Punctum and Studium
This photograph is clearly that of a boy throwing a ball at a coconut shy. From the photographers point of view the whole scenario, or what the photograph is about can be seen to be a day out at a local fair. All the elements in the photograph are said to be the Studium of the photo, and the photographer has then framed the picture as to accentuate the coconuts themselves putting the boy in soft focus. When a person looks at the photograph, the thought process works in reverse. The first thing the viewer may notice is the coconuts themselves. This is said to be the Punctum. Only after that does the viewer take in the Studium to arrive at the photographers initial portrayal of what the scene is about. The Punctum of a photograph is not necessarily the same for every viewer and it is said that culture plays a part in a persons perceptions of an image and what part that person would consider as the Punctum.
Dark and light exposure
Photographs with large areas of dark and light can be problematic.
To expose the sky correctly, the foreground becomes too underexposed.
When the foreground is exposed correctly, the sky becomes over exposed.
To remedy this, we can put a graduated filter in front of the camera to darken the sky as shown:-
Here we can see the effect the filter has on exposure.
Another way is to take the two original pictures and compbine them to for an HDR (High Dynamic Range image that will take the best exposures from each shot. Done carefully, a very good result can be obtained. If its overdone, it can look a bit metallic.
The above image combined to create a more uniform photography.
Above, another example of using HDR to combine two images.
Fill flash
In this example we have the same problem of a dark foreground. Instead of using HDR, I decided to use Fill Flash. Which is basically as it sound. To use a flash, to illuminate the dark areas to give what is considered a better, more realistic look than HDR.
Composition
An old tree in a grave yard. Very over exposed and not really too pleasing with a stone grabbing the attention from the amazing old tree.
A small rethink and took the better picture below.
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The cat and mouse were at least 50 feet apart but from this angle at 70mm, f16 I was able to make them appear closer to each other. The lamp post and messy background don't do the pic any favours but there is a lot going on that's hard to obscure. The exercise was mainly about the dof and bringing the background closer.
A prop off the Lusitania. 55mm at f13 bringing the prop and the 'Tate' sign into focus.
The Photography of George Osadi. Portraits of the rather better off rulers of the regions of Nigeria. F9 did a decent job for dof in this setting while a 24mm lens helped with the wide angle
More pics of Nigeria's well to do.
My fave of the day. 35mm with the shallow depth of field. f2.8 at a mere 1/60sec due to low light. Unfortunately I picked up some glare off the glass door which could have been reduced with a polarising filter. .
As busy day ahead I think. Another pic that would have benefited from a polorising filter
Long depth of field provided by f20. Shot at ISO 800 to get a fast shutter. The fact that we have grainy tiles on the floor helps to hide any grain due to high ISO.
The Museum. Love the lines and angles of this building and it was nice of them to provide the building with a huge label.
The ramp provided a bit of an arty, abstract shot.
This was fine except for the huge highlight from the suns reflection.
Not so bad from this angle. I took this pic at an angle to match the angular design of the building itself
I kept this dof shallow to get the effect I wanted. There was a black lamppost which looked awful in the shot so I framed the picture so that the pillar would hide it. You can still see the lamppost sticking out above the pillar. It is the kind of thing that I would Photoshop out. Cropping the pic to cut out the top of the pillar didnt look too well composed.
I thought this looked amusing. The mouse running hell for leather with a motionless gull sat on its tail.
That's where my trainers ended up. I find this picture flat and uninteresting. Maybe a close up of one of the designs would have been a better way to go. This shot would have benefited from a flash to highlight the closest piece. Unfortunately, flash not allowed in the museum.
?
Little boxes. I was practically lying on the floor to take this. I like the presentation but I didn't like the messy wall with all its cracks and patches.
Just had to be tided up in Photoshop for what i think is a more pleasing photograph without any major alterations
Nice enough shot except for the obvious reflections of the two fluorescent light on the ceiling.
This is a much better angle with no reflections at all. Someone who hadn't been to the gallery would be hard pressed to know what they are actually looking at, which is the base of a support pillar. The floor being covered in coloured tape.
Another tricky light and dark picture. I used Lightroom to bring up the shadows and tone down the highlights. I would have deleted this pic but as we should show all, I've left it here. In my opinion, an informative, but not very interesting or well composed picture.
As above
Im in two minds about this picture. I got the whole Liverpool sign in there. I got the whole stair rails without cutting them off at the top. And like Errol Flynn, I even got the girl. But somehow it feel empty. Maybe black and white would have improved the feel of this photo. But I do like the lines and the angles.
A great set of prints in the Tate. Slightly ruined by the reflections coming off their surface. Another case for a polarising filter. Wouldn't be perfect but would help. Due to the low light level this pic was shot at ISO 6400. A touch of luminance in LR managed to disguise some of the grain.
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Portraits.
These two photographs were taken in a small living room using one strobe and one speedlite. As there was not enough room to position the camera too far away from the subject, I used a 50mm prime lens, rather than the preferable 85mm prime. 85mm is a better portrait lens as a 50mm lens can distort the fiedl of view, whereas an 85mm lens is considered the sweet spot for portraiture
A prime lens, being a lens with a fixed focal length.
50mm f13 iso 250
Strobe, top right.
Photoshop, frequency separation edit. Frequency separation is a way of separating the textured part of a surface so that it can be later applied to a softened copy of the image.
Speedlite, lower left.
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Photographic Tasks
Tricycle, Ian Fletcher 2018.
Tricycle, William Eggleston 1969.
Dexter, Emma (2003). Cruel and Tender:
Tate Publishing
William Eggleston. born July 27th 1939. It is said that William was disheartened with his surroundings and had declared to a friend that there was nothing but ugliness around the area in which he lived. his friend suggested therefore that he should photograph 'ugly'.
What we see in the photo is a tricycle that looks a bit worse for wear and is probably a 50's 'Western Flyer'. The car in the background looks like a 1950's Plymouth Valient.
The main feature of the photo is the tricycle itself. If Eggleston's plan was to photograph 'ugly' then this is it. Maybe Eggleston wanted us to think of an old barren landscape with old abandoned playthings as there is a notable absence of children playing. The scene looks quite bleak and has a hot sun scorched look, given away by the dry brown grass. It seems to have a feel of poverty even though it was over 20yrs since the depression. Eggleston himself was not born into poverty and was even sent to a boarding school in Tennessee.
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The cat and mouse were at least 50 feet apart but from this angle at 70mm, f16 I was able to make them appear closer to each other. The lamp post and messy background don't do the pic any favours but there is a lot going on that's hard to obscure. The exercise was mainly about the dof and bringing the background closer.
A prop off the Lusitania. 55mm at f13 bringing the prop and the 'Tate' sign into focus.
The Photography of George Osadi. Portraits of the rather better off rulers of the regions of Nigeria. F9 did a decent job for dof in this setting while a 24mm lens helped with the wide angle
More pics of Nigeria's well to do.
My fave of the day. 35mm with the shallow depth of field. f2.8 at a mere 1/60sec due to low light. Unfortunately I picked up some glare off the glass door which could have been reduced with a polarising filter. .
As busy day ahead I think. Another pic that would have benefited from a polorising filter
Long depth of field provided by f20. Shot at ISO 800 to get a fast shutter. The fact that we have grainy tiles on the floor helps to hide any grain due to high ISO.
The Museum. Love the lines and angles of this building and it was nice of them to provide the building with a huge label.
The ramp provided a bit of an arty, abstract shot.
This was fine except for the huge highlight from the suns reflection.
Not so bad from this angle. I took this pic at an angle to match the angular design of the building itself
I kept this dof shallow to get the effect I wanted. There was a black lamppost which looked awful in the shot so I framed the picture so that the pillar would hide it. You can still see the lamppost sticking out above the pillar. It is the kind of thing that I would Photoshop out. Cropping the pic to cut out the top of the pillar didnt look too well composed.
I thought this looked amusing. The mouse running hell for leather with a motionless gull sat on its tail.
That's where my trainers ended up. I find this picture flat and uninteresting. Maybe a close up of one of the designs would have been a better way to go. This shot would have benefited from a flash to highlight the closest piece. Unfortunately, flash not allowed in the museum.
?
Little boxes. I was practically lying on the floor to take this. I like the presentation but I didn't like the messy wall with all its cracks and patches.
Just had to be tided up in Photoshop for what i think is a more pleasing photograph without any major alterations
Nice enough shot except for the obvious reflections of the two fluorescent light on the ceiling.
This is a much better angle with no reflections at all. Someone who hadn't been to the gallery would be hard pressed to know what they are actually looking at, which is the base of a support pillar. The floor being covered in coloured tape.
Another tricky light and dark picture. I used Lightroom to bring up the shadows and tone down the highlights. I would have deleted this pic but as we should show all, I've left it here. In my opinion, an informative, but not very interesting or well composed picture.
As above
Im in two minds about this picture. I got the whole Liverpool sign in there. I got the whole stair rails without cutting them off at the top. And like Errol Flynn, I even got the girl. But somehow it feel empty. Maybe black and white would have improved the feel of this photo. But I do like the lines and the angles.
A great set of prints in the Tate. Slightly ruined by the reflections coming off their surface. Another case for a polarising filter. Wouldn't be perfect but would help. Due to the low light level this pic was shot at ISO 6400. A touch of luminance in LR managed to disguise some of the grain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Portraits.
These two photographs were taken in a small living room using one strobe and one speedlite. As there was not enough room to position the camera too far away from the subject, I used a 50mm prime lens, rather than the preferable 85mm prime. 85mm is a better portrait lens as a 50mm lens can distort the fiedl of view, whereas an 85mm lens is considered the sweet spot for portraiture
A prime lens, being a lens with a fixed focal length.
50mm f13 iso 250
Strobe, top right.
Photoshop, frequency separation edit. Frequency separation is a way of separating the textured part of a surface so that it can be later applied to a softened copy of the image.
Speedlite, lower left.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Photographic Tasks
Tricycle, Ian Fletcher 2018.
Tricycle, William Eggleston 1969.
Dexter, Emma (2003). Cruel and Tender:
Tate Publishing
William Eggleston. born July 27th 1939. It is said that William was disheartened with his surroundings and had declared to a friend that there was nothing but ugliness around the area in which he lived. his friend suggested therefore that he should photograph 'ugly'.
What we see in the photo is a tricycle that looks a bit worse for wear and is probably a 50's 'Western Flyer'. The car in the background looks like a 1950's Plymouth Valient.
The main feature of the photo is the tricycle itself. If Eggleston's plan was to photograph 'ugly' then this is it. Maybe Eggleston wanted us to think of an old barren landscape with old abandoned playthings as there is a notable absence of children playing. The scene looks quite bleak and has a hot sun scorched look, given away by the dry brown grass. It seems to have a feel of poverty even though it was over 20yrs since the depression. Eggleston himself was not born into poverty and was even sent to a boarding school in Tennessee.
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SEMESTER 'A' Weekly picture projects
Object: To make a photograph with a Shallow Depth of field
The models eyes are on the focal plane and therefore in focus. Any point further away or nearer to the camera that isn't on the focal plane appears out of focus. This is achieved by setting a large aperture. In this case, an 85mm lens was set at f1.8
Focal Plain: def.
a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of a lens or mirror and passes through the focus.
There is only one true focal plane. Any part of the image not on this focal plane is not in focus, but, our eyes will perceive the depth of focus depending on the aperture setting. As we travel further away from the focal plane, our eyes will eventually be able to notice that the image is losing its appearance of being in focus.
(see, Circle of confusion)
Object: To make a photograph with very large depth of field
In this photograph we have a greater depth of field than the above photograph. The photograph is in focus, from the foreground, all the way to the far distance. This is achieved by setting a small aperture. In this case f18 accomplished the task at a focal length of 24mm.
Object: To make a photograph with good composition
A grave stone placed in the upper corner lets us see part of the grave and the flowers that have been laid there.
The empty space on the right of this picture doesn't seem to serve any purpose and doesn't suit this photograph
Re framing the two animals improves the composition of the picture.
Shallow depth of field draws the eye to the centre, almost empty dish in this photograph
Framed to fill the space with related subject matter
An old case with a bit of space left to the right so as not to put the case, dead centre. Gives a hint of going on ones travels, especially with the path going off into the distance.
Object: to create a blurred, Sharp
Created by dropping the 'bear' through an illuminated area into a dark area over 1/4 sec. Also using rear curtain flash, where the flash fires at the end of the exposure to capture the bears sharp image.
Object: To create an image using the concept of juxtaposition.
Two contrasting objects. The car, and the walkway painted sign. Together suggesting the aftermath of an accident perhaps? The picture format is the result of the photograph being taken on the spur of the moment with a mobile phone.
Object: To create an image taken at the 'decisive moment'
Saluting the Flag
Saluting the Flag, cut
Just as the little boy raised his hand the photo was taken to capture that decisive moment where it appears that the little chap is saluting the Union Jack.
Just as the little boy raised his hand the photo was taken to capture that decisive moment where it appears that the little chap is saluting the Union Jack.
Tough Mudder. mid flight
Country fair bubble, just passing the flowered maypole top
Object: To create an photograph with the heading sport or wildlife
Harris Hawk.
Though a wildlife shot is pretty dull and uninteresting. No movement or action. More akin to a ladybird book of birds? 4 out of 10, see me.
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Food and drink Photographers
David Loftus
Kevin Summers
Robert Lawson, drinks photographer
JOHNNIE WALKER SWEET PEATOCTOBER 17, 2018
SEEDLIP – SPRITZOCTOBER 16, 2018magnum photographyMagnum is an international photographic cooperative, with branches throughout the world founded in 1947. One of the Co Founders was Frenchman Henri Cartier Bresson 1908-2004, a journalistic photographer who pioneered street photography and also was an exponent of the decisive moment, as in this famous picture.
The Magnum group contains around a hundred self selected photographers who pride themselves to be at the cutting edge of photo journalism and provide photographs from all around the world to tv, publications, press,advertising and any other media requiring up to date photographs of world events.
Examples of their work:-
Chris Killip
(born 11 July 1946) is a Manx photographer who worked at Harvard University in Cambridge, from 1991 to 2017, as a Professor of Visual and Environmental Studies. Killip is well known for his gritty black and white images of people and places.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tish MurthaMurtha was born 1956 in South Shields, North East England. In 1976, aged 20, she left home to study at the School of Documentary Photography at The University of Wales, Newport, set up by Magnum Photos member David Hurn. After graduating in 1978, she returned to Newcastle and set out to document “marginalized communities from the inside” - unlike other photographers who came to document social poverty in the region at the time Murtha didn’t just document it, she actually lived it,as the third of ten children of Irish descent,[6] brought up in a council house in Elswick, she captured the lives of her friends, family and the community around her while herself on a job scheme for the unemployed.
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Shirley Baker
Shirley Baker (9 July 1932 – 21 September 2014) was a British photographer, best known for her street photography and street portraits in working class areas of Greater Manchester. She worked as a freelance writer and photographer on various magazines, books and newspapers, and as a lecturer on photography. Most of her photography was made for her personal interest but she undertook occasional commissions.
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John Bulmer
Bulmer was born on 28 February 1938 in Herefordshire, the grandson of the founder of the Bulmer cider company. He started photography when young. Although his earliest interest in it was primarily as a technology (he even built his own enlarger), he was a great admirer of Henri Cartier-Bresson as a teenager.
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Dennis Thorpe
The award-winning Guardian photojournalist covered assignments across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, China, India, the Soviet Union, the US and Japan during his 23-year career based at the paper’s Manchester office. He received many press awards for his picture essays and news photography, and there have also been several books and exhibitions of his work.
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BLACKBURN BRIEF
BLACKBURN FIRE SERVICES
First contact, primary research
An initial meeting with Crew Manager Steve Ormar went well. Commencing in March, I will have access to many parts of the Fire Station to take phonographs of the Engines, the Crew and the buildings. I have been offered access to photograph, training days and events, and also the modern fire fighting equipment and its use.
Fire Station correspondence
Fire Station correspondence
Initial Email From Steve Omar, Crew Mananger. 1st Feb 2019
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13:57 (4 hours ago)
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Hi Ian.
Let me know you have got this email please.
Nice to meet you both today.
I’ll be in touch
Steve Omar
Crew Manager
Blackburn Fire Station
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E71 - Omar, Steve SteveOmar2@lancsfirerescue.org.uk via freeola.biz
Ian,
sorry for the lack of
contact.
It’s sometimes hard to get
the time to sort stuff out, and this week has been no exception.
I have made email contact
with my station manager and have put a good case forward representing your
request. As soon as he replies I will let you know.
In the meantime, subject to
approval, I would like to invite you onto the station to begin your project. I
will be available to assist you on the Tuesday and Wednesday the 12th
and 13th March 2019.
We begin at 0800hrs and
finish at 1800hrs.
We will be training with
the equipment on the station and will be able to accommodate your needs.
I have included my personal
mobile should you wish to discuss, I am however away from work from the 17th
Feb until the evening of the 6th March.
Let me know what you think
so far, just remember that this is subject to approval by the Station Manager.
As for the fire museum I
have attached a link.
Hope this sounds ok
Speak soon
Steve Omar
Crew Manager
07837401187 personal
number.
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09:39 (4 hours ago)
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| ||||
Good Morning Ian.
Good news sir, you have been given the green light.
Here is a copy of what the service will need from yourself as requested by our corporate comms dept
“They will obviously need to get consent from anyone who is identifiable in the images and if they could add a clause in on our behalf that would allow us to also use the images, that would be ideal. I’d suggest:
For use by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to publicise the Service’s work in terms of prevention, protection and response including campaigns, recruitment and raising the profile of the Service internally and externally. This includes printed and digital materials and in the media.”
So we can push this one forward and hopefully meet on the 12th and 13th March as mentioned below. Can you draw up some consent forms for our staff to sign to say that they have no problems with appearing on the pics. Also include the above clause on the consent form so the service gets something from it. When signed I can copy them and give 1 to you and one for me.
We have a training session booked in for each morning although we won’t know what we will be doing until the day, but it will definitely involve crews using equipment.
I hope this helps you out.
PS I think the Dennis is at Fulwood station. Feel free to telephone the station to make enquiries 01772 866981
See you soon
Steve
==========================================
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12:13 (2 hours ago)
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I’ve sent this off to our corporate comms dept for approval Ian.
Great pics, looking forward to seeing our team plastered all over Blackburn Uni ha ha
See you next month.
Steve
From: Ian Fletcher [mailto:iansfletcher@gmail.com
Sent: 16 February 2019 11:10
To: E71 - Omar, SteveSubject: Re: Photography students
Sent: 16 February 2019 11:10
To: E71 - Omar, SteveSubject: Re: Photography students
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| Thu, 7 Mar, 19:46 (16 hours ago) | | ||
| ||||
Hi Ian. I’m back at work now and just chasing up stuff for next week.
I’ve attached the amended model release form with the Fire Service addition that is in italics. Have a look and make sure you are ok with it.
What are your plans for joining us next week? Times, ideas, needs.
Looking forward to catching up with the two of you.
See you next week
Steve
From: Ian Fletcher [mailto:iansfletcher@gmail.com
Sent: 16 February 2019 11:10
To: E71 - Omar, SteveSubject: Re: Photography students
Sent: 16 February 2019 11:10
To: E71 - Omar, SteveSubject: Re: Photography students
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
Thu, 14 Mar, 22:59 (2 days ago)
| | ||
| ||||
Evening Ian.
Here are some dates for you.
20th & 21st March
28th & 29Th March
5th & 6th April
13th & 14th April
21st & 22th April
7th & 8th May Tuesday and Wednesday
15th & 16th May Wednesday and Thursday
23th & 24th May Thursday and Friday
These are the dates we are on duty for a day shift 0800hrs to 1800hrs.
If you can let me know when you will be available please, then I can book you in.
Thanks and speak soon.
Initial research.
Archive pic
The old Blackburn Fire Station was closed 21st March 2012 to be replaced by the new building which now stands on the green area in the foreground of the above picture.
When the Station was closed there was no room at the new station for some of the old equipment to be displayed.
Archive pic
The Dennis F15 HCB500 engine. 1 September 2012.One piece of equipment was the old Dennis engine which was removed to the Leyland Commercial Vehicle museum where I went to track it down and take some photographs.
Unfortunately, I was told, that because it was constantly being shown at various events, it was too much trouble to continuously have the engine moved in and out of the museum. I was informed that the engine had been moved to Leyland Fire Station
I visited Leyland Fire Station to be informed that the did have possession of the engine for a length of time, but it is now 'possibly' at Fulwood. I will visit there at a later date to verify.
Meanwhile, during my visit to the Vehicle Museum at Leyland, I photographed some of the other old fire engines they had in their keeping.
Leyland Commercial Vehicle Museum
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Last Surviving Leyland 1938 TL Fire Engine, Named Norma.
A 1938 bright fire engine which was produced in Leyland has been fully restored and presented back to the community.
Unveiled, August 2013 in its new purpose built glass case as part of the Leyland Gateway Project in front of invited guests.
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The Dennis F15 HCB500 Engine
Eventually I made contact with The PR Manager at Fulwood Firestation. A Mr John Taylor. He informed me that the Dennis engine in question was at the Fire Training Centre in Chorley. I was invited down on Friday the 15th of Feb to have a closer look and take some pictures of this old machine that once resided in Blackburn..
The engine itself was housed in a garage and i was unable to have the engine moved into a more suitable location for photographing. Using two strobes with soft boxes I attempted to reduce the ambient light as the surrounding paraphernalia was of no interest.
Details of the engine which are displayed next to the Dennis when it is out for public display.
After taking pictures of the engine itself, I proceeded to take more intimate pictures of the engine to show the details of the old equipment that differs immensely from modern fire fighting equipment
Unwanted highlights on the paintwork. A result of having no room to move the strobe further away.
The six cylinder Rolls Royce petrol engine
The sieve used to strain water from any nearby water source, such as a pond when using that available water to fight a fire.
The only label on the machine that states that the engine was indeed from Blackburn. Once again, limited space meant that i could not get further back from the engine to get a shot of the whole side.
HISTORIC PICTURES OF BLACKBURN FIRE FIGHTERS
Tuesday 12th March.
Today's first shoot at the Blackburn fire station had to be called off as bad weather meant that the station fire crews were on Flood Alert.
Blackburn Fire Station 1974-
The first mention of an organised fire brigade in the town comes from the Blackburn Mail. In an article dated 6 August 1794 we learn that "the engines of this town" were kept in a state of readiness by receiving bi-monthly maintenance. Mention is also made of the 17 firemen who manned them, townspeople being encouraged to support them should they ever need their services.
The same publication gives a report of a large fire in a cabinet makers "near the bridge" in 1796 where the firemen and their engines (presumably manual pumps) assisted by local townsfolk made a good account of themselves, extinguishing a very severe fire there and preventing spread to neighbouring properties. Thirty years later, however, the same newspaper, covering a fire at the sizing house of Messrs. Hornby and Co., Water Street were very critical of the firemen and their equipment, stating "one of the engines was useless.......pipes were in a poor state of repair.......the firemen were ill controlled" etc.
In 1851, Blackburn received its Charter of Incorporation. One of the first duties of the new Town Council was to improve facilities for coping with outbreaks of fire. In 1856, a new manual fire engine was purchased at a cost of £150, a lot of money in those days. It was kept in Engine Street, near the site of the present Town Hall, and manned by lamp-lighters, water men and other Corporation employees. The method of summoning the fire brigade was still the ringing of the Market House bell.
By 1865, the town's population had almost trebled in less than 40 years to 63,000. Following an increasing number of conflagrations highlighting the woefully inadequate fire fighting resources, the Town Council was forced to take dramatic action. A new purpose built "Fire Engine Station" was erected on Clayton Street in the town centre during 1865.
This new station was a massive leap forward in the Fire Protection of the time, and reflected Blackburn's new prosperous status as the centre of the Cotton Industry. It boasted a spacious yard, an engine house, a 42 feet high hose tower, smithy, stables, various ancilliary buildings, a house for the Superintendent and 17 cottages for the firemen, others living within 300 yards of the station.
At the same time, a new Superintendent was appointed, a Mr Joseph Joy. A gallant and resourceful man, he successfully led this new Fire Brigade until his untimely death at a fire on Canterbury Street when a wall collapsed onto him and the Borough Engineer.
The Brigade carried on apace under a new Superintendent, Mr John Fox. One of his first tasks being the introduction of an organised group of Volunteer Firemen to support the established regular men, and the purchase of the first steam fire engine.
In 1875, the Volunteer section of Blackburn's Fire Brigade was inaugurated. These 12 keen young men soon proved their worth giving sterling service to the town, gaining valuable experience at an increasing number of large fires, and even won national acclaim by carrying off 8 prizes in a fireman's competition held in Nantwich. They were eventually provided with full uniform and even gained electric call bells installed in their homes.
Superintendent Fox continued to make his mark with the purchase of a Shand Mason horse drawn steam fire engine, at a time when even some of the larger City Fire Brigades were wary of these "new fangled gadgets". Considered the last word in contemporary fire engineering this magnificent machines could pump 650 gallons of water per minute through 4 deliveries, putting the Blackburn Brigade well to the fore of firefighting technology amongst similar sized industrial towns, all of whom, prided themselves in having up to date efficient fire brigades.
The new steamer and the Volunteers were soon to have their "baptism of fire" as 1875 was notable for 5 serious factory fires including Nova Scotia and Furthergate Cotton Mills, together with a spectacular and very expensive fire at the newly constructed Appleby's Daisyfield Corn Mill. So successful was the steam fire engine that an order was placed for a second such machine. It was delivered in 1883 and named "Volunteer" in recognition of their service to the town.
Interestingly, it was around this time that The Lancashire Fire Brigades Friendly Society was formed and based in Blackburn. Run for many years by the Watson family, it offered, for a nominal subscription, remuneration to firefighters and their families in the event of injury or death in service of a fireman. At a time when there was no welfare state, the advantages of such a scheme were well received and by 1896 this Society had 1,400 members from 98 fire brigades nationally.
The fire brigade in Blackburn was now starting to become a professional organisation, with a new fire station premises, 2 new steam fire engines, paid firemen with accommodation, regular training, operational support from volunteers, and even financial protection in the event of injury in what was becoming a dangerous job. Discipline was vital in such an important occupation and in 1877 a handbook of Rules and Regulations was produced.
In 1882, the Blackburn Police Fire Brigade was formed, answering to the local Chief Constable. The old brigade was disbanded, old methods discarded and 14 constables were appointed and housed in Corporation housing rent-free. A new era had now commenced and under the leadership of a newly appointed Superintendent, Mr Samuel Simpson, formerly of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. Sadly, however, the Brigade were to be put to the test at their most disastrous and tragic fire yet.
Early in the morning of Thursday 19th February 1885, at Knuzden Brook Cotton Mill, some three miles from Blackburn Town Centre, a young lad called Nightingale was lighting gas lamps on the fourth floor of the six storey building when a quantity of cotton fluff caught alight. The fire spread rapidly, but no one had the presence of mind to call the fire brigade, and it was not until a little girl ran three miles to the fire station that the brigade were notified and responded immediately. On arrival, the building was already well alight on all floors, and the roof had collapsed. As the brave Police Firemen set about extinguishing the blaze, at 7.40am without warning a gable wall collapsed killing 5 workmen and 2 of the firemen, Police Constables Dawson and Clayton. The delayed call to this fire and others to follow was to speed up the introduction of telephone communications in the town.
Blackburn was now an important centre of the cotton industry. In a generation the population had doubled again to a staggering 120,000 people. With this came an increase in the number of fires from 25 in 1895 to 41 only 6 years later. The local industry at that period included 137 cotton mills, together with over 80 other factories including foundries, breweries, shuttle makers and paper mills, numerous cabinet makers, hospitals, public buildings, shops and, of course, homes for such a large population.
The Police Fire Brigade maintained a policy of progress and development. By 1900, the two steam fire engines were supplemented by 3 more horse drawn appliances, a tender with wheeled escape ladder, a telescopic ladder, and a third steam pump. A stable of 6 magnificent horses, each standing 17 hands high were kept in readiness, each taking turns to pull the daily prison van to Preston Gaol for exercise.
In the early part of the 20th century the Brigade continued its sterling work, the number of calls doubling again to 85 by 1911. This was in spite of an apathetic approach to the Brigade by the prevailing local council. However things were soon brought to a head in 1913 when the first two steam fire engines (by now over 30 years old) broke down, leaving heavily industrialised Blackburn, a town with almost 130,000 inhabitants and an incidence of fire on average twice weekly, with little effective means of pumping water!
This became a blessing in disguise, the Town Council became seriously alarmed at this and took immediate steps. No doubt acting on the advice of the well respected Inspector Simpson, they immediately ordered two petrol driven motor fire engines from Merryweathers of London, the first of which was delivered in April the same year. In addition, a new much larger purpose-built fire station was also commissioned.
In an age when fire engines had been pulled, first of all manually, then horse drawn, the motor driven fire engine using the internal combustion engine both as motive power and to pump water was a revolution. They were also capable of carrying a full crew and equipment including a heavy wheeled escape ladder at a speed of up to 40mph. This was a revolution in the world of firefighting. Once again Blackburn Fire Brigade was placed at the forefront of new technology.
The new machine was proudly demonstrated on its arrival into the town by taking Inspector Simpson, a full crew of 6 firemen and two press reporters, the eleven miles to Clitheroe fire station, ringing the bell continuously en route as villagers and townsfolk alike gaped open mouthed as this red engine flashed by. Following an impressive pumping demonstration the following day in Blackburn town centre, the town councillors immediately adjourned to the Town Hall and unanimously voted for the money to pay for the machine. A second larger motor fire engine followed the year after.
At the same time, tenders were invited for the building of the new "Central Fire Station" on land off Byrom Street. Although construction was delayed by the First World War, when completed in 1922, with its 6 bay appliance room, watchroom, workshops, ancilliary accommodation, 85ft tower and large drill yard surrounded by 37 firemen's houses, it was acknowledged as being one of the finest fire stations in the country.
Although fire damage in Blackburn had temporarily fallen around the time of the new fire station's inception, it was not to last. Many serious fires were dealt with by the Brigade operating from their new HQ under newly appointed Inspector Jones, culminating in a record number of large fires in 1929 including Mellor's Commercial Hotel on King Street where 2 people died in spite of multiple rescues being carried out from upper floor windows.
Fire calls continued to rise during the 20's and 30's, from 81 in 1925 to 147 in 1939. Blackburn firemen being further assisted in their work by the arrival of two more replacement Leyland fire engines to the fleet in 1936-37. Both were highly regarded by the men; one would last until 1960. They were named after members of the town's Watch Committee, a Blackburn tradition which was to last for many years.
In 1939, war was declared and Blackburn, like many industrial centres around the country, prepared its firefighting defences for the expected aerial bombing. Under the Auxiliary Fire Service arrangements the 25 regular firemen were supplemented by paid volunteers to a total of 198 full time and 317 part time men and women, operating out of 14 AFS fire stations and sub stations around the town, utilizing 56 trailer pumps and a number of self propelled vehicles. Although few air attacks took place locally, a number of large accidental fires occurred, giving the new firefighting force valuable experience. In August 1941 The National Fire Service was formed bringing much needed standardisation to the Fire Service as a whole, Blackburn becoming part of Fire Force no.29. The large fire station complex and drill yard being particularly useful for training.
At the cessation of hostilities the NFS reverted to peacetime operation, with full control handed back to local authorities under the Fire Services Act in 1948.
This was the birth of the County Borough of Blackburn Fire Brigade under the control of Chief Officer J. Wilkins. This new peacetime fire force was made up of men who had either stayed on in the Fire Brigade or were new recruits demobbed from the Services and made excellent firemen, being young, alert, and used to discipline. Some had previously been tradesmen and their skills were put to good use as Blackburn fire station had now to be adapted. Although only 26 years old, the accommodation required considerable refurbishment and extension, as the Brigade strength had now been increased to 60. It is a testament to their work that the additional accommodation they provided was still in use until the station was decommissioned in 2012!
In 1953, Mr Tom Birtwistle was appointed the new Chief Fire Officer to succeed Mr Wilkins.
Throughout the 1950's calls continued to rise from 180 in 1948 to almost 500 by 1958. Not all calls were to fires, firemen's equipment becoming increasingly useful at the rescue of trapped persons in a variety of situations, road accidents, high rise rescue, animals in distress etc. Of note was the successful deployment of the Brigade's resources to over 130 calls to flooding over a 4 day period in August 1950 following torrential rain, including urgent assistance rendered at the local Telephone Exchange and Power Station.
Such continual increase in activity required the best equipment. Replacement modern fire engines with "limousine" enclosed bodies giving protection to the crew were delivered in 1954, 1957 and 1960; the last two being Rolls-Dennis machines.
1956 Rolls Royce, Dennis Engine
These vehicles were put to good use as each year brought its share of large fires. 1958 was particularly busy, most of the damage being attributed to 5 large incidents, including Brookhouse Mills, Richmond Hill Paper Mill and East Lancashire Coach Builders.
The trend carried on into the 1960's. In 1961, for example,769 emergency calls were received in the Watch room at Blackburn Fire Station. By 1966, however, this total had risen to 1,142. Firefighting in the 1960's brought new challenges nationally. Brigades were increasingly being called upon to attend "Special Service Calls", that is emergencies other than fires, for example, road accidents, incidents involving chemicals, lift rescues, etc and Blackburn was no exception. A replacement Emergency Tender was commissioned in 1967 exclusively for this type of call.
Although the Cotton Industry had declined significantly in Blackburn, other industries took its place and the calls increased in number and complexity. Much of the increase in calls came as a result of huge redevelopment in the town and many of the fires were in abandoned derelict property. An increase in road traffic required the use of the new blue flashing lights and two tone horns. Communications were enhanced by the installation of two way radios on front line fire appliances and, in 1966, a new Merryweather Turntable Ladder was purchased to replace the wartime Leyland machine. The Brigade also standardised on using Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus.
Mr Bill Williams took over as Chief Officer in 1966 on the retirement of Mr Tom Birtwistle who had served for nearly 30 years and, in 1969, The Auxiliary Fire Service was disbanded.
Emergency calls continued to rise as Blackburn Fire Brigade entered the 1970's. Spectacular blazes included Anelays shop complex, a row of new houses on Crosby Road, Redmayne and Isherwoods Mill, Eden Chemicals, Perkodd Supplies, Oxford Mill and many more. Special Service calls to extricate motorists trapped following road traffic collisions were on the increase together with a particularly difficult ammonia leak at Fishmoor Reservoir. Other serious fires included Langs Motors, Nevills Toy Store and culminated in the Cavendish Club outbreak above Blackburn's new Shopping Precinct where 105 firemen, almost 30 fire engines and 17 water jets were needed to control a particularly difficult incident.
The winds of change however were being felt at Blackburn along with the 80 other County Borough and City Fire Brigades around the country. Local Government Boundaries were reorganised following the recommendations of the Holroyd report. Consequently, on the 1st April 1974, the Byrom Street Fire Station in Blackburn became Station 71 within the newly formed Lancashire County Fire Brigade. The experience gained and professionalism shown by its firefighters over the last 200 years would prove invaluable on entering this new era, as emergency calls continued to rise to a peak of 3,650 by the 1990's
Blackburn Fire Station in 2019
The old and the new.
The training tower, complete with climbing wall.
The old station, now split into small business units.
The old look out tower.
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Large fire breaks out at The Bureau Centre for the Arts Blackburn
3rd April 2019
Daily telegraph photograph.
Eight fire crews were called to the The Bureau Centre for the Arts, in Victoria Street, at around 5.30am. Parts of Victoria Street, Richmond Terrace and Ainsworth Street have been closed off.
"Today, that same passion and sense of sheer determination is stronger than ever before and while we are all shocked at what has happened, we are absolutely determined to work together to continue the amazing work we do with the community.
Speaking on behalf of the group which runs The Bureau – Centre for the Arts, Kerris Casey-St Pierre said: "Words cannot describe just how absolutely devastated we all are.
"The building may have been wrecked and many of our possessions with it, but we are already starting to look at what can be done and make plans for the upcoming events and exhibitions. "The building was our home, and while we all loved it so much, we realise that The Bureau is so much more than just a venue – it is a community and this fire will not take that away.
"We would like to thank people for their huge show of support during this incredibly difficult time-we need that now more than ever before."
The Aftermath
The burned out building minus it's roof. On the right, the reporters and film crew do their bit for the local news.
Manning the pumps.
The empty shell. Blackburn council turns up in its truck with the fencing to keep out the public, and 'photographers' from gett a closer luck and obviously for safety reasons.
Making use of the in road fire hydrants that usually go unnoticed by Joe public
Dousing the building to stop the fire from flaring up again. The engine is lifted off the ground on hydraulic rams to stabilise the platform
Keeping the curious public informed
Even fire fighters have to eat. The catering van, keeping the firemen fed and watered.
Training Day
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Sat, 30 Mar, 19:40
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Hi Ian.
You are booked in for 10 o’clock on the 13th April.
We will be practising using our Breathing Apparatus in the Fire house so the action shots should be good. This will start about 10:15 to 12:30.
You will have an opportunity for close ups and distance shots and you may need some form of lighting.
I have produced the model release forms and will give them out on the day.
If we are not on station when you arrive, then that means that we are at a fire. Try to telephone me to make contact and I will let you know the how long we will be. If I don’t answer it will be because we are too busy and the session will need to be postponed.
Here is a brief summary of the training session.
The team was tasked to rescue a Breathing Apparatus (BA) team from within a burning building. The simulation was a large scale factory with a large fire needing several BA teams inside the building. Normally the whole tower would be full of smoke, but for the sake of the photography it was kept clear.
Fire engine just returned from call out. just in time for the breathing apparatus exercise.
Checking air tank
Personal entering building roster
Mock bodies, weighted as a normal human being.
The rescue team was required to take in with them the emergency rescue equipment which would allow the distressed team to use this as their air supply.
On route to the distressed team, the rescue team climbed through a tunnel and located a dead casualty in the arm chair.
Steve Omar. Crew manager.
They then proceeded up the stairs using the Thermal imaging camera to search for casualties.
At some stage Gary’s BA set failed and the team had to use the several rescue methods to enable them to escape.
With the mask on, the only oxygen is supplied by the tank, even in the training exercise.
Replacing faulty or broken mask.
Proceeding backwards down stairs while still joined by one air hose
The way out
Debriefing
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Group shots
The duty fire crew got together to allow me to take a few group shots. There was only a one hour time slot available so the lighting had to be set up pretty quick. Used two 600W strobes with softboxes. If I had longer I could have attempted to reposition lights to reduce highlights and shadows. As it is it was very pushed and I am not happy with the outcome on some of the shots.
Setting up
Always a joker in the pack
More terrible shadows caused by flash. Even with a soft box, the subjects close proximity to the background usually creates this problem. Another schoolboy error.
I turned off the main strobe and hand held a speedlite above my head so that any shadows were lower than the subjects head height. Unfortunately a number of the staff had to return to duty so I didnt manage to use this correction for earlier shots.
Once again, holding the speedlite high to eliminate some of the background shadow
A more light hearted shot caufght on the hop rather than posed for. I think this makes for a more natural relaxed shot that tells of the relaxed atmosphere, well, from their point of view, anyway.
Caroline, the lady in charge who organised the shoot. Would have been a good shot if some time was available and a bit of thought to move the light which created an awful highlight. The most annoying thing was, knowing it, but not doing anything about it because of that feeling, getting it done .
I'll know next time.
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