north of England

Manchester: November in 15 images

/ mikeosbornphoto / Leave a comment

November in the north of England. Is it all cold, miserable and wet weather as the dark nights take hold?

Here in Manchester I spend most days capturing the city’s architectural growth and how weather shifts from one day to the next.

I’m armed with my trusty 12-year-old Fuji or Samsung mobile, now a handy mainstay after a reluctance to use it as a camera.

They produce different results, but my eye often looks upwards and maybe doesn’t see the Manchester that many people expect.

Here’s November through my lens. I’m heading to warmer climes as it draws to a close – more on that next time.

Tap/click first image to see gallery

Mike Osborn on a Manchester photo walk with his Fuji X-E1 camera.

A November photo walk in Manchester with my trusty old Fuji X-E1 camera

Link to mikeosbornphoto print shop

Lancashire: A glorious getaway

/ mikeosbornphoto / Leave a comment

Lancashire is a county of northern England blessed with a beautiful coastline, forests, waterways and heritage towns.

My home city of Manchester was part of Lancashire until 1974, so there’s a natural pull to day trips which are close to home.

I’ve often explored the county’s glorious countryside, which offers an escape from the big city. Here’s just some of what I’ve captured on camera with plenty more still to see.

Where should I go next in Lancashire? Please leave your comments below

Tap/click first image to see gallery

Link to mikeosbornphoto's Instagram account

End of the Wirral

/ mikeosbornphoto / 18 Comments

This memorable day trip started with a train from Manchester to Liverpool and then my first ride on the ‘Scouse Metro’ which takes you beneath the Mersey to Birkenhead and deeper into the Wirral peninsula. At the end of the line is the town of West Kirby.

It sits on the estuary of the River Dee as it flows into the Irish Sea, with the north Wales coast across the water. But for much of the day there’s little water as the tide is out, creating a vast expanse of open sand. This was a day of rain and leaden skies, making the sense of space even greater.

West Kirby also has a marine lake circled by a road – a natural place for walks. It adds to the sense of place in this distant part of a great northern peninsula.

Click first image to view the collection

Click to enlarge

The naked pier

/ mikeosbornphoto / 22 Comments

This was my first visit to England’s north-west coast since resettling in Manchester. I chose the resort of Southport on the Merseyside coast, famed for its long, graceful pier.

The day was anything but promising, with a chill wind and a thick cover of cloud. It looked likely to be a day of moody photographs, with flat skies and little sunlight. But something else happened. The tide gradually ebbed away, leaving beautiful expanses of sand and the pier entirely exposed.

The colour palette was grey and a pale blue, giving a serenity you wouldn’t expect from a busy seaside resort. I’ll just have to go back when the sky is screaming blue and the sunshine is cascading down…

Click first image to view the gallery

Click to enlarge