the First Breath light installation

They were enjoying the atmosphere of Festival Square, where music was playing and there are plenty of places to sit to have something to eat and drink.

The building may not be to everyone’s taste, but I enjoyed the exterior so much that I barely looked inside, which is a flexible warehouse space for performances and exhibitions.

Have you visited? What do you think of Aviva Studios, which is adding to Manchester’s rapid expansion?

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Greek islands: Serifos

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My hop around the Greek islands has taken in Tinos, rugged and covered in churches, and Syros with its majestic architecture and relaxed beaches.

The last stop – Serifos – is the smallest of the trio and has its own unique character. Is this the best island to go back to for a long, relaxed holiday?… READ MORE BELOW

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The mood on Serifos was set by my relaxing island base, with a modern, comfortable room and spacious balcony overlooking a charming little garden.

Just a short walk away was beautiful Livadakia Beach and the Vassilia beach bar, a relaxing and very friendly place where you could spend your days by the shore and have dinner in the evening.

Unlike Tinos and Syros, I hadn’t managed to secure a Serifos island tour, and even efforts to hire an electrically-assisted bicycle fell flat.

Left with just the feet I was born with, I went on a hike to see the island’s lighthouse and also walked all the way to the summit of the chora (old town) with the reward of stunning views over the main bay.

A view of the town of Livadi on the Greek island of Serifos

Livadi is the place to find restaurants, bars and shops on Serifos

I think you notice more when walking, from the detail of Greek island windows to the early summer carpets of wildflowers. These hikes turned into rich and interesting photography walks.

In late May Serifos was anything but crowded, but I sensed it was being prepared for the height of tourist season.

I felt like I was on vacation here and even dipped my toes in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean.

Of these three islands, Serifos felt like the holiday haven made for a relaxing week or two, although you might want to pick late Spring or early autumn to visit.

But with well over 200 inhabited Greek islands to choose from, the quest is only just beginning! 

The tour of Tinos, Syros and Serifos in the Greek Cyclades was booked through Secret Escapes. Flights with Aegean Airways from Manchester to Athens, ferry crossings, accommodation and all other transfers were included. I booked excursions on Tinos and Syros separately.

Greek islands: Syros

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The first stop on my Greek island trip took me to rugged Tinos with its numerous churches and pretty dovecotes.

Syros, just 30 minutes away on the ferry, was the next port of call for a brief but bountiful two-night stay. An island of two halves? READ MORE BELOW

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My base in Syros was the quiet seaside village of Finikas with its little marina and a good few restaurants to choose from.

I stayed at the Brazzera Hotel, a comfortable place with very friendly and helpful staff, situated a few strides from a golden stretch of beach and clear Aegean waters. Finikas turned out to be a relaxing place to wander around and enjoy some downtime.

With the island’s showpiece capital some miles distant, I treated myself to a tour with a guide, driver and comfortable car which was worth every penny. I’d arranged this in advance from the UK with great ease.

This was a chance to see some more of the island and get to grips with the city of Ermoupoli and its hilltop neighbour of Ano Syros, rich in resplendent buildings, winding little streets and some fantastic views. There was even an El Greco painting tucked away in a church.

Having a knowledgeable and skilled guide all to myself definitely added to the experience, which was better than wandering the streets alone.

Syros may be the nominal capital of the Cyclades islands, but has an understated charm and wasn’t heaving with visitors ahead of the peak summer season. 

The pure blue skies you always expect in Greece were at times elusive, but added to the atmosphere and made photography a little more challenging.

If you like history and architecture coupled with the chance to chill on a secluded beach, Syros should be added to your island-hopping wishlist.

It was a short stay before the final island on this journey. Stayed tuned for the third little Greek gem.

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