Bristol photography advice…

This is another one of those ‘get ST to do my job for me’ posts. I have a job on this week to take some photos in Bristol of the following locations:

Clifton Bridge
Waterside
SS Great Britain
Centenary Sq
Temple Meads train station
Bristol Cathedral
Park Street
Clifton triangle
The Quadrangle outside Bristol Uni
Ashton court
The downs over looking the gorge

If anyone has any tips in general that would be cool as I don’t know Bristol and am just going on what I can find by googling

There doesn’t seem to be a centenary square so I’m assuming they mean millennium square. My google-fu isn’t finding the quadrangle outside Bristol Uni but there does seem to be one at Wills Hall residences. Not sure what Waterside is, perhaps they mean Harbourside. I will check all this with them of course. Anyway…..

My main question is where would be a good spot to get a shot of the downs overlooking Avon Gorge? Also generally if anyone knows any opportunities to get up high near any of these locations to take shots looking down then that would be grand. Also, is there scaffolding on the suspension bridge at the mo and if so how bad does it look?

Thanks!

Check out the avon gorge hotel, they might let you take some shots.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=avon+gorge+hotel&biw=1093&bih=484&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=-QD_VNrLJ42v7AaJvoGwAg&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg

Water bus service might get you to some interesting view points

Clifton Observatory/Camera Obscura, located on the Clifton Downs will give you a unique view of the area. There is a cave that leads to the cliff face giving you a view of the bridge & gorge.

But, I have never been so I cannot say what it is like for sure. One of those things that you intend to visit, but never actually do.

For shots of the Bridge you could try from here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.464538,-2.629402,3a,75y,235.46h,74.24t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sMGV3eDl2KZpFVKeK6nccgA!2e0

or here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.469226,-2.633565,3a,75y,199.63h,79.52t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1se_P2YM8T6VRuewQJXH7TFw!2e0

Those are located on the Downs. Be careful in the woods as you get odd men in there hanging around.

or there is a monument on the other side of the bridge here (next to the Avon Gorge Hotel) https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.454187,-2.625519,3a,75y,304.23h,74.65t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sQiDHWILCRIwZ5PLmdxT9yA!2e0

Clifton triangle is the bit bordered by Sainburys, Browns, The Brass Pig, Hyde & Co etc on google maps.

No idea what they mean by the quadrangle outside Bristol uni unless they mean Berkley Square (some uni buildings on Berkley Sq.) or the triangle which is actually a couple of triangles if you include the bit up to the Victoria Rooms. There is also the freshly landscaped area between Royal Fort house and the back of Physics/NSQI.

SS GB – you can get shots from the Hotwells side of the road but up close and personal if you get a ticket and go into the area around the boat (good excuse to go for a tour and your ticket lasts 12 months).

Ashton Court – you probably want to go in by the UWE campus entrance park next to the house.

Centenary Sq – no idea again. Millenium sq is the obvious one here down by @Bristol with the big shiny globe.

As well as the water bus try around the cumberland basin and brandon tower – at very least going up the tower will give you a good idea for the levels of the things you are taking photos of and might help.

If you’re taking shots of the bridge then get in quick before the scaffold goes up on the towers…

http://www.cliftonbridge.org.uk/news/tower-restoration-works-clifton-suspension-bridge

There are what is know as Centenary Gardens adjacent to the Wills Memorial Building – that could be what you are looking for?

I’ve not been up it yet, but you might get some nice views over parts of Clifton triangle from Cabot Tower, which is free entry too I believe.

If you’re interested, Wills Memorial building is currently illuminated in green light for the remainder of 2015 to commemorate Bristol’s status as Green Capital. Could get some nice night time images.

ahh that’s why it’s currently green.

Centenary garden is rubbish.

Awesome stuff – thanks very much everyone, that’s really helpful.

A few more points. I like the view of the suspension bridge from Leigh Woods with Clifton in the background. There’s also a nice angle looking up from end of the docks under the swing bridge In hotwells. It looks better when the tide is in so time your run.

Ashton Court it the local mtb hot spot so there is a chance of some good action shots. I suspect they want pictures of the house though.

You won’t get a good view looking down on the downs as it is pretty much the highest point in Bristol, unless you can find a friendly balloon pilot (of which there are quite a lot in bristol)

There were some threads on here a while back about Bristol, which I posted a bunch of photos from around the floating harbour, but I can’t find it now.
You can get a good view of the bridge from the big lock gates at the entrance to the floating harbour, looking downriver, but ideally the tide needs to be in, otherwise it’s just mostly mud banks:

Millenium Square is very photogenic on a sunny day, you get great reflections from the planetarium, and there are two water-features, polished steel walls with water continually running down them, kids love the water…

Centenary garden is rubbish.

I can’t really slate it too much 🙂

But I can’t imagine it’ll make for the most exciting shots, so perhaps its not the correct location the OP is after.

Pretty much every shot I’ve seen of the bridge is taken from up on the downs by the Observatory, so it would be nice to see your finished work if you get some unique shots.

The Clifton Oxfam shop were selling photos of the bridge just before Xmas as part of the 150 anniversary celebrations, and there were some nice looking alternate viewpoints. I had a quick Google to see if I could find them but found a Facebook page for the bridge instead, which might be of interest.

https://www.facebook.com/brunelsbridge

I particularly love the childs drawing where the bridge has been replaced by a shark 🙂

never get tired of that view on my drive in.

The Quadrangle is Wills Hall.

Brandon Hill will supply some great photos over Bristol.

Ashton Court (Mansion) is best accessed via Clanage Road.

Remember that Banksy’s ‘Cuckolded Husband’ Art is on Park Street at the bottom.

As for the Suspension Bridge – my favourite place on this rock. Agree with the LW side to take a shot.

If you’re near Temple Meads – throw in a snap of St Mary Redcliffe Church, nearby.

It’s a brilliant city grum. You won’t want to leave.

Well worth getting shots from the LW side but will be a bit muddy so bring your bike with mud tyres as you’ll be going off-piste 😉

Pictures of bristols you say?

8)

@Bristol has a balcony at the top as part of a event space which would give a different view of Millenium Square. You’d need to liaise with them as to getting access though.

“Waterside” probably means “Waterfront”, the row of bars & restaurants where the Watershed cinema is located.

The Bristol Uni quadrangle might be centenary gardens, next to the Wills building, as mentioned above.

Ashton Court is a big place; do some research on good photo spots. Parking next to the House & walking up the tarmac offers some good opportunities ime.

As an aside, most of these places have been photographed to death so flickr/500px etc should give you an idea of what you’re looking for & how not to shoot it if you need something different!

Get yerself up Cabot Tower.

You’re doing my dream job! OK I do get to do the Malverns from time to time but if you ever have the need for more bods … 😉

While you’re at Temple Meads make sure you drop into Hart’s Bakery for a sausage roll

You can take a photo of it, but personally I’d just eat it

Edit: Bristol & Exeter house which is opposite the bakery is a fine piece of Victorian architecture and well worth a few snaps, once you’ve scoffed your face 🙂

Almost forgot – bit of a shameless plug but you may get some nice shots from the top of the Wills Memorial tower if you book yourself on one of the tower tours http://www.bristol.ac.uk/university/visit/tower-tours/

Keep the lens cap on 😉

Centenery Square could refer to Queens Square, just off the Centre.

Waterside areas are very extensive – they effectively start by the train station and end beneath the Clifton suspension bridge if you are looking for views. If for resturants and bars its around the M Shed, Arnofini, Watershed sort of triangle and maybe down river a bit.

Park Street/Bris Uni quad – the huge tower at the top of Park Street is the Wills Memorial building (part of the Uni) and gets mistaken for the cathedral sometimes (as does St Mary Redcliffe, more famous and prettier) the Wills tower has a bit of greenery around the bottom. The physics building up behind that area has an ornamental garden. The Uni also has a policy of ‘open gardens and green spaces’ to the public, they have signs up stateing this in several places but you would need permission for commercial photos in those spaces.

I beleive the Clifton observatory is shut to the public at the moment as its just been up for auction.

Try ‘The Sea Walls’ area on the Downs for views of the downs/bridge. If you want less common views of just the bridge, walk down to the Portway road beneath the bridge or the bike/walkers path on the other side of the river. The other prime spot is to walk across the Plymsol bridge (think I have mispelt that name) on the overpass to get a higher, very frequently taken, view of the bridge.

I wonder if you realise what a huge physical area they are expecting you to cover in just a day? Its going to be a hell of a rush. Also unless you bike or taxi, parking will be difficult as the idiot who is Mayor has put deeply restrictive/expensive street parking in place. If driving, read every parking sign carefully as they are different from street to street literally and many marked areas are resident permit only so cannot be parked in without risk.

For hight, try the upper floors of some of the multistory car parks. Try to avoid parking in the “West End” car park near Park Street/Triangle as cars seem often broken into there.

Another thought for Waterside pics, go to the M Shed – they give the public roof access most days. Just go to top of the building, go out on to balcony/roof.

I really am wondering how you will cover all this in just a day.

Might I ask what the purpose of the commission is – guidebook, city tours?

People underestimate how long this sort of stuff takes. I once got a commission to do multiple sites (interiors, exteriors, multirooms) in a single day, most based in various bits across Bristol, but also including one site that was a 60 mile round trip out of the city.

I would be hard pushed to do all your list well in a day and I live here so know the place! What happens if you hit bad weather?

Ashton Court – note it has 2 separate deer parks (2 types of deer) and a rose garden, though I guess that will look a bit bare this time of year. Also a pet cemetery not far from the house. Again for commercial use you might need permission as it is owned by the city council and you cannot photograph it unless stood in the grounds owned by them.

What day are you here?

Is the observatory sold now? It was up for £1.2M IIRC. Would make a lovely restaurant which is what the plans were for.

Residents parking zones can be a pain in the butt but there is often pay and display places. You can park in Clifton village by the shops for up to 2hrs I think.

Getting round should be pretty easy though, Bristol is not big. As crap as the public transport is though you might do well on the numbers 8 and 9 buses. They run the same route but in opposite directions and go from Temple Meads to Clifton via Redland, Park Street etc so will actually cover a lot of places you need to go. The Ashton Gate Park and Ride would get you to the Triangle for a few £ and be next to Ashton Court which you can drive to (£1 to park there).

There is currently a Gromit left over from the trail last year in the Wills Memorial building.

Thanks again everyone – STW really comes up trumps at times!

I have two days to do this. Also I will probably do some of these as night shots using a tripod/long shutter speed etc so the weather is less critical for those.

When I walked past the other day, the sign was not in sight on the Observatory, so I assumed it had been auctioned or sold. Or maybe they stopped the sale – I don’t know. Its really sad its not owned by the Council or the National Trust or similar charity. Its sad any rich person has the potential to come along and shut down the cave and camera obscura access for the public if they have that whim.

I think the Clifton village residents parking zone becomes official this coming Monday. Several others close to it are already live. In some places you can park up to 5 hours (areas near the Merchant Venturers & Mayors headquarters, surprise surprise, why mess up access for the elite). Most of the areas I have seen so far are already ‘[charging a pound per hour and you can’t have a fraction of an hour, it has to be all or nothing and they are in Clifton charging you up to 9pm at night, to deter all those commuters who rush in to work every evening (or perhaps just to rip off anyone who uses a restaurant, which was not supposed to be the aim of the scheme).

I agree in some respects Bristol is not say, Birmingham or London, but the list of subjects the photographer has been given is quite spread out physically when you also allow for him not knowing the city at all, not knowing the public transport system and maybe having to bike or drive around a totally unknown city – plus needing to take professional quality imaginative photos. I have a lot of sympathy for the OP. I am sure he will do well, there are some nice photos on his own site.

If the commissioner wanted clichéd shots run up at a drop of a hat, they could have got plenty from stock sites or from gallery sites at a cost probably lower than just the fare alone from Yorkshire to Bristol. So I presume they are looking for more original images… and contrary to what some people genuinely and innocently believe, its not just rolling up, snapping once with your camera from the first obvious angle and then running to the next site. I understand why people think it is easy as so many people take photos – we are in the true age of the photo, but it is time consuming to get this stuff to a pro standard, to a standard to be paid for. Hence my mentioning the absurd commission I was offered some years back, which I explained to them just could not be done in the time scale they wanted – multiple sites in a single day of a difficult subject range. The photographer they ended up hiring when I turned them down could not do it either – the commissioners eventually had to settle for only 2 of their sites out of 5 being photographed in a single day and neither of which was the 60 mile trip location. That was the best the other photographer could do and I think they did well.

I am not saying the OPs task is impossible, but its a ton of work to fit it all in, not knowing the area himself. Bristol is not big, but you need to allow not just time to get to places, but to explore the possibilities of them, which is where time can get eaten up. Its even harder if you have not been to a place before or if the weather on the day is grey and pouring with rain. Its also a lot of fun doing this sort of stuff, but fun with pressure! 🙂

Gromits:
There is another Gromit in Clifton. Head towards Clifton village from the Merchant Venturers headquarters, its up on a balcony on the left of the road. I believe UWE has one as well, but I don’t know where they keep it. I think Ardman bought one for itself too, but I don’t know where it is located either – though part of the Ardman offices are next to the SS Great Britain, it could be in those.

If you go to Temple Meads, go out the back of the station, follow signs to ferrys. You can walk left along the river all the way to the docks (you may have to change side of the river now and again) and there are lots of nice views of modern offices, quirky cafes (yurt), the shot tower, Castle park, Landogger Trow pub and you end up near Queens Square/Centre/Main docks area/St Mary Redcliffe. Not many people photo from that route compared to further into the city.

If photographing in the centre or docks/bars areas on Fri or Sat night take care – it can get quite rough, plenty of drinkers about. I once stepped in a pool of congealing human blood early on a Sunday morning by the docks, it not being taped off yet by the crime scene people there and my not looking downwards as I walked. Rest of the week its fine by the docks, no problems.

While you’re at Temple Meads make sure you drop into Hart’s Bakery for a sausage roll

I cannot over-stress the importance of following this wise counsel.

🙂

For waterside they probably want the area around Arnolfini and the foot bridge over to the M-shed. Lots of cranes, boats and a steam railway to get photos of. But the area stretching through hotwells is getting a lot nicer and then the cumberland basin is nice too. There river splits into two water fronts, one that goes up to the fountains at the bottom of park street and one that goes round to Bristol Bridge past the Mud Dock (cafe + bike shop).

Most of the items on your list really are very close together. Obviously you need time to compose shots but I would think 2 days including night shots should be doable unless you are trying to capture some specific lighting effects at times of the day. Early morning in Summer is my favourite time to be around Park St and early evening to be near the suspension bridge as you get a nice red sky and sunset over to the west. But you wont get that option!

One way you may be able to get a high up shot of the Downs is to try and get access to the new building on the corner by the roundabout at the top of Black Boy Hill. No idea if you would manage it though. A quadcopter would be better! Or book a viewing of this place and get a shot out of the window: http://goo.gl/ujQ4xB 😀

What days are you coming down? I’m at the Uni on Thursday and Friday so will look out for you when i am in the car and walking the dog up at the downs or brandon hill.

I wonder if by the Uni quadrangle they mean the wee lawn to the right of the Wills Memorial building? Its not especially exciting but probably good views of the tower. But you know what, I bet they mean College Green which is not really anything to do with the uni. I would second whoever said get yourself up Cabot Tower. Its a good way to get a feel for where things are .

Also Ashton Court is a lot further away than you think…. That stands out as the outlier in terms of distance.

Thanks again for all the tips and sorry for not replying sooner. The weather didn’t massively play ball as I only really had one morning with decent light in the two days. Second day was very flat indeed so I ended up doing quite a bit of night stuff.

In answer to a previous point I think the reason they commissioned me to do them rather than buying from a stock agency is mainly that they want exclusivity.

Thought people might like to see some of the shots.

Wow. Amazing shots grum.

Loving those night shots. I love living in Bristol

Kind of you to let us see. Sorry you got the not so good weather. 1,4,6,9 are particularly nice.

Did you manage to get all your target sites in the end? I hope you had fun running around doing it. 🙂

Shame someone has fired paintballs at the Banksy….

Those starbursts in #2, are they added afterwards? Never seen them so sharp….

Never seen them so sharp..

That’ll be a nice lens that controls flare well stopped down on a tripod.

Great pics, a little different from the norm though not massively and really capture “bristol”.

Great shots grum – the ones of the SB & SS Great Britain are just about the best I’ve seen. Nice to see you took a shot of the Banksy (that some **** has added to) from Park Street looking down onto Frog Lane.

Excellent – thanks for posting them up.

Thanks for the kind words! 🙂

footflaps no – as IA said it’s just being stopped right down that makes them so pronounced.

Bristol is indeed a lovely city – could easily have spent more time there. I got most of the shots I needed – failed on the quadrangle and a good shot of the downs looking down into the gorge.