Category Archives: Documentary

Street Stories: A Book in the Chaos of Belfast

Caught a moment of calm, just off the hustle and bustle of Belfast’s busy Royal  Avenue, a homeless street person, lost in the pages of a book, challenges our perceptions, reminding us that not everyone  in those circumstances is there because of illiteracy or wasted opportunities, or substance addiction. For the photographer, such stories can be found everywhere, even in the most unexpected places.  

The Fujifilm X-T50 captured this seemingly contradictory slice of life.

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Sacrifice and Bravery: World War I Tribute at Mount Vernon

In the heart of Mount Vernon estate, a powerful mural stands as a poignant reminder of sacrifice and bravery.

This tribute honours the fallen heroes of the 1st World War, especially those who served in the 36th Ulster Division. A story of courage, loss, and remembrance, echoing the voices of those who gave everything for our freedom.

Let us never forget.

Captured with the Fujifilm X-T50

Belfast ‘Troubles Tourism.’

One of the growth sectors, it seems, in Northern Ireland, at least since the so-called ‘ceasefires’ of the 1990’s has been ‘Troubles Tourism,’ where visitors to the city are given guided tours of relics of the troubled past pf the region. You can book a ‘Troubles Taxi Tour’ from around £75. Hotels, travel and holiday companies and cruise ships are including Troubles Tourism in their itinerary offerings. Visitors take open-top buses, coaches, bicycles and walking tours, looking at the locations of riots, bombings and shooting, photographing political murals and of course visiting the infamous Belfast ‘PEACE LINES’

The Peace Line at Northumberland Street,,- a wall that has divided the unionist Shankill Road from the nationalist Falls Road for around 50 years. It’s still there and still needed 27 years after the ‘Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.’ The gates are closed during hours of darkness. 
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Exploring Belfast: A Day Trip Guide

July 29th 2005

It was a reasonably good day, meteorologically, warm and not raining for a change, so I suggested a trip to Belfast might be a good way to put in the day, – after all, I’m meant to be resting this week… And with me went Janette, my long suffering wife, and the Nikon FM3a.

So we caught a train at Antrim Station.  If you’ve visited here, and never used Northern Ireland Railways, you should put that right on your next visit. The trains are modern, clean, warm and safe, and best of all, they are mostly on time! Not bad from a state owned company! 

Antrim Railway Station
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Guildhall Sq & Waterloo Street

Our seemingly annual trip to Derry/Londonderry (So good they named it twice?) or ‘Stroke City as it became known during the era of the late Gerry Anderson, the legendary (should that be ‘legend-derry?) famous BBC Radio Ulster broadcaster and entertainer. Where was I… Oh yes, our annual trip to Northern Ireland’s second city saw me taking a wander, with the Fujifilm X-T5, around the city centre, namely Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place, and then later round by the Craft Village. I’d walked the famous walls many times, and somehow that day I just didn’t have the energy to struggle up all those hilly ramparts. So, – city centre it was, while my so-much better half went to explore the big shops to be found in the city.

Waterloo Street, Londonderry
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Forgotten Memories

I was in Belfast today, and driving slowly past this litter bin, I caught a glimpse of the poppy wreath on top of the bin. A poignant reminder perhaps tat nothing in this life lasts forever, not even our acts of remembrance. 

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:5

I stopped the car, and photographed it with the Fujifilm X-T5 camera. 

Westbourne Street

Westbourne Street in east Belfast is now hardly a street at all! A dead-end with no houses or buildings of its own, – now terminated prematurely by the railings of a local FE College.

Westbourne Street, Belfast

I stopped there and parked, on a day when I had a few minutes to kill before an appointment, and got out to make a few images, with the help of the Nikon FM3a and a roll of Ilford HP5 (ISO400)

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