2021 IN PICTURES – APRIL

Posted on December 8, 2021 by analogueboyinadigitalworld

April began with a four day weekend due to the Easter Holidays. Naturally, I was out with my camera.

On the Saturday, I headed to Belvoir Park Forest. Before Lockdown, I hadn’t been to Belvoir Park Forest in ages, so I rediscovered it, if you will.

I’d been a couple of times before, but the weather was usually too wet or too dull, so the photos weren’t great.

This time around, I had some early morning sunshine that I took advantage of.

I had planned to use my time off over Easter to do my monthly visit to Cavehill.

The plan was to go on Easter Tuesday as I assumed that Saturday, Sunday and Monday would be rammed, Tuesday would be a bit quieter. You know, the whole Trying Not To Get Covid Thing.

It turned out to be an inspired decision. Not only was there not a lot of people about, but it snowed. Yes, snow in April.

Cavehill in snow was photos I always wanted, and I was not disappointed by my trip to McArt’s Fort.

On my way up, I did ask myself what I was doing, but it was all worth it when I got to the top.

However, next time it snows like that, i’ll head to Lisnabreeny Hill, in the interest of balance.

Cregagh Glen and Lisnabreeny Hill was where I headed next the following weekend, not in snow but in sunshine.

April saw me get my first Street Art photos of the year, a trip up to Shankill Road to see some new pieces painted outside Spectrum Centre and a piece by Dan Kitchener at the top, near Woodvale Park.

Belvoir Park Forest

Belvoir Park Forest Photo Album

Cavehill

Cavehill Photo Album

Cregagh Glen/Lisnabreeny Hill

Cregagh Glen/Lisnabreeny Hill Photo Album

Shankill Street Art

Shankill Street Art Photo Album

SHANKILL STREET ART

Posted on April 12, 2021 by analogueboyinadigitalworld

A lot of things might have been put on hold over the past year, but Street Art in Belfast isn’t one of them.

The location to find these pieces isn’t in the Cathedral Quarter where you would expect, but on the Shankill Road, with two separate projects working independently of each other.

I spotted it on Instagram, that Friz and Emic, both featured regularly on this blog, had posted pictures of work they had done on the outside of the Spectrum Centre.

At the same time, Dan Kitchener, also featured on this blog for work previously done in Belfast in 2017, and when I stumbled upon work in his native London on a weekend break in 2018, also posted on Instagram that he was working on a piece in Shankill.

So, on Good Friday, I headed out on my bike after finishing work to get photos of the pieces.

Getting photos of the pieces outside Spectrum Centre was easy, but finding Dan Kitchener was a different matter. I cycled all over Shankill Road and couldn’t find him.

I did cycle to Lanark Way and saw a piece of Jesus recently done by Glen Molloy.

Appeals on social media were unsuccessful in trying to find out where Dan Kitchener was working, as I was hoping to get some work in progress photos as he completed his work.

It turned out it was on Enfield Street right at the very top of the Shankill, just past Woodvale Park.

Thankfully, Dan Kitchener was on hand to do his own updates, such as Day 1 and Day 3.

To compliment this, he has a video on his Youtube channel detailing his stay in Belfast.

If you are familiar with his work, there’s no deviation, you can spot a mile off that it is a Dan Kitchener piece, usually specialising in cities at night, this time depicting a Belfast Taxi in Downtown Tokyo.

For further reading, there is also an interview with him on Belfast Live.

With the work being completed over Easter, I had planned on cycling up on the Wednesday night to see it and get photos.

However, Linfield were on Sky so instead I did my walking route on a weeknight when Linfield are live on TV. Don’t laugh, it’s brought three wins in six weeks.

It turned out to be a good decision considering what was kicking off on Wednesday teatime.

So, Sunday morning, things are a lot calmer, heading up to take some extra photos of Spectrum Centre as some didn’t turn out as I hope when I went up on Good Friday, and to see the Dan Kitchener piece on Enfield Street, making the most of quiet traffic to get photos of it.

Photo Album

BELFAST PEACE WALL ART – AUGUST 2016

Posted on August 12, 2016 by analogueboyinadigitalworld

A curious thing I do, is that every six months, I cycle up to the Belfast Peace Wall on Cupar Way. Last Sunday, was my time to head up there.

I’ve been documenting Street Art in Belfast and beyond since 2007, and it wasn’t until 2014 that I actually ventured over to Cupar Way.

I’d seen images, both photos and film footage of it. To be honest, as Street Art goes, it’s not actually that impressive.

If I was to offer advice to tourists wanting to see Street Art in Belfast, i’d send them in the direction of North Street and Donegall Street, in the City Centre.

You can walk around and get lost if you wish and find art that way, but if you like a bit of structure, there is a tour now operating on Sundays.

I will admit to being fascinated by the ever changing evolution of the walls.

While I was there. I tawt I taw a Puddy Tat. Oh wait, I did!!

Slyvester The Cat was my favourite, even though he was buried under other Street Art.

I wonder what i’ll find in February 2017?

Photo Album

BELFAST PEACE WALL ART

Posted on September 2, 2015 by analogueboyinadigitalworld

Every six months or so, i’d head to the Peace Wall in Belfast to have a look at the Street Art and get some photos.

It wasn’t until February last year that I actually visited it for the first time. It just wasn’t something that interested me.

I remember about ten years ago, seeing a documentary on the BBC where Lenny Henry visited Belfast and went to the Peace Wall, and seeing some art, one of which was a mural of Norman Whiteside, which is sadly now gone, that it was in the back of my mind that there would be Street Art to be found there.

So, about eighteen months ago, I got curious and decided to visit. Personally, I didn’t think much of the Street Art, I didn’t think it was that good, especially when people were defacing it by scribbling their own messages over the art.

If I was advising tourists looking to explore Street Art in Belfast, i’d direct them to North Street and Royal Mail’s car park.

Despite that, I visited recently and saw some good pieces. Enjoy. Hopefully, when I visit again in February 2016, there’ll be some more Street Art to photograph.

Belfast Peace Wall Art August 2015 Photo Album

THE DIMITAR BERBATOV SHOW (OR, SEPTEMBER SHENANIGANS)

Posted on September 21, 2010 by analogueboyinadigitalworld

Was over in Manchester at the weekend for my first United game of the season, and my word, I picked a cracker, taking in the Dimitar Berbatov inspired 3-2 win over Liverpool.

It was the first time i’d taken in a United game against Liverpool since 1994, which was a rarity in this fixture, a Saturday 3pm fixture.

I’d actually turned down the chance to see United play Liverpool in April 2004. That game clashed with Linfield’s final day title showdown with Glentoran, there was only going to be one winner.

United lost, Linfield won (the game, and title) so it turned out to be the right decision. Incidentally, that game I turned down the chance to see was the last Saturday 3pm kick-off between United and Liverpool.

Shocking weather travelling over, it didn’t get much better on matchday, getting totally drenched, killing off any chances of dandering into Manchester City Centre.

It was strange, as the third Weekend in September in recent years always seemed to be gloriously sunny.

In 2007, I took advantage of Linfield not playing to go and check out some murals on the Shankill Road.

In 2008, I took advantage of Linfield playing, on the seaside, to see a 5-0 win at Bangor. Big crowd (in a small ground though), sunny weather and a 5-0 Linfield win, what’s not to like?

Last year, I spent this weekend at perhaps the greatest Manchester derby of all.

So, this game, had a lot to live up to.

The match itself was unremarkable for 40 minutes until Berbatov headed United in front.

His overhead kick for the second had to be seen to be believed. I was behind that goal, in a low seat, and once he hit it, you knew it was going to be a goal.

Unfortunately, rather than witnessing a routine and comfortable (But enjoyable, United beating Liverpool is ALWAYS enjoyable) win, United’s new found ability this season to self-destruct defensively saw it being a more exciting game than it should have been.

The reflief, when Berbatov scored was clear for all to see. I managed to capture a photo of it, which has become my most active post on my fledgling Tumblr account.

Now, Berbatov could do no wrong, a stark contrast from the reaction of fans after the last United game I was at, at Blackburn in April, when he was singled out for an ineffective display leading the line in the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney.

Berbatov was signed to deliver in the big and important games, and he didn’t at Ewood Park (That game, rather than the defeat to Chelsea the week before, was the one that cost United the 2010 title) but made up for it big time on Sunday,

It also meant I kept up my proud record of never having seen United lose at Old Trafford in person, although I did see United lose a fiendly to an International XI at Winsdor Park in 1995, and a league game at Ewood Park in 2006.

My next United game will be the game against Spurs at the end of October (I’ve actually got a bit of a record of missing out on seeing Spurs, but i’ll save that for the photoblog of that game) but until then, i’ll have to make do with the hustle and bustle of the Irish League (with a corproate view of Northern Ireland v Italy inbetween)

Having been to the second biggest game in British football, my next football match will be the biggest game in British football (possibly even World football)

For once, when Sky introduce a match as “Live, from the greatest league in the world”, they can actually justify it.

You shouldn’t really have to ask what it is.

So, when thinking of the three greatest hat-tricks in football history (Glenn Ferguson v Glentoran 2005, David Healy v Spain 2006, Dimitar Berbatov v Liverpool 2010), I can say, I was there.