July 15th 2010 - Reflection

A wet evening which is a good excuse to play around with light reflections. I photographed this image along Hope Street, the red light is from the neon sign of the Everyman Theatre. Out of focus and obscure can sometimes work just as well as pin sharp - it gives the image a truer sense of how I sometimes feel the scene appearing.

April 3rd 2010 - Philharmonic Hall

Today is my brother's birthday and one of his favourite places to visit when he comes to Liverpool is the Philharmonic Hall. The Hall is situated on Hope Street and is the home of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. It is not the original concert hall - its predecessor was destroyed by a fire in 1933 having been built in 1849. The present Hall was opened in 1939. Herbert J Rouse was commissioned to design the new hall and his design was in the art deco style. It was offically opened by Sir Thomas Beecham on June 19th 1939. Local violinist, John Frederick Clarke who was part of the famed RMS Titanic orchestra, alongside other band members who died during the ships 1912 sinking are all commemorated on a plaque within the hall. I captured this shot as a cellist crossed the road on his way to rehearsal.

Happy Birthday Marco!

March 20th 2010 - Bishop David Sheppard

A wet and miserable day in Liverpool today, as can be seen by the raindrops dripping from the statue of the late Bishop of Liverpool, David Sheppard. This fine sculpture, situated mid-way down Hope Street, is one half of a work by Stephen Broadbent, the other depicting the late Archbishop Derek Warlock. The commemorative sculpture was funded by public donation to celebrate the lives of these two influential men and to recognise their success in uniting the Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths in the city at a time in history when such unity wasn't always the case in other parts of the country. Both cathedrals can be viewed over the shoulders of the Bishop and Archbishop from the sculpture. Prior to his success as Bishop of Liverpool, David Sheppard enjoyed a different form of success as an England cricketer.

January 16th 2010 - Liverpool at Night

This amazing aerial view, looking out across the city towards the Metropolitan Cathedral, was taken at nightfall tonight from the 331ft. high tower of the Anglican Cathedral. A clear sky but very breezy at the top. Liverpool University's multicoloured Engineering building and red brick clock tower can be seen behind the Cathedral and the busy Hope Street, home to the Philharmonic Hall, is in the foreground to the right.