Karen Strunks Professional Birmingham-based Freelance Photographer

B4AM – Jewellery Quarter

Thank you for everyone who made suggestions about where I should go out to next. The majority of people suggested the Jewellery Quarter.

I went out on Monday morning. I set the alarm for 2am, and the first thing I did was check the weather. It was very mild with a tiny bit of rain which I thought would be manageable to work with.

Once again, I pretty much had the streets to myself. That’s one of the things I love about going out at 4am, as I’m sure I have mentioned before. To be in the second city and not seeing another soul is so rare, and feels like a secret…

I was very brave this time!! There is a graveyard on Pitsford Street, and I briefly ventured into it to take some pics. It isn’t gated (if it was I don’t think I would have ventured into it), and I didn’t go into it very far, just a few feet. I had an idea about using off camera flash for some shots. Unfortunately, there was so little light in the area, that my idea didn’t work and the pictures aren’t really usable. Oh well, I tried!

It wasn’t long before the rain got a lot heavier, and it really slowed my progress. I had to constantly wipe the lens dry and quickly take the shot, and repeat…… Because it was such slow going, and time was ticking on, I didn’t get as many shots in as many areas as I would have liked.

This is a year long project, and I am looking forward to seeing the change in seasons and the light as the months progress. I am sure by the summertime it will be very light.

So, here are this months pictures. I hope you enjoy them. Click on the picture to enlarge. Feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions.

Henrietta Street

Chamberlain Clock. I wanted to get this shot when the clock showed the time at 4am.

Key Hill Drive

St Paul’s Square

St Paul’s Square

St Paul’s Square. The gravestone reads ‘In Memory of Moses Barber, Police Officer, who departed this life June 16 1853, age 40 years’. I did a brief search online, but I couldn’t find any more details about Moses. If anyone knows of a good place to look, or knows anything more about Moses, could you let me know? I’m just curious.