Rob Birrell’s Photography Blog

Last month I had the privilege of photographing the old 1930s Durham City Baths just prior to their closure in July 2008. They have been replaced by a swish new pool and leisure complex called Freemans Quay which I hope to be able to photograph at some stage in the future. Thanks to Kay Smith and Paul Bailey of Durham City Leisure for allowing me access to the pool. While its sad to see the old pool become disused almost certainly to be bulldozed I’m sure the majority of the users will be pleased with the superb new facilities.

More Photographs ->

Valve Assembly in makeshift studio

Finished Image of Valve Assembly

I recently completed a commision for a German Engineering company who asked me to shoot some images of a valve assembly before it shipped out to their customer. Problem was that the assemblage was about the size of a mini and could only be shifted about with a fork lift truck. Well the sub-contractor, VA Kirkdale of Wallsend, was most accomodating and agreed to paint the floor for me. The backdrop is my studio white muslin backdrop turned on its side and stretched as taught as possible between the uprights. Even then it wasn’t quite high enough so I ended up shooting from about 5 foot off the ground on a scaffolding tower.

Thankfully the job had been postponed from the original intended day as a couple of days previously I was largely immobilised by a nasty stomach bug which meant that I didn’t dare venture more that a few feet from a toilet. As it was I did the shoot drugged up to the eyeballs fueled by little more than 3 litres of water. I lost 7lbs that week!

Click through on the above images to see the finished images.

Yet another personal project … I’ve been working in a series of urban/hard landscape photographs. They started off loosely based within about 100 yards of the 55 degrees north roundabout in Newcastle Upon Tyne but I’ve extended the remit to include some photos of Durham and the University Running Track. Click through on any of the images to see the full set.

Ripon Races

I recently visited Ripon Races with my friend Anne with the intention of doing a little recreational photography. Well it proved to be more difficult than I anticipated especially in the overcast conditions. I had hoped to get more people shots but timidity got the better of me. The shots of horses were hampered by lack of practice with panning and the track rail which draws an obtrusive line across many of the shots. “Foxy Jane”, my wifes namesake, was my only bet of the day and true to her number “5″ she came in fith so no fortune won there.

Click through from the image above to see a series of photos from the afternoon which I hope give a flavour of the event.

Oh yes, and who would have guessed that the boards that the bookies use use some sort of scanning technology similar to a TV so, note to self, if you want to capture the text use a slower shutter speed in future!

I’m pleased to say that the above image of mine has been accepted into the 2008 People Show (formerly known as the Cravens Art Prize). The exhibition is open to painters, printmakers, sculptors, photographers, film and ceramic artists who live in the North East of England. It’s running at the Northumbria University Gallery until September 12th.