‘m not one for making new years resolutions as I dont think its right as I never have kept them in years gone by. The new challenge refers to the OneLandscape group challenge for January 2025. This challenge is Urban Landscapes, essentially a landscape in a town, city or anywhere urban. So Friday last week I decided to have a trip into Manchester City Centre. This involved car, train and tram to get me to Castlefield bowl, which is the place I had in mind. The main section of high rise blocks can be found in this general location along with some older buildings, an old and new juxtaposition.
The weather hasn’t been great the latter part of 2024, and the start of the new year hasn’t been any different, and Friday started with below freezing temperatures. When I arrived at Castlefields this was a problem as only bits of it had been gritted and it was very very icy. There is a canal basin and canals through this location and they make good foreground for images with the high rise buildings in the background.
I did try to get down onto the canal side next to Alberts Shed restaurant but as I walked down the path my feet went from beneath me and I was grateful for build hold of the hand rail. This stopped me from sliding down onto the canal side and maybe even stopped me from ending up in the canal itself. The joys of landscape photography. Thanks to the man and woman who came to my assistance, who almost ended up in the canal with me.
The images that follow are the results of my walk before and after my slip sliding episode. To be honest I was a little shook up after this and decided to cut short my walk and headed home. I’m happy with the results of the images I took and will be back when the weather improves.
This image was taken from the platform of the Deasgate / Castlefield tram stop looking along the bridge towards Deansgate mainline station I have taken versions of this before but there are more buildings these days, which makes the composition trickier.
This is the first view of the canal as you walk along into castle field bowl.
I took this image maybe 30 seconds before I had my ice sliding fair. I really like the composition here with the old and the new in the same image, along with the canal which adds a little of a landscape feel to the image.
This image was taken as I walked around castlefielkd basin. I really like the reflection and the old and new buildings.
I will definitely be back to this location when the weather improves.