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IN DECEMBER THE AFTERNOON DUSK LIGHT makes for some stunning and atmospheric views of Manchester, with many office lights still on. Here's another collection of views captured before, during and after sundown. |
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THE WESTERN END of the Manchester skyline is
seen here shortly after sundown looking from Pomona Metrolink Station near
Old Trafford. Many existing and new landmarks are visible. From left to
right: The new Urban Splash Timber Warehouse apartments (2001-3), Highland
House (1962), Albert Bridge House (1958), Granada TV studios and Number
One Deansgate (2002). Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990 with 2x teleconverter. EWM says: The view of the city centre skyline from Old Trafford is quite remarkable, due to the uninterrupted sight lines along the River Irwell and the former Pomona Docks, currently awaiting development. |
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LONDON ROAD at dusk, with the newly redeveloped
Piccadilly Station (till 1960 known as London Rd Station) on the right,
and the still disused Old Fire Station (built 1906) on the left. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990 with .66 wide angle teleconverter - composite of two photographs left and right EWM says: The brooding silhouette of the Old Fire Station has no lighted windows - The building is still mostly unused 20 years after it was vacated. How can this, one of Manchester's most magnificent buildings, be put to a new use? Shopping centre? Hotel? Arts Centre? |
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FLASHBACK TO JANUARY 2002, and the dusk view
from the Newton Street corner of Piccadilly looking towards Piccadilly Plaza
(opened 1965). Most notable is the fact that the Plaza is still visible
from here. During the coming year, the office building will gradually rise
up and obscure all but the very top of the Sunley building tower. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990 EWM says: Thank goodness I have a record of this familiar and impressive view of Piccadilly Plaza, soon to be obscured. |
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LOOKING TOWARDS PICCADILLY PLAZA from the Newton
St corner of Piccadilly at dusk on 26 Dec 2002, and the Plaza is now all
but obscured by the large rectangular structure which now occupies the former
green space. This is Number One Piccadilly Gardens, an office development
opening 2003. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990 EWM says: The effect of the new building can clearly be seen and needs no further comment. |
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PICCADILLY GARDENS is seen here in dusk light
looking south from the Market Street corner. Construction continues on the
office building Number One Piccadilly Gardens. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990 EWM says: I remember Piccadilly from my childhood as an exciting place at Christmas, with lights, decorations, recorded festive music, illuminated gnomes and Christmas trees. The only lights visible today are the service lights inside the office block under construction. |
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MARKET STREET IS FULL of Christmas shoppers.
The street is decorated with Christmas lights. Rising up in the distance
is the wedge-shaped outline of Number One Deansgate. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990, digital zoom EWM says: The scene is split between old on the left and recent on the right - The Arndale was completed at the end of the seventies - the infamous yellow tiles still adorn the Market Street facade. |
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WE ARE LOOKING DOWN ON CANNON STREET from level
nine of the Arndale Centre car park. The Arndale office tower rises up on
the left. Buses are moving away from the bus stops below. This street is
to be transformed into the 'Winter Gardens', a new glass-covered shopping
space. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990 with .66 wide angle teleconverter - composite of three photographs - top middle and bottom. EWM says: The 'Winter Gardens' idea is excellent and would transform this rather grim enclosed section within the Arndale Centre into something to rival the Trafford Centre. |
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CORPORATION STREET runs between the south west
end of the Arndale Centre and the new M&S / Selfridges building, linked
by the distinctive geometrically inspired footbridge. This is the spot where
the bomb exploded five and a half years ago. During the day, this part of
Corporation St is reserved for buses, taxis and bicycles only. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990 EWM says: Who could have predicted 10 years ago that Corporation Street would look like this today? |
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EXCHANGE SQUARE and Corporation Street are quite
busy with shoppers in the run up to Christmas 2002. A Christmas tree stands
in front of the Selfridges store, surrounded by an advertising banner for
the store which recently took up residence in one half of the new M&S
building. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix 990 with .66 wide angle teleconverter - composite of two photographs left and right EWM says: The new M&S / Selfridges building is solid, well-constructed and functional, but lacks the period splendour of Kendals or Lewis's, now Primark. |
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EXCHANGE SQUARE at around 7pm on Saturday 28th
of December 2002 and the Selfridges sale has started, as the giant red letters
in the window indicate. It's a drizzly evening in Manchester. Some people
crossing Corporation Street and are waiting for a gap in the traffic. Equipment: Fuji Finepix 601 EWM says: It's great that people in cars allowed to pass through here after 6.30pm- it brings activity to the area and a sense of security. |
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THE URBIS CENTRE at night is like a giant block
of ice, glowing blue-green in the night. Here we are looking along the west
facade towards the Arndale Centre tower, whose appearance is enhanced by
pink and purple lights. On the right is the Corn Exchange / The Triangle. Equipment: Fuji Finepix 601 EWM says: The Urbis Centre looks stunning whichever angle you view it from. |
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THE CIS TOWER and neighbouring buildings are seen here from the footbridge
at the north end of Victoria Station.
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THE LAST THREE IMAGES ON THIS PAGE are the very first I enhanced on my new Macintosh iBook using Photoshop 7. These and other photos in this update were taken on the Fuji Finepix 601 digital camera, which I'm also trying for the first time. |
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