A walk around Sale Water Park in south Manchester can be a riverside stroll and even offers a spot of birdwatching.
But this was a quest to get close to a series of electricity pylons and a substation in the area. Many will say these features blight the countryside, but there is something strangely alluring about this imposing, dystopian architecture.
They’re pretty hot to photograph too…
My neighbourhood is a short stride away from Manchester city centre, but has been called a village in the middle of an urban sprawl. Castlefield has Roman origins, but came into its own during the Industrial Revolution. Set on a confluence of canals, it’s a knot of railway viaducts, bridges and cobbles. The area wears its heritage on its sleeve, but is now a vibrant residential area studded with bars and restaurants.
A short walk in any direction from my building brings you to water, narrowboats gently puffing wood smoke and the canal towpaths. This is just a glimpse of the area, and it’s no wonder tourists always find their way here…
The first truly shimmering day of the year prompted a trip to the east of London to enjoy a stretch of the city’s waterways. This walk took us from Angel to Limehouse Basin along Regent’s Canal, taking in modern buildings, industrial tumbledown and a good sprinkling of narrowboats. We also stopped off at Victoria Park, a green oasis along the route.
I set myself the photographic task of spotting small details and minimalist lines on the walk, although both water and the urban landscape of the canal crept into the frame too. It’s an interesting spot and one worthy of a return visit or two – there is plenty to see and capture.
