Exploring Birmingham: Where tradition meets modernity Birmingham
Three days in Birmingham, the city of Peaky Blinders. We never thought we’d end up here, but after the news that our winning photo would be exhibited during The Photography & Video Show in this city, booking the flight was a breeze.
Early morning, off to Amsterdam, boarded the plane, and there we were… Birmingham. Rain was forecasted but the sun was shining. Straight from the plane, we rolled into the exhibition hall, conveniently located within walking distance from the airport. A bustling expo with many visitors. A very intriguing trade fair with an abundance of photography tools. Yet, no one leaving said, ‘Well, now I have everything I need! 😂’.
We enjoyed seeing our entry hanging on the wall there. It’s thrilling to see it like that. Of course, the photo has already traveled digitally worldwide, but to see it physically exhibited on a wall and even featured in the index and prominently in the Amateur Photographer magazine, that’s extra special.
After more than 15,000 steps, we were satisfied and headed to our hotel in the center of Birmingham. Checked in, put our feet up for a bit, then ventured out to explore the local culture a few streets away.
Beautiful, characteristic buildings filled with restaurants, hotels, and pubs. The atmosphere I sense on this Saturday afternoon is a blend of refined class and working-class vibes. It all coexists harmoniously here. The city’s style and taste appeal to us, prompting us to explore more. We’re curious about day 2, where we’ll further dive into Birmingham.
All the rain fell during our sleep in a fabulous hotel, The Grand Hotel in the center of Birmingham. Over the next few days, we’ll be wandering around with our camera and tripod, seeking out more attractive locations in this city. Here, tradition often intertwines with modernity. And the multitude of cultures enriches the city. It’s also noticeable how historical buildings are constantly interspersed with modern architecture. Quite different from many other cities. It’s beautiful to see it so mixed.
During our walks, we encounter numerous canals and mini-locks, dug in the past for more efficient transportation than horse and carriage. The first transport ships were pulled by horses. A gigantic water basin was built to maintain the water levels in the canals, and the boats have a distinct character. They’re small, long, narrow boats that sometimes barely fit through the narrow locks. It’s lovely to see them still sailing today. We took a canal tour through a small part of the canals and noticed that many of these boats are used as houseboats.
Birmingham surprises us. I anticipate it becoming a top destination for city trips. There’s a lot of construction happening, and even the abandoned urban industrial areas are being redeveloped. Another thing worth noting is the very active graffiti scene; there aren’t many places untouched by spray paint. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes a pity. But creativity breeds the future.
Since we don’t often choose a city trip as a photography destination, it was a good opportunity for us to explore a somewhat unknown city. If you’re interested, do some exploring yourself. Without winning the photo contest, we would have never come here, and it would have been a loss.
