Preston

A walk around Preston

It wasn’t what you would call a great day for photography, grey and overcast in the main but I fancied a walk with the camera.

Preston has a lot happening right now in terms of development and it’s always nice to capture these types of changes for posterity.  The brutalist architectural gem that is Preston Bus Station is 50 years old and it is nearing the end of a refurbishment – always good for pics. Then there is the old market hall and car park which is being knocked down to make way for a new cinema and leisure complex. It looks like a bomb site at the moment but it lends itself to black and white shots.

Here are a few photos from a quick wander through the park and into the city with a camera I don’t use much these days (Fuji X-T1) and a 23mm lens.

Preston City Centre-1659Preston City Centre-1670Preston City Centre-1676Preston City Centre-1681Preston City Centre-1682Preston City Centre-1694

 

Opening Night at The Larder Cafe

Just over a month ago I was asked to take a few photographs at the Larder Cafe in Preston for a magazine feature. The Larder is a ‘not for profit’ organisation which has a focus on sustainable, locally sourced food and is well worth a visit.

The event to mark the opening took place just prior to the cafe opening to the public. There was music, food critics, the Mayor, plenty of people who had been involved in getting the venture off the ground and a couple dogs – this is also a dog friendly cafe!

I was taking the photographs for a feature in Live Preston and Fylde magazine which has now hit the streets so am happy to share more shots from the night here. Click on any picture to view larger.

In Pictures: Preston shivers

The end of January brought some wintry weather to Preston. A flurry of snow and ice, nothing too serious but enough to cause travel problems.  For most countries this level of cold and snow is not noteworthy but in the UK every year we seem ill-prepared for any bad weather.  Perhaps it was the wrong type of snow and ice or maybe, more likely, the wrong type of tyres but at least it looked nice for the photos!

These pictures were taken on a walk along the Lancaster Canal and down along the Ribble Link.

Preston, UK. 30th January 2019. UK Weather. A light covering of snow made driving conditions trickier than normal in Preston. The snow continued to fall until mid morning.
A lLock on the Ribble Link Canal at Ashton in Preston
Lancaster Canal at Ashton in Preston

A trip to the moon

This weekend the ‘Museum of the Moon’ exhibition landed at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston and I went along to check it out.

The main attraction is the impressive looking 23 foot high moon model which is suspended in the centre of the Grade 1 listed building but there is more to see in the adjoining gallery.  Children will love the life sized astronaut model and the detailed space rocket models on display.

No doubt about it though the huge Moon is the star of the show. There’s also a soundtrack by award winning composer Dan Jones which plays unobtrusively while you stand and gaze at the Moon in all its detail. The moon model is by British artist Luke Jerram and it’s bound to prove popular with the Preston public. Check the Harris Museum for details of special Moon related events during the exhibition.

Here are a few photos of the installation.  The moon is visible in Preston until 24th February. 

Museum of the Moon exhibition opens in PrestonMuseum of the Moon exhibition opens in PrestonDSCF8416Museum of the Moon exhibition opens in PrestonDSCF8440DSCF8444-2Museum of the Moon exhibition opens in PrestonMuseum of the Moon exhibition opens in PrestonMuseum of the Moon exhibition opens in Preston

An icy and foggy Brockholes – in pictures

According to the weather forecast it was going to be a sunny but cold day.What they forgot to mention was that you wouldn’t be able to see the sun for the freezing fog! 

There was however, something hauntingly beautiful about wondering around Brockholes nature reserve in the icy-cold conditions. The photo below were all taken within the space of about two hours. Some come from the walks around the reserve, others show the visitor centre itself.

Here are the pictures…

23 January 2019. Preston UK. UK Weather. The Fog and frost lasted until the afternoon in Lancashire as temperatures hovered around zero all day. This is Brockholes Nature Reserve which is next to the M6 Motorway. Speed restrictions were in place due to the poor weather conditions.

The return of Ribble buses to Preston

At weekend the Harris Museum and Library in Preston launched an exhibition to commemorate 100 years since the foundation of the Ribble Motor Company. 

Red Ribble buses had been a familiar sight around Lancashire for many years and four vintage vehicles proved popular as they parked up on the Flag Market in front of The Harris to mark the occasion.  Here are a few photos I took for Blog Preston. Click on any picture to view larger.