You have probably guessed that I work in a visual way; I find it easier to draw something than write about it. I can interpret drawings without a second thought. I use photography every day – as a record, aide-memoire and visual aid.
This might be another one for the list?
A couple of days ago we were discussing in the office the need to brighten up our sales details. Often the buildings we are marketing are not entirely photogenic. It’s difficult to make an industrial unit ‘pretty’. We have decided that we should incorporate some stock shots to brighten things up a bit.
We were trying to work out a list of photographs which sum up Nottingham. Buildings or things which are unmistakably Nottingham. I managed the following list – does it fairly represent us? Have I missed anything?
Harts Hotel
Nottingham Castle
Robin Hood Statue
Castle Road
Playhouse (including Anish Kapoor dish)
Loxley House
The Cornerhouse
Nottingham Trent University Newton and Arkwright Buildings
Victoria Centre
Clumber Street
Market Square
The Tram
Brian Clough statue
Jamies
Carluccios
Paul Smith
The Contemporary
Broadmarsh Shopping Centre
Ice Stadium
Royal Centre
Broadway Cinema
Does this sum Nottingham up? Visually?
I think you have ignored anything sporty….as home to one the World’s best Test Match cricket venues, a world famous football cub and an iconic football club (in being the world’s oldest) I would have expected an image of one of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, The City Ground and Meadow Lane to have made it!
Ah Jason, you may have spotted a flaw. You are right of course – we do have a number of World Class sporting venues. And until quite recently we had the “National” Water Sports Centre….
Tim, don’t forget the University of Nottingham, in particular the iconic building by which it is identified – not the original, in University Park, but the one at Ningbo, which says everything about Nottingham’s international ambition.
Agreed – and a building I have actually seen (the replica in Ningbo). It is quite disconcerting actually – thousands of miles from home and something that looks like home…
Here’s a handful either linked to or in a similar vein to your list:
Trent Bridge and Embankment
University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus and Aspire
The Arboretum
Theatre Square
King Street/Queen Street from the Square
Bridlesmith Gate
Weekday Cross
St Mary’s
Shire Hall/Galleries of Justice
Lace Market’s Broadway and Stoney Street
NCN Adams Building
Magistrates Court and Waterfront area
Good stuff and the Arboretum wasn’t on my radar at all! You now realise how difficult it is getting down to 20?
From past experience you’re likely to end up with a few less than ideal views; it may be best to source or take photos of more than 20 locations, then whittle down to 20 based on the quality and appeal of the final selection of images.
I’m not sure about Jamies and Carluccios, I get the affluent and somewhat iconic nature of them, but after all is said and done, they are simply part of a larger chain of restaurants.
Perhaps something that we can be proud of as being Nottingham rather than imports from London? Sat Bains perhaps?
Martin, an interesting take. I may be with you on this one – I must confess Sat Bains hadn’t appeared on my radar…. Thanks for the comment and suggestion. It’s a tough call to come up with just 20…?
Hi Tim, occasionally had a glance of your blog in my RSS reader but after seeing this thought I’d post along seeing as I’ve been doing a fair bit of architectural photography in Nottingham.
Funnily enough I’d struggle to summarise the city in just 20 images as well. Loads of stuff hidden away which are nowhere near any of these lists , and yet seem to adeptly sum up Nottingham for me at least.
I tend to agree with Martin re Carluccios and Jamie’s – possibly a bit generic in terms of restaurants.Loxley House is interesting from an architectural standpoint with some nice lines but my only thing is that it’s not really a place where the public would tend to interact with a lot – besides it being near the train station.
I think a nod to the leafier parts of Nottingham i.e Wollaton Park would be a useful addition. The Experian frontage also is definitely worth a photo I think – being one of our most successful companies over the past 20 years or so.
Lamar, I too like Loxley from a ‘graphic’ design, but it is also quite generic – just a building with brise-solais…
Experian is a great building – especially at night!
I think Wollaton Hall should make the list, especially in the form of Batman’s house?
Thanks for commenting – by the way I like some of your photos on your blog page.
Hi Tim
You know where you can find all the images you want don’t you?
Agree with the list, but think that The Sky Mirror & Playhouse should be in there too. Do give me a call……
kind wishes
Martine
I do know where you are! Thanks for the kind offer – I will mention it to my colleagues. In the meantime we have ‘commissioned’ a young photographer (my son!!) to do some quick and dirty images!
Agree the Sky Mirror is quite iconic!
See you soon, kind regards
If you’re struggling to reduce the numbers, I suggest you strike Broadmarsh off the list. If that “sums up Nottingham visually” then we really are in trouble…
Thats a fair point – but the bus station is marginally worse!
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Go into town, on foot, then look up. The best bits of architecture are above us, even the older Fothergill Watson et al buildings which don’t perhaps reach as high as the newer stock. (Avoid Maid Marian Way…)
And Light Night – someone must have some photos from that – it’s amazing.
Lastly – Green’s Mill?
Its a good point Gillian about looking up. The turgid and bland corporate shop fronts have wrecked our townscapes. Plate glass should be banned! But above eye level there are some great features!
Light Night I haven’t heard of!
Agree with you Greens Windmill is fairly iconic though…
Still getting down to 20 is tough!