Moving

My photographic musings are now continued on:

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The Old Railway Hotel

The Old Railway Hotel in Ballygowan, County Down, now operating as Davidson’s Bar, is located at 5–7 The Square, Ballygowan, Co Down.

Ballygowan Railway Station was part of the Belfast and County Down Railway, was opened on 10th September 1858 and closing in January 1950.   The Old Railway Hotel was likely established to serve railway passengers, situated near the station in the village centre. Today the building is known as Davidson’s Bar, and it occupies a prominent location in The Square, offering pub-style hospitality. 

The establishment serves as a landmark in the village and preserves the name of the railway heritage despite the station’s closure over 70 years ago, it remains a memorable reference point tied to Ballygowan’s 19th-century growth following the arrival of the railway.

Leslie taking a short break 

Highlights of Crown Entry

Crown Entry is a medium-width, high-walled passage under a canopy of old buildings, giving it a characteristically moody, enclosed feel. It could well  described as a “grim place”, a place that you would not linger in for too long. 

In the 18th century, the Crown Tavern—positioned halfway down the passage—served as the birthplace of the Society of United Irishmen in 1791, a radical group inspired by the American and French Revolutions that conspired against the Crown.

Today it is an intriguing place for the photographer to visit, a throwback to a bye gone age.

Contrasting or Complementary Colours

My quest as a photographer is to seek out colour contrasts and reflections which often leads to a fascinating journey into the world of visual storytelling. Colour contrasts create striking images by highlighting the difference between hues, while reflections add layers of depth and intrigue to a photograph. Together, they can evoke emotions, draw attention to certain elements, or even transform the mundane into something surreal.

These image were taken on a walk through the Co Down town of Comber.  The street featured is a place I visit often, returning to the same backdrop that I know works in the hope that something will happen and one this visit two opportunities presented themselves.  Red and blue are on the opposite side from each other on the colour wheel, making them complementary.  These contrasts make the image pop to produce a vibrant image, as can be seen from the image featured a bright red car.

Two women standing talking also caught my eye when I noticed that the one wearing a blue cardigan is of the same hue as the blue in the fingerprint mural on the gable end, a nice touch.  On my return walk passing the same location I noticed a small boy riding a bicycle, I knew when he reached the cafe’s bicycle prop the contrast between the two might make a pleasing image.

In conclusion the main lessons to take away is to be alert for colour combinations within the frame and to return to know locations that have pleasing features to maximise the chance of seeing things happen.

Yellow & Purple

Setting out to include contrasting colours in your frame can be challenging, on some occasions luck can be on your side, as was the case in making this image.

Yellow and purple are complementary colours on the colour wheel, meaning they create a striking contrast when placed next to each other. Using these two colours in a photograph can have a few different effects, depending on how they’re incorporated into the composition.

In this example the pairing of yellow and purple has created a bold impact leading to a visually stimulating image set in a scene of urban decay.  The vivid colours stand out against the grey dilapidated building.  While purple dominates in this image, the yellow provides a strong contrast and gives energy to the lady walking out of the frame.

The challenge for the photographer is to be alert to see contrasting colours and to use them effectively within the frame.

A monochrome composition reveals a quiet, architectural abstraction:

A wall, rendered in shades of a single grey tone stretches across the frame. The surface is flat and slightly textured, its monotony broken only by cracks and the stark interplay of vertical and horizontal lines created by electrical wire conduits. These lines suggest structure by dividing the frame. 

Two windows punctuate the wall. They are not aligned—one sits higher and off to the side relative to the other, introducing a quiet tension, a deliberate asymmetry. Each window is defined by sharp, linear edges, with frames slightly recessed, catching different tones of light.

At the base of the wall, a windowsill merges with the footpath, grounding the structure. The sill juts out ever so slightly, marking the boundary where architecture meets the street. This threshold is understated, yet its alignment with the pedestrian space hints at utility—providing light to a dark space.

In monochrome, all is unified by tone, yet divided by form and contrast. The composition becomes a study in spatial rhythm, geometry, and stillness.

Derryboye

Derryboye Crossroads

Derryboye is a small village and townland located in County Down, Northern Ireland, close to where I live. It lies in the historic barony of Dufferin and the civil parish of Killinchy. The village is situated in the scenic countryside, characterized by gently rolling hills, farmland, and a rural tranquility that typifies much of County Down.

The village of Derryboye is centred on a crossroads between the towns of Comber and Saintfield, placing it within a manageable commuting distance to Belfast, which is approximately 15 miles to the northwest.  As a small village, Derryboye has a tight-knit rural community. Its population is relatively small, and it primarily consists of private homes and farms, with limited commercial development.

The area is known for its pastoral beauty, featuring green fields, hedgerows, and quiet country lanes. It embodies the classic Northern Irish rural landscape.  As such Derryboye itself has limited amenities; residents typically rely on nearby towns like Killinchy, Comber, or Saintfield for schools, shops, churches, and other services.

Derryboye is a quiet, rural village that offers a peaceful lifestyle amidst the scenic surroundings of County Down. Its small size and agricultural setting give it a distinct charm, making it an example of the traditional Northern Ireland countryside community. Until recent times it had a post office and petrol service station, both of which are now closed.

Unexpected opportunities and surprises

Recently I made another planned visit to Belfast, I wanted to visit two contrasting areas of the city, Sandy Row and Botanic Gardens.  But I was thrown completely off track. At the entrance to Botanic Gardens I encountered a man who I had all the appearances of being a homeless man, asleep on a bench. But this encounter led to a surprise and a photographic opportunity.

I took some photographs, he never moved and I decided to waken him. Slightly startled he became aware of my presence and I gave him a £2 coin, he thanked me profusely and I was amazed to find that he spoke with quite a refined accent - not what you would expect to find in this situation.

 

We started chatting and I learned that he was knowledgable in a number of subjects which he said he studied.  As he mentioned sociology, among a number of other subjects, I decided that I would test him; I asked what he knew about Emile Durkheim, he replied instantly "he is a French Philosopher" and went on to talk about him at some length.

A woman walking her dog joined us and she asked him if he was homeless, he replied no, he did have a house, but it's in a bad state of repair and would need about £100k to fix it up.  He added, "if I worked as a road sweeper these past years I could have had as much as that now!"

Then the final surprise - he said that he was referenced on the internet over 140 times and he is known as Cyril Botanic.  I googled this and indeed he is there, so look him up.  Apparently he does have a following, including a YouTube video, I believe his real name is Cyril Lindsay.

 

Cyril is clearly an intelligent man, who suffers on one spectrum or another, he is knowledge- able and I did learn an important lesson - don't make assumptions!  While I was travelling into the city to do something completely different, a further lesson learned was to ready for the unexpected opportunities that present themselves to you.  I travelled home satisfied with the morning’s work.

“…FAIL BETTER.”

Recently a new wall mural celebrating Samuel Beckett on the Belmont Road was created by artist Glen Molloy as part of a series of projects in the area promoting positivity.

The art piece provides a real talking point with the positive messages they promote. Samuel Beckett had links with east Belfast through his teaching position at Campbell College.  The quotation on the mural comes from Worstward Ho, the first of which goes like this: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

Beckett as an artist experienced his fair share of failure, but perhaps Worstward Ho provides some useful advice, not least for the photographer.

Curious Hidden Features

A walk around Cathedral Quarter in Belfast will uncover a wealth of curious hidden features if you care to look for them.   For a photographer, like myself, seeking moments of stillness paired with unexpected detail, the city rewards those who wander off the beaten track and keep their eyes open.  These forgotten alleyways adorned with fading signage are often overlooked by tourists, they offer glimpses into the city's industrial past, creating an evocative backdrop for storytelling through the lens.

Commercial Court - is that someone being attacked?

Commercial Court - notice the traditional Belfast sinks.

Beanbag Cinema? A noval idea!

Interesting sign above the door.

Est 1794 - Humane Female Society for the Relief of Lying In Women.

I was aware that there was a lying in maternity hospital in this entry in days gone bye, but I never noticed this sign before reminding us of the history of this place.

Winecellar Entry and a discarded disposable cup.

Colourful Joy's Entry

Henry's Pub, Joy's Entry, peering through the window.

Joy's Entry - ever tried photographing black on black?

Wilson's Entry - a cheery thought!

“As you lived you must die/An’ your last gasp or cry/Will be heard very likely by none/Not one/You unfortunate devil, Maglone.” – Robert A. Wilson.”

Wilson was a Donegal man who, after some time in America, worked for newspapers in Enniskillen and Belfast. He was most famous under the pen-name “Barney Maglone” as the author of ‘To My Cousin In Amerikay’ and ‘Barney Maglone’s Notions Of Things’ 

North Street - still a commercial desert.

The Assembly Rooms - a list building in need of care.

Following the Irish rebellion of 1798, the rebel leader Henry Joy McCracken was court-martialled and convicted of treason in this building and sentenced to death.

This concluded my walk around Cathedral Quarter and I finished up in High Street for a deserved cup of tea and a scone.

Photographing Belfast’s curious features isn’t about capturing landmarks, it’s about observing the poetry in the overlooked.  In the city’s quieter places, its true character reveals itself—subtle, weathered, and quietly extraordinary.

Winecellar Entry

Winecellar Entry is one of the charming, historic narrow alleyways located in High Street in central Belfast.  It dates back to the early 17th century to the beginning of Belfast’s establishment as a maritime port.  Winecellar Entry became a bustling artery servicing dense residential and commercial life.  Its name emerged in the early 19th century from the cluster of wine cellars and merchants established within this area.

White’s Tavern is said to be the oldest tavern that is still in business today, it is claimed that it was first licensed here in 1630 to Thomas Kane.  Fortunately White’s Tavern and Winecellar Entry survived the Second World War blitz, at that time this part of the city was heavily bombed in 1941.

A stroll down the stone‑paved alley reveals, as in the other Belfast historic entries, an atmospheric experience, iron work and period lamps.  The shaded courtyard is the focal point of Winecellar Entry. The urban style, including rendered three-storey façades with wooden sash windows and slates—is evidence to its late Georgian rebuild.

Winecellar Entry is short in length, but it is huge in character and atmosphere.  It is close to the old harbour which once extended to High Street, it is a surviving slice of Belfast’s past and its roots in the wine trade.

C.S. Lewis Remembered at his birth place

Author, academic and theologian C.S. Lewis was just ten years old when his mother, Flora Lewis, passed away—a loss that left a profound impact on his life and imagination. Now, a new mural in East Belfast pays tribute to her enduring influence on C.S. Lewis.

Unveiled on the gable wall of The Secret Day Spa on Belmont Road, the artwork was created by street artist Emic and commissioned by local traders.  The mural features “a graceful figure draped in a lavender shawl and crowned with wildflowers,” a symbolic representation of Flora Lewis. 

According to the Belmont Road traders, the image captures her nurturing presence and the inspiration she gave her son—an inspiration that would one day help bring the magical world of Narnia to life.

C.S. Lewis, born Clive Staples Lewis, who grew up in east Belfast went on to become a renowned academic, lay theologian, and author best known for The Chronicles of Narnia. He died in 1963 at the age of 64.

Quieter places

Walking around Belfast and its quieter corners often hide some of the most intriguing and characterful sights, a photographer’s paradise.  These images were all taken in the High Street and Cathedral Quarter districts in Belfast each image only minutes apart.  Strolling down these quiet entries and pedestrian walkways that can be easily overlooked, but they are rich in atmosphere.

There are examples of hidden architecture in these quiet corners, quirky wall fixtures and signs, plaques and curiosities and various kinds of street art, some quite substantial, some naive and others more profound and of course a mismatch of buildings.  Even urban decay can be very photogenic.

These areas which are quiet by day often transform at night into vibrant night-life areas attracting young people out for a night’s entertainment in the numerous pubs and niche restaurants.  Perhaps a night visit will be the topic for another blog.

Exploring Exchange Place in Belfast

Taking a walk up and down Exchange Place in Belfast offers a compact but intriguing glimpse into the city's architectural contrasts, historical layers, and urban landscape. Located near the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, this narrow street provides excellent opportunities for street and architectural photography, blending the old industrial character with new life and creative energy.

Beginning your walk from the Hill Street end of Exchange Place entry we see it runs subtly between larger buildings.  The entry is narrow and cobbled, giving an old-world charm as you start to take photographs capturing the length of the entry, then we notice wrought iron signs and building fixtures, vintage street lamps and aging brickwork.

As you head deeper into the entry you are  surrounded by tall, narrow buildings that reflect Belfast’s industrial and Victorian past. You raise your camera to capture the tight verticals of the architecture, perfect for moody perspective shots or experimenting with vanishing point compositions.  Reaching the other end the street opens slightly, revealing newer developments or refurbished structures. Here, you photograph signs for independent galleries or pop-up venues, reflecting the cultural pulse of this part of Belfast - Cathedral Quarter.

The building spanning the archway once housed Belfast’s first maternity hospital in 1794, the Humane Female Society for the Relief of Lying-in Women.

Heading back retracing your steps you see things you missed, murals or painted panels that are often part of Belfast's thriving street art scene. 

Though short in length, Exchange Place in Belfast is full of photographic nuance. It’s a microcosm of the city itself — layered, weathered, quietly evolving. Whether you're after gritty urban textures, human moments, or architectural contrasts, a walk here offers plenty to frame and capture with your lens.