Glasgow Photography Workshop & Photowalk

Location Start/End: King George V Bridge small.suffice.going

Towards the end of 2024 we had a trip to Glasgow, my first ever visit to a place highly recommended to me for photography. The trip was slightly marred by me not being too well, which meant I walked far fewer miles than usual, but it was also COLD very very COLD !!! And that curtailed my interest a bit too lol

We stopped at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, G1 4QG, which I'd happily recommend as both a great value hotel but mainly for its location, which was perfect for my trip and defo where I'd choose to stay again

Before we jump into the photos, I do like to share a bit of information about the locations I'm sharing as suggestions for both my Photography Workshops and for anyone merely visiting, even if, for some insane reason, your trip is NOT about photography!

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and impressive architecture. It’s located on the River Clyde in the west of Scotland, making it historically an important port city.

Here are some highlights about Glasgow:

1. History and Growth:

• Glasgow was originally a small village, but it grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. The city became a centre for shipbuilding, engineering, and trade. This growth helped shape Glasgow's identity, and many of the grand buildings from that time still stand today

2. Cultural Hub:

• The city is renowned for its arts scene. It's home to world-class museums like the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and The Riverside Museum. The Glasgow School of Art, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is also famous for its design

• Glasgow was named the UK City of Culture in 1990, and it has since become a thriving cultural centre with numerous music festivals, theatres, and galleries

3. Architecture:

• Glasgow is known for its eclectic mix of architecture, from the Victorian buildings to modern glass structures. The influence of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a renowned architect and designer, is seen throughout the city in both buildings and interiors

• The City Chambers and Glasgow Cathedral are notable examples of the city's architectural wealth

• You could easily spend a lot of time in Glasgow simply photographing the buildings, or as I like to do, bits of the buildings to give more of a sense of the place too

4. Music and Nightlife:

• Glasgow has a vibrant music scene with a strong history of producing famous bands and musicians, including Franz Ferdinand, Simple Minds, and The Proclaimers

• The city is also famous for its nightlife, with many pubs, bars, and clubs catering to all tastes. I must admit to not having tried pretty much any of that as a) its not really my thing, and b) I was too knackered from the walking I did do to bother even thinking about a night out! Though I must admit to sampling a few pints in various pubs on my photowalk

5. Shopping:

• Glasgow is considered one of the best shopping cities in the UK, with its Buchanan Street being one of the busiest shopping areas in the country. It also has unique boutiques and vintage shops in areas like The West End

• Defo not my thing! But if you are visiting Glasgow with a partner who isn't a photographer, I'm told there's more than enough to keep most shopping types happy

6. Green Spaces:

• Despite being a bustling city, Glasgow has many parks and green spaces. Kelvingrove Park and Glasgow Green are popular spots for locals and visitors alike. The city is also close to natural areas such as Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Overall, Glasgow combines a fascinating mix of history, culture, modernity, and a welcoming spirit, making it a dynamic city to visit. From my first, all too brief, experience its defo somewhere I'll be coming back to in 2025, and with the aim of creating a Photowalk experience as part of a forthcoming Glasgow Photography Workshop

And so to the photos...

In this first set you can appreciate just how much Glaswegians like to paint on things, and paint BIG !!!

There are several AWESOME murals, only a few of which I found, but unlike Manchester & Leeds they don't seem to do stickers as much with signs & doorways etc. surprisingly clear of them

Walking around the city on a sunny day there are photos of architecture to be had everywhere, sadly, due to feeling unwell (and the COLD !!!) I didn’t venture far, so these were all shot within 1/2 mile of the Leonardo Hotel

What was an obvious draw for photos is the Tradeston Bridge, which opened on 14th May 2009, so its a pretty new one, and as it has an odd design it of course has a local more jovial name - where its known as the “Squiggly Bridge”

You can see this bridge in all of my night-time shots from the King George V Bridge as its the next one along the Clyde

And to finish off any Glasgow Photography Workshop I can’t imagine a much nicer, and easier spot, than the various posts along the King George V Bridge

Not only is this bridge perfectly placed for views along the Clyde as the buildings either side light up, but it also has some totally flat areas along it that are perfect to simply laying a camera on for a shot - you don’t even need a tripod!

Gear used...

Nikon Z6ii with a Nikon Z24-70mm f2.8 no filters, no tripod

Post-Processing...

All done in Adobe Lightroom using a variety of Masks; mostly for separating the Subject from the Sky/Ground, for adding Gradient Masks to the Sky, and for using both Linear & Radial Masks as a means of applying localised Dodging & Burning, and enhancing selective colours, clarity, etc

Would you like to join me at a Glasgow Landscape Photography Workshop?

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