Little bits of Manchester

March 28, 2021March 10, 2022 / mikeosbornphoto / 12 Comments

Living in a big city centre like Manchester during lockdown wasn’t always easy. I craved countryside and coast, even growing tired of the usual urban views here.

So on a series of walks with my camera, I stopped looking upwards and searched for details that you might take for granted.

Enjoy the fragments and if you know their locations and recognise them, that’s a little bonus!

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: Emmeline Pankhurst statue, St Peter’s Square

: Merchant’s Bridge, Castlefield

: Royal Exchange Arcade

: The Refuge building

: Lock 92, Castlefield

: Churchills, Canal Street

: Manchester Cathedral

: Shop window, Spinningfields

: Alan Turing statue, Sackville Gardens

: Peveril of the Peak pub

: Irwell Street bridge

: Northern Quarter

: Spinningfields

: St Peter’s Square

: Castlefield narrow boat

: Victoria train station

: Rainbow mosaic, Rochdale canal path

: Liverpool Road

: Whitworth Gallery grounds

: John Rylands library

: Shop shutter, Norther Quarter

Winter gold

February 14, 2021February 12, 2021 / mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

The UK winter has been cold with a lot of snow. Thankfully there’s an inexpensive way to bring warmth and colour into your life. READ MORE BELOW

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Cut daffodils are plentiful and cheap in the shops and bring a welcome burst of vibrancy to your home.

While the UK’s winter coronavirus lockdown continues, photographing these beauties has been an absorbing stay at home project.

I suddenly remembered that I’d captured daffodils back in April when the country first went into lockdown. It seemed deeper and more nerve-jangling than the current one.

This was Easter and we were blessed with warm Spring weather. The shots I created were different to this winter set of gnawing cold and lockdown fatigue. Can you spot the contrasts?

The January album

January 31, 2021January 28, 2021 / mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

January 2021 promised so much, mainly because it wasn’t 2020. But the UK has been plunged into further lockdown restrictions to battle a more infectious strain of coronavirus.

A rapidly rising death toll and widespread closures in the middle of winter are doing nothing to bolster hope and good cheer.

I have remained close to home here in Manchester city centre. Going far isn’t an option, while overseas travel remains off the table.

Photographing snowy weather, park life, some of Manchester’s new architecture and indoor blooms have been the hallmarks of a cold, introspective and at times gloomy January. How has the start of 2021 been for you?

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: Castlefield Bowl

: Home

: Angel Square

: Alexandra Park

: One Angel Square

: Merchant’s Bridge, Castlefield

: Home

: National Football Museum

: Alexandra Park

: Home

: Beetham Tower

: Alexandra Park

15 beautiful views to take you higher

January 17, 2021January 17, 2021 / mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

Another coronavirus lockdown has made the world shrink again. In Manchester city centre I’m surrounded by buildings and take only familiar urban walks.

Are you also yearning for open spaces? How about clambering up hills to enjoy impressive views? Here are 15 memorable vistas I’ve collected on my travels. Let’s hope it’s easier to enjoy them again before too long.

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: Iceland

: Atacama Desert, Chile

: Taf estuary, Wales

: Vinales valley, Cuba

: Lyme Park, Cheshire

: Kaikoura, New Zealand

: Namibia

: Lake Sevan, Armenia

: Simien Mountains, Ethiopia

: Table Mountain, South Africa

: Georgia

: Lake District, Cumbria

: Torres del Paine, Chile

: Cape Reinga, New Zealand

: Faial, Azores Islands

A bunch of flowers

November 22, 2020November 20, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / Leave a comment

A second lockdown and five different types of blooms. Time for some indoor photography. READ MORE BELOW

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England’s second national lockdown has seen closures in an effort to keep people at home and curb the spread of coronavirus.

The M&S Foodhall here in Manchester – an essential store and still open – has a ‘pick and mix’ floral selection for creating your own bouquet at home.

I broke the rules and chose four varieties for their colours and interesting structures, perfect for macro shots.

Indigo Veronica stalks, cushions of yellow Goldenrod, fluffy Umbellifer and dramatic Sea Holly. Standalone beauties!