A deeply personal study of transition along the River Leam, Warwickshire, captured just steps from where I was born. Here, the historic architecture of Royal Leamington Spa dissolves into the late-evening atmosphere.
“Imagine my surprise to see that the elephants have returned to Leamington Spa” – Brian Roe
“The 1970 “Black Sabbath” World Tour included a date at the Jephson Gardens Pavilion on 17 May 1970” – Wikipedia
“When the wind of change blows, some people build walls, some build windmills.” Chinese Proverb
“My cousin Polly (a bit of a local historian) informed me on seeing this composition that my great great grandfather William Roe & my great great mother Elizabeth Roe were married in this wonderful building in 1880!”Brian Roe
“How great musicians demonstrate a mutual respect and trust on the bandstand can alter your outlook on the world and enrich every aspect of your life, understanding what it means to be a global citizen in the most modern sense”. — Wynton Marsalis
As long as I’ve known the Bandstand in the Pump Room Gardens, I don’t think I have seen a traditional brass or Salvation Army-type band play in it. I’ve seen rock bands, Christian bands, hippy ensembles, and Samba bands. I have even played on it myself at the Leamington Peace Festival sometime back in the 1980s. But not the traditional brass band. Not that I mind. The main thing for me is this iconic Leamington Spa structure that everybody in the town knows, has recently been restored and is still with us.
A History
Opened in 1814 with the Pump Rooms themselves, to begin with, the gardens were only for the use of patrons of the Pump Rooms “to afford them pleasant promenades.” The original bandstand was later erected, and bands played in the afternoon and evening during the summer (and other public holidays) for those paying to use the baths.
During these early days, the famed tightrope walker Charles Blondin crossed the area in July 1851. However, in 1875 the gardens were opened to the public. In 1881, plans were made to build the town hall on the gardens, but at the last minute a change of site was agreed, and it was built further north near The Regent Hotel. In 1893, a pedestrian bridge called York Bridge was built over the river. The second bandstand was designed by Walter MacFarlane & Co and was founded in Glasgow. It was installed in 1896. (Source: Wikipedia)
I originally planned to shoot the Dormer Place walkway with the restored cast-iron lamps illuminating the autumn leaves, but there were too many people and not enough leaves on the ground. As luck would have it, the Bandstand was lit up in the early evening darkness and looked absolutely splendid. I was not disappointed. I’ll return to Dormer Place in a week or so to capture the shots for my next planned composition.
This composition was a challenge and a half. First of all, getting the cemetery and the angle of the photograph, the balance and centring of the beams, and the roof ornaments aligned. I got there in the end though, and was really happy with the perspective and angles.
Next came the colour and tonal dynamics! The bandstand was already well-lit, and at first I was worried the lights would cast halos, but I didn’t have to. The bandstand wasn’t always green; it used to be royal blue. I’m so glad they changed it. This green hue in the light is absolutely awesome. It was just a question then of enhancing the tonal levels to create enough contrast to make the reflection light up and the background darker. See
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