Wednesday 12 November 2008

Monochrome Odd Shot


The title comes courtesy of Babooshka's Ramsey Daily Photo blog - hope you don't mind me borrowing the concept, even if it is on a Wednesday and not a Monday!

The following photos are of the soon to be demolished Matthew Boulton college, in central Birmingham.

Before they started demolishing it this was a very ugly concrete structure, of which they're are unfortuantely far too may in Birmingham. Now I think it has a certain majesty, a crumbling ruin, somewhat spooky, particularly at night when I must go back and photograph it again.

I studied for my English and French A levels here, back in 1984.


I think maybe they should leave it standing as it is, perhaps fasten some hanging baskets from those empty window frames. I shall miss it when it's gone...

7 comments:

Fid said...

Yup, the skyline of Birmingham is changing pretty much.

I always feel 'outside' of Brum when I walk through Brindley Place. It reminds me of Melbourne, Australia [without the sun]

This is a great site mate. Keep up the good work.

Fid

Jane Hards Photography said...

That's a long time coming. There are or were some blody awful building in brum. Like the series of shots, and that name is kind of catchy.

GrandAnglais said...

Well Fidd, I've never been to Melbourne but somebody else has made the same comparison. Babooshka you know there are still way too many of these anonymous concrete high-rises in Brum. I can't see the point of photographing them unless I can capture some sort of different angle to them, but I find that very hard. I couldn't pass this opportunity up though when it came along.
Monochrome odd shot is a great name! You should copywrite it.

Fid said...

Someone else has made the comparison? Wow, I thought it was just me pining for Melbourne LOL.

I guess it's the tables and chairs outside and the NIA is pretty much like the Rod Laver arena in Melbourne too.

Fid

Anna said...

It looks beautiful to me, although maybe beautiful is the wrong word as it is kind of spooky in the same time. I still find it somewhat a pity that they will destroy it. Am really curious to see the night shot, I wonder if it will add to the spookiness or take away some of the beauty as some details might be lost in the darkness...

GrandAnglais said...

My ex used to live in Australia Fidd and I recall none less than Dame Edna Everage saying the same thing in an interview!
Well Anna if I get the chance I will do just that, it's not an area I care to spend a lot of time around in the dark as last time I was there I got mugged and consequently never came home with my camera...

Maria Verivaki said...

this is a really interesting post - great photos too!