DM: Dyxum Birmingham UK meetup 20/3/2024

The Ruin doesn't open until 16:00 so we pressed on.

AC16: The factory of the former Birmingham Screwdriver Company is now advertised as studio and office space, which reflects the shift away from metal trades to creative industries in this part of the city. The preserved sign with its arm and hammer recall the crest on the Birmingham coat of arms. The building stands at the corner of Floodgate Street and Little Ann Street.


AC17:


AC18: Artwork by Philth Neveready


AC19: We didn't try scanning the QR code.


AC20: Another Philth Neveready piece.


AC21: Our Digbeth tour ended at Birmingham's oldest secular building, dating from 1368 where we sustained ourselves with food and beer before the afternoon session.

Re the Screwdriver Factory sign and for information the 'Birmingham Screwdriver' used to be a derogoratory building industry term for a (big) hammer ! Much quicker than all that turning....
Apologies if you knew that but thought it might amuse.
Very much enjoying the shots you guys have been taking, interesting selection.
Keep 'em coming
RichardT

(Ooops, I pressed Post too soon ...)

Moving on to Gibb Street ...

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Dreamy
NEX-7 + 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

And we have a massive green man tucked into a corner of a high-rise building, the work of Tawny Grey in 2009,

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Green Man of Gibb Street | Tawny Grey (2009)
NEX-7 + 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Round the corner and we have The Old Crown where all of us stopped for a drink (see top of thread); we did put the cameras on a separate table.

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The Old Crown
NEX-7 + 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

A most interesting journey continues.
Birmingham is obviously rich in texture and history, and seems to be a bit of a 'work in progress' as it redefines itself into the future.
My main disappointment is that the participants didn't don peaked caps and do their 'Peaky Blinders' impressions in the group shot.

PW41 More street art on a hoarding around another building site (custard factory on the background). Opposite a new tram stop - which may be linked to the London Underground style sign.



PW42 The Kennedy Memorial - a fine mosaic meriting Howard's full attention.



PW43 Looking into the city from the new tram stop - opening soon.



PW44 Support for Ukraine?



PW45 Market



I was using Howard's Samyang 35mm f2.8 during the walk from the Old Crown to Chinatown and this was in way of a test shot. Sharpness is excellent in the centre and still pretty good at the edge, distortion is pretty well controlled - I might just invest in one, it's so nice and small.

PW46 Selfridges again.



I'm not sure the reality comes up to the poster's promise.

PW47 Funder City



I can't help feeling something has been lost in translation.

PW48 Happy Lamb Hot Pot



I separated from the gang for a while agreeing to meet at the canal. So I felt I had to shoot this artwork of the canalside in New Street Station - little knowing that it would at the pub pictured that I would join the guys again.

PW49 Mural



Another corner pub left standing. A splendid example of pub tilework from Holders, a brewery I have not come across before.

PW50 The Craven Arms



I snapped this imposing bulding as I hurried past on my way to the canal, it wasn't until I looked at it on my PC that I realised it was a synagogue.

PW51 Synagogue



Artwork outside Mailbox - but note that the spotlight is on the pillar box (admittedly this one is nondescript).

PW52 Pillar box and Lamp



According to their website The Cube is Birmingham's 'Ultimate Landmark'. 135 flats, luxury hotel, fine dining, clubs etc.

PW53 Facade at The Cube

It's a cracking pace getting through the photos ...

Leaving the Old Crown and looking down the side street,

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Heath Mill Lane
A7 III + FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS

Past more graffiti on hoardings; I had swapped by Samyang 35mm F2.8 for Phil's 24-105 F4 (three of us, not me, had brought the lens for the day out)

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Krushed Grape
NEX-7 + 24-105mm F4 G OSS

I've been pleased with the way the NEX-7 held up under all sorts of lenses that day.

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Street pup
A7 III + FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

And then we came to the Kennedy memorial:

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J F Kennedy Memorial | Kenneth Budd (1968) and Oliver Budd (2013)
A7 III + FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

From Wikipedia:


The J. F. Kennedy Memorial in Birmingham, England, is a memorial mosaic mural to John F. Kennedy, by Kenneth Budd.

The mosaic, commissioned by Birmingham's Irish community and unveiled in 1968,[ and funded by public subscription, was constructed in panels, at Budd's company in south London, Kenneth Budd and Associates.

It was dismantled in 2007 and remade, with alterations, in 2012, by the artist's son, for erection at a new site.

When the road system was redeveloped in 2007 the mosaic was demolished. Key features, including the heads of some of the main figures, were retrieved and retained by Kenneth Budd's son Oliver.

In 2012 it was re-created using new materials. The new mosaic was erected in January 2013, in the city's Irish Quarter, on Floodgate Street in Digbeth, in reworked form, including the controversial addition of a new face, that of former Lord Mayor of Birmingham Mike Nangle, the city's first Irish Lord Mayor. The work was overseen by Budd's son, Oliver, who worked from his father's original drawings. The retained sections were not used as the colours had faded and would not match the new Smalti mosaic tiles.A formal unveiling took place on 23 February 2013.

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Kennedy Memorial detail
A7 III + FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Nearby I was struck by the detail on part of the facade of the 1860 Bonser & Co Warehouse

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Bonser & Co warehouse detail
NEX-7 + 24-105mm F4 G OSS

I thought I would give Kong the full CinemaScope 21:9 aspect ratio treatment

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Kong
NEX-7 + 24-105mm F4 G OSS

Like Phil I was underwhelmed by the actualité of Funder City

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Funder City!
A7 III + FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

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Funder City?
A7 III + FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

It reminded me a little of the Willy Wonka Experience farce in Glasgow recently, link.

Before we entered China town I caught a glimpse of Selfridges,

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Lurking in the background
NEX-7 + 24-105mm F4 G OSS

neilt3 wrote: @ Phil Wood . I looks like you've tried switching the lamp on in PW52 , but it's still off. Makes you wonder where you'd pick up a new bulb or fuse ?

Isn't the on/off switch in this sort of lamps often in the back of the shade?