Capturing Memories: An Evening Photowalk Through My Hometown City Centre with a Wide Angle Lens
- Andy Brown
- Mar 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 16
As I stepped off the train from London at Peterborough after a hectic day at The Photography Show, (pictures below) the Sun was nearing the horizon, casting a warm glow, over the cold streets. This time of day is perfect for evening street photography, so after dropping off my show purchases I ventured out with my wide-angle lens to revisit a place rich in childhood memories.
The streets, which once felt like home, now felt uncomfortable and edgy with many cultures, ethnicities and religions all jostling for space. My visit was not just about capturing images; it was about reconnecting with memories and pieces of myself I thought I had left behind.
Revisiting Familiar Locations
My shoot began at the Cathedral where once as a King's Grammar Schoolboy, I dutifully trooped twice a term. The warm light from the floodlamps illuminated the magnificent gothic facade, reminding me of schooldays with my friends. Once in 6th form, we had licence to make our own way, so this inevitably involved a shopping trip, or even a crafty pint on the return leg!
. My wide-angle lens allowed me to frame not just the Cathedral but the surrounding Green, allowing the magnificent Early English West Front with it's three magnificent arches to breathe and dominate the scene, something that I missed all those years ago.
The Joy of Wide-Angle Photography
The beauty of using a wide-angle lens in street photography is its capacity to capture entire scenes, emphasizing depth and perspective in the image. As I emerged from the Cathedral precincts, the wide-open space of Cathedral Square beckoned with the iconic 17th century Guildhall beyond. Scattered around the edge of the square were a gaggle of restaurants, pubs and Cafes, some flaunting garish neon signs. By now the Sun was well-below the horizon, but armed with a lens of just 12mm focal length (18mm on a full frame camera) and an image-stabilized camera I felt confident in being able to capture meaningful images. However, although the wide angle perspective enhanced the sense of space, it needed an achor point in the foreground to act as a natural lead-in to the image. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on view point, there was an Asian woman who, blissfully unaware of my attempt to photograph the scene was standing right in front of me snapping away on her phone. So, I turned a hindrance into an asset, by making her my foreground interest. An added bonus is the beautiful sky overhead.
Following that shot, I moved in closer to make the 17th Century Guildhall the main focus. Also present were various groups of people, some practising skateboard stunts, but mostly just hanging out, or drinking coffee. By this time the spotlights illuminating the Guildhall were balancing the fading glow from the sky, but the people were still largely in darkness unless lit by one of the lights. Due to the quality of modern digital sensors and the power of Lightroom, I was able to recover a lot of detail, even in the shadows.
However, even capturing a scene like this can be a problem in today's troubled world. As I walked away from it in search of other compositions I was approached by two burly youths who wanted to know what I was photographing stating that some of the Girls were worried by me taking photos. The two were reassured when I showed the screen of my camera, but it was clear they had felt threatened. Whether it was that I was the 'pervert' with a camera, or a representative of law and order I don't know. But, what they didn't know is that I too felt threatened, having been attacked not far from this scene two years. All told, despite the memories, Peterborough is no longer a place a I feel comfortable in at night, to me the place feels culturally fractured, lacking cohesive identity and has a sense of lawlessness, akin to a frontier town.
The Bittersweet Nature of Memory
A poignant moment had occurred earlier in the day as I passed my old school on the way to the railway station, just a short distance away from my lodgings, the Cathedral and it's Green. The red brick School building itself still stands with it's proud crest dated 1893, but it is now residential dwellings. I suppose that prevented it from demolition. With just my phone to hand, I quickly grabbed the image you see here.
It’s estimated that 60% of childhood memories fade within three years, but standing there, I vividly recalled my first day there as an infant sharing the same classroom with all the other pupils, far different to today's setup, but I was 5 and didn't know anything different. I also recall performing in the Christmas Nativity in the nearby hall. However I didn't stay there long as I soon transferred into the new purpose built primary school called St. Thomas More, several miles away.
Reflections
This impromptu photowalk reminded me that every photograph tells a story not completely told until it is processed. That sometimes takes just a few clicks of a mouse, but at other times hours or even days. This experience has reminded me that it is the journey and my memories created in the process that are the most important things in life.
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