UK - Midlands Meet - Where, When...

[jiggling_john]

Edit 08/01/07 :

If the meet goes ahead it would appear that Birmingham is the location and March 17th the date. Any problems/questions/refinements/suggestions - add them to the thread or pm me :)

Original Post :

Right, as seen in http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=259322

there seems to be plenty of interest in a midlands meet up at some point. Now we need to organise the where's and the when's.

Places that have been suggested so far are...

Birmingham
Leicester
Nottingham (and sherwood forest)
The peaks*
Carsington Water*
Rutland water*

Places with a * are all great ideas but hard for those to get to who have to use public transport. Keep in mind that this is open to anyone (even those outside the midlands who really want to trek down here!) but we need it to be accessible...

The general idea I think would be urban/street photography being as most of the places mentioned are large cities, with the possibility of a night time shoot if there's enough interest.

I'd also suggest probably a big city meet is a good idea because of the facilities provided... A meet (in my opinion) should be as much about the socialising as it is the shooting. Big cities = places to stay, eat and many pubs.. :-p

No one mentioned a date so as a starting point, I'd suggest we do it a couple of months down the line - March time or something which gives everyone plenty of time to plan and organise.

This is all open to debate, but please use this thread to post either your vote for a particular place, to suggest another place (which I'll add to this list) or a time (again which I'll add to the (none existant of yet) list)

Sorry to Lingham for running off with his idea, I just thought this could do with a little organisation.

[condyk]

I'm due to move back to London soon and a lot of my weekends are already allocated to stuff between now and then, so would depend on exact date and time and location, but I can recommend Birmingham as a good place for shooting. The city centre is excellent for shopping as reasonably compact, there is the Bullring and then the Jewellery Quarter where I live at the moment is superb for old buildings and 'urban grit', plus the excellent Jewellery Museum and Pen Museum, two ancient graveyards, good cafes and a great Indian for an evening meal. You can walk along the canal to Brindley Sq and the Aquarium, etc. Good transport and lots of accommodation.

[jiggling_john]

I'm due to move back to London soon and a lot of my weekends are already allocated to stuff between now and then, so would depend on exact date and time and location, but I can recommend Birmingham as a good place for shooting. The city centre is excellent for shopping as reasonably compact, there is the Bullring and then the Jewellery Quarter where I live at the moment is superb for old buildings and 'urban grit', plus the excellent Jewellery Museum and Pen Museum, two ancient graveyards, good cafes and a great Indian for an evening meal. You can walk along the canal to Brindley Sq and the Aquarium, etc. Good transport and lots of accommodation.

I have to agree, birmingham is a minefield of places to shoot...

[dawnrogers]

Birmingham sounds good.....March time is good too....may be some one should suggest a list of dates to vote on???

[jiggling_john]

weekends in March (all saturday dates):

3rd
10th
17th
24th
31st...

No reason at all, but 17th is a middling date... how about that weekend?!

I'm presuming weekends would be the best times as well....

[phylet]

Birmingham would probbably be OK with me, i might be able to get a lift over there from a friend, but would anyone else be able to take me over by car possibly?

17th of march sounds fine to me.

[neil_r]

Birmingham would probbably be OK with me, i might be able to get a lift over there from a friend, but would anyone else be able to take me over by car possibly?

17th of march sounds fine to me.

If you are in Leicester, I could swing by and pick you up

[phylet]

why neil that'd be fantastic :D ill PM you my mobile number incase you'll need it.

Ive heard the jewlery district in birmingham is fantastic for photography?

[dawnrogers]

The 17th is fine...perhaps some one would let me know where and what time..

[jiggling_john]

yeah, the jewelery quarter is ace. It's quite a strange place to be honest, hard to describe what makes it what it is. I guess you'll see!

17th seems to be a popular date so we'll pencil that in as the most probable date for the meet.

I guess the best thing to do would be to meet in a central location that everyone will be able to find very easily (birmingham isn't the smallest of places to navigate if you don't know it!). Station, pub, public place... I'll have a think on that one - I'm off there in a minute actually so I'll have a wander around and think up some places to go and places we could all meet up.

The interest from the original thread seems to have fallen off somewhat, which is a shame but not a problem. Nearer the time I'll get a list of those who are definitely going to turn up so we don't end up leaving anyone stranded!

If anyone wants to come but needs any info on getting here, staying here or anything really, pm me and I'll be more than happy to help out. :)

[neil_r]

17th is in the diary. I have an Office @ Brindley Place. Not a bad place to meet. Good Car Park, canal next door, through the ICC and you are in town.

[jiggling_john]

Excellent. In that case I can always meet people who come by train or whatever and head on down to where you are. Another thing added to the list!

Anyone else interested in coming along?

[phylet]

Fab! this is going great id say

[phylet]

what lenses for birmingham?

10-20, 24-70 & 70-200, no flash?

[condyk]

what lenses for birmingham?

10-20, 24-70 & 70-200, no flash?

The widey and the 24-70 will be fine ...

Excellent. In that case I can always meet people who come by train or whatever and head on down to where you are. Another thing added to the list! Anyone else interested in coming along?

If I am still here and not tied down to work I will and even if I can't make it I can help with suggesting a good walking route for shooting that will take in around 3-4 hours and includes local cafes for a lunch break or pub for a beer ;-) I know the Jewellery Quarter like the back of my hand and have probably shot every tiny detail there is to shoot here :-)

[phylet]

any news? anyone got anythoughts? march seems to be racing towards us.

[lingham]

i live in kenilworth so anyone near me wants a lift gimme a shout....saves petrol that way i guess dont it

[stevegreen]

Damn, I am away on the 17th, shame because I would have liked to come along. I have another meet planned there on the 3rd February.

[phylet]

Is this still going to go ahead?

[lingham]

anyone?

[keshvala]

Any meets arranged for 2009 in Birmingham / Midlands area ?.