November&December
People started to shop early for Christmas in November. The stress that goes with Christmas shopping was taken away when people were greeted with a variety of street entertainment and also those vivid Christmas Lights across Liverpool's City Centre. Festivities also included Live Reindeers outside the Met Quarter Shopping Centre.
During November & December, (although difficult) It was important not to let Christmas festivities take over my "cameras eye". Christmas is a great time in the city, but of course lets not forget what Liverpool has to offer all year round and has had not just since 2008 but for many years. In 2008 Liverpool embraced its past present and future to it's full potential!
I also photographed Kicking Free Dance Company at their studio and the Neo Classical Statues that form part of the entrance to Calderstones Park as well as other city centre topics including a trip to the Conservation Centre. Local historian Frank Carlyle was also photographed as well as an antiques fair in St Georges Hall and it was great to meet Tony Snell aka Snelly from BBC Radio Merseyside.
It was largely due to the early Christmas preparations that I decided to combine November & December in the one chapter as well as add other topics.
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1/View of the Albert Dock, taken from Liverpool1 12/11/08
2/Taken on top floor of Liverpool1 (Phase2), as preparations for Christmas begin, Santa's Grotto on left of frame & decorations are depicted 12/11/08
Subjects photographed November & December, without a Christmas theme.
The Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre and the corner of
St George's Hall, in the distance, The North Western buildings are depicted
12/11/08
Original Spirit Of Liverpool Statue 19/11/08, taken at conservation centre 19/11/08
Busker Life on Church St
Calderstones Park Harthill Estate Entrance 1/12/08
Calderstones Park Harthill Estate Entrance (further information)
Another example of what our great city Liverpool offers all year round, taken just outside city centre.
Two Atlantes fronting the gateposts of the park entrance at the corner of Harthill Road and Calderstones Road, with Statues of the Four Seasons were carved for brown's buildings, built by (Sir) James Allanson Picton, 1861-63, in Water Street, next to the town Hall and were acquired by Liverpool Corporation in 1928 following the demolitionof Brown's buildings (WAG JCS files). The Atlantes originally flanked the main Water Street entrance and the Four Seasons were ranged along the facade (Whitty, 1871:37).
Neo Classical Architecture 6/12/08, Walker Art Gallery (statues outside entrance),
Further reading see link below
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/collections/entrance/
County Sessions House 6/12/08
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Sessions_House,_Liverpool
St Georges Hall Antiques Show 13/12/08
St George's Hall Law Court Crest 13/12/08
Giant puppet used in city's 800th birthday parade called Jude, taken in St Georges Hall 6/12/08
World Museum Liverpool Exhibits 11/12/08
World Museum Liverpool is a treasure trove that spans centuries for the eye to behold, where your eye is opened to the world of classical history from many cultures and nations ancient and modern.
The World Museum Liverpool is a view of the
world under one roof, both land and sea, housing many fascinating species
It was a pleasure to photograph Kicking Free Dance Company in their studio, after I first photographed them in the Hope St Feast back in October.
The images below were taken 1/12/08
www.myspace.com/kfdancecompany
Frank Carlyle photographed at St Georges hall 6/12/08 & with Tony Snell aka Snelly from Radio Merseyside 18/12/08
Frank Carlyle's 2nd DVD launch of the DVD "Liverpool Unequalled" held at BBC Radio Merseyside's performance space, hosted by presenter Tony Snell.
http://www.liverpoolunravelled.co.uk
Christmas Culture
Jack & Jackie Frost pose for the camera after decorating a Christmas Tree, outside Walker Art Gallery 6/12/08 (2nd image below) http://www.artemisproductions.co.uk/btn04.htm, while the Christmas festivities gather momentum
Additional images were taken of Christmas Entertainment on Church St and inside the Met Quarter, including a group of Carol singers posing for the camera as well as Santa and a female elf posed by a postbox, where children could send there message to Santa. An image taken from Liverpool 1 on the 4th floor (4th image down on left)
Christmas festivities "set the city alight" in 2008 with Christmas lights and decorations, Stilt walking street entertainment and live Reindeers, one reindeer even posed for the camera!
Anglican Cathedral 19/12/08
A sequence of images that depict a Nativity Scene, preparations for a service and a 60ft Sitka Spruce Christmas Tree.
2008 A year that I had lived for, I write these words in December, Christmas time, but as far as I'm concerned 2008 has been like Christmas Day for me every day, when I had the privilege of photographing The Capital Of Culture in this Great City's official year as European Capital of Culture!!!!!!!!
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV/DEC
(C) David Lydiate dave@lydiatesliverpoollens.com
