Leeds- A photographers Guide
Photographing Leeds UK with a Leica Rangefinder
Recently the City of Leeds in West Yorkshire have decided to move it's Museum to a new location on Cookridge Street in a building that was the Civic Theatre. It is well worth a visit and if one enquires at reception one can obtain FOC a Photographers Permit. To find the Museum, arriving at Leeds City Station come out of the station by the Queens Hotel and walk diagonally right, North across City Square up Park Row. At the crossing of the Headrow with The Town Hall, Art Gallery and City Library to your left walk up Cookridge Street, crossing Great George Street at St Ann's Cathedral (in my opinion not a photogenic example) and the City Museum is up on the right overlooking The Civic Hall, Millennium Square and Leeds General Infirmary.
To continue the walk around the streets of Leeds (Printable map available from Google) retrace you steps back to Great George Street and proceed east. at the traffic light the road changes to Merrion Street. Continue across the front of the Merrion Centre (Leeds first shopping centre) until you arrive at it's intersection with Upper Briggate. Turn South crossing the Headrow again. You are now in the shopping centre of Leeds. Worth a look are the Cities Arcades off Briggate which are The Queens Arcade- Thornton's Arcade- County Arcade and the Victoria Quarter.. The Leeds branch of Harvey Nicholls is to be found in this area. The city is also known for it's yards usually housing a pub and running off Briggate. They are The Ship- The Angel- The Pack Horse- The Whitelocks . Also worth visiting whilst in this part of town is The Corn Exchange and Kirkgate Market Buildings. From here it is about a 5 minutes walk along Boar Lane, looking out for the multi mirrored hotel building back to the Railway station.
Alternatively, proceed South down Lower Briggate with Hurst's Yard on the left and Dysons clock on the right. Cross over the Calls and onto Leeds Bridge, see photograph This area is the oldest part of Leeds and whilst around here notice the Flatiron Building ahead. Down river to the East check out The Royal Armories, The Parish Church and the carefully conserved Waterfront Buildings which are very old. From here proceed West towards Water Lane Area taking in the very old and the very modern. If time allows and you will need about an hour, walk West along Water Lane and take in the restored warehouse buildings in that area. Retrace your steps East to the end of Water Lane noting the Campanile Towers on the left. Then go left under the Dark Arches back to the Station. Leeds Art Gallery and City Libraries mentioned earlier are worth a visit but a photographic permit will need to be ordered from the Art Gallery to photograph interiors. Well that's my city- maybe others might like to follow suit and detail theirs.
The attached photograph was taken in 1971 by flickr.com/photos/ daveglass/119451839/. I take no credit for this but recommend visiting his Flickr pages
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"Die Zukunft der Erinnerung" -Leica-"The Future of Memories"
Regards Kenneth
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