Manchester

Manchester is quite something. I really was not prepared for this when I got there in May 2010.
I thought, summer in The North, oh well, there are trains, aren't there?
WRONG. Manchester, and especially the people there, totally outclassed most of the cities I had a home in. It is honestly worth a visit, the sheer amount of great people you bump into and that let you share your life with them. Really, really ace.

Manchester has its heritage in the textile industry, and while this has long passed, the old factories and storage buildings remain, more and more of them being turned into living spaces. Then you have the Northern Quarter, littered with pubs, cafes and clothes shops that, were they in London, would be swamped by everyone who can use the Wikipedias. It isn't, its Manchester, its the polished Detroit of Britain.

Enjoy browsing about! You can also go back home if you fancy.

England steel, Wythenshawe
This is in the company where I worked. I spent the 20 minutes it took for the welding to cool down (mmh.) to take some pictures.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

Tools innit. Wythenshawe.
Just like the one above.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

Just off Thomas St in the Northern Quarter. Central Manchester is still full of empty buildings. I actually prefer them to the very very nice and modernist (stupid) apartment buildings they seem to be turned into.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

Warm! Piccadilly Gardens.
It sounds lush, but the Gardens are hardly more than two patches of green (or brown, mostly) vegetation with a funny fountain in the middle.
Sony 200 alpha with plastic zoom lens. No idea what settings.

China Lane!
I lived right next door!
This is when they were all gearing up for the Captain America film shoot.
Sony 200 alpha blah blah camera stuff.

Bus.
On the way to Rusholme. I have no idea when, but it seems to be a sobering-out kind of activity.
Leica M3, 35mm Summaron, Kodak Ektar 100.

Platt Hall Gallery of Costume
I have no connection with this, but I thought the light was nice.
Platt Fields Park is May Lushness, too!
Leica M3, 35mm Summaron, Kodak Ektar 100.

Trof.
The best pub in the world.
Northern Quarter.
Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, Ilford HP5+

Somebody else's sobering out activity.
Just outside Manchester Cathedral.
Leica M3, 35mm Summaron, Ilford FP4+.

Sofa at Fred Aldous
Just what it says on the tin.
Leica M3, 50mm Summilux, Ilford FP4+

This used to be a geriatric hospital. Its just north of the city center, host to a couple of raves and short-horror-film set. And I mean, look at this!!
Rolleiflex 2.8e, Ilford FP4+

During the Eurocultured Festival.
Gigantic fun. I had no idea who was on stage. Well too uncool.
Leica M3, 50mm Summilux, Fuji Neopan 1600.

Record shops in the Northern Quarter.
You might have guessed it, the Northern Quarter is where the stuff is happening. And it's true. YES IT IS. Living right in the middle of it was the best decision, I mean, especially from suburban America.
Leica M3, 50mm Summilux, Ilford FP4+.

Back Street Supercar
This is just around where I lived.
There was always an Aston Martin and a Hummer around. Class.
Leica M3, 50mm Summilux, Ilford FP4+.

Wire. Just off Trof in the Northern Quarter.
Leica M3, 35mm Summaron, Ilford FP4+.

Off To Work.
Why would you rush like this on a Sunday?!
Right on Deansgate, Manchester, obvs.
Leica M3, 35mm Summaron, Ilford HP5+

Sadly, most of the Northern Quarter is Hipster Heaven.
I love it nevertheless. If you haven't gotten the message yet, GO CHECKITOUT.
Rolleiflex 2.8e, Fuji Neopan 1600. Yeah I know but I was just trying out.

This is in the Peaks. I got my friends to pose for me. Like a boss.
Rolleiflex 2.8e, Velvia 50

My street, turned into 1940ies Brooklyn, the day before filming started.
They would not let me take pictures when they were actually filming, but I saw that Chris Evans was running along this a couple of times.
Exciting.
Sony Alpha 200.

Tom "Singer" Sumner on Market Street.
Essentially, youthful dreams to become famous doing busking. Every single Saturday.
Everyone loved his rendition of the complete Robbie Williams back catalogue.
Rolleiflex 2.8e, the same crappy film.

Arndale Shopping Center.
Well.
Rolleiflex 2.8e, Ilford FP4+

Howard & Co
Also, just off the center.
Rolleiflex 2.8e, Ilford FP4+

Hole in the wall that isn't a pub or a cash machine.
Across the road from the abandoned hospital.
Leica M3, 50mm Summilux, Kodak Ektar 100.

Clouds! Sunshine! Badly lubricated shutter!
Leica M3, 90mm Elmar, Kodak Ektar 100.

Introducing Mof Gimmers, DJing about, every Friday night at Trof.
Rolleiflex 2.8e, Ilford FP4+ and a manual flash, effectivly blinding him.

Mof and Jackson.
Promo shots for their comedy show, I'll add a link once its up and going!
Upstairs at, you guessed it, Trof.
Rolleiflex 2.8e, Fuji 160C, pushed and crappy scan. Worked.

Sprocket holing the catacombs.
And a the nicest bouncer in the world!
Rolleiflex 2.8e, Fuji Neopan Acros, sprocket to ya!

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