A day spent around Belfast city centre can be quite boring for the dutiful husband who is required to take his ever patient wife to the city for a shopping trip – especially when that shopping trip involves what seems like endless browsing around the many clothing outlets!

The answer, of course is simple. Bring a camera, and leave her too it. That was my course of action a few weeks ago, when I left Janette in the care of the retailers, and wandered off on my own with the Fujifilm X-T50, and headed for Belfast’s touristy dockland, once the home of the coal boats, and the shady haunts of visiting seamen – now a venue for visiting cruise ship passengers and folk on city sightseeing bus tours. Safe access from the shopping area of the city to the docks is via an underground walkway, amply adorned with vivid graffiti.

Up from the underpass, and along Musgrave Street, and out onto the old Queen’s Bridge, – where one can look back to see the strange metal sculpture that rises above the River Lagan – the ‘Beacon of Hope’ – better known in Belfast as ‘Nuala with the Hula…! It’s at this point that the modern planning of the city contrasting with the architecture of the past becomes visible. With its long story of shipbuilding, and maritime history, the old Belfast depended on the sea, and everything in it and on the Queen’s Bridge, that maritime history and dependance upon the waves is remembered and celebrated in the bridge’s structure:-

All around though, is the architecture of the modern city, reflecting across the Lagan estuary. The X-T50 was set to shoot in Acros Film Simulation, – Black and White with a red filter, and simultaneously to record RAW image – in case I wanted a spot of colour later.

Still, some of the old Belfast architecture remains. We have become so used to this mix of style, that the old Custom House, and the Albert Clock appear to blend seamlessly with the new face of the city.

Back in High Street now, and I wander into St George’s Anglican Church, – a ‘high church’ within the Church of Ireland. Regrettably, the church hires out its front area for car-parking, so a decent photo of the front of the building wasn’t available – but inside is quite striking:-

Finally, back down Church Lane to meet up with Janette in Victoria Square shopping mall. And as I looked back I raised the camera to take a photo of Church Lane, with an Amazon delivery van, parked outside a body piercing shop! Now you definitely would NOT have seen either of those when I was young! Times have indeed changed!

If you get a chance – Visit Belfast! And of course, – bring a camera!