Following my little essay on Blackpool’s back streets with the medium format camera, what to photograph next? How about the variously empty shops around our town centre? Securing the longevity of a shop seems to be something of an art form in itself.
Contrary to popular belief, Blackpool’s empty shop count is on a par with many other places. Town centres are going through a transitional phase as their role adjusts to the advent of internet shopping and the ongoing competition from out-of town retail centres.
However, the fact is there are rather a lot of empty shops to photograph.
For this reason I’d need a camera that held more than twelve shots per roll and selected the Zorki 4 35mm loaded with a Kentmere 400 36 exposure film (other films are available). Of course I could have gone digital for ‘no film’ flexibility, but people who know me know my addiction to gritty 400 iso film. Nothing like it!
I probably could have used another roll, especially if I’d got to areas outside the town centre’s core perimeter. Probably best not to take pictures in some of those.
Naturally working round, other shots came to my eye. Anyway, the 36 frames seemed soon expended, although a dodgy shutter spoilt some of them.
There is such a variety of texture, depending on the materials used to close off a business. The photos can’t be described as beautiful, but I think their tonality at least makes them interesting. They could be depressing as a sign of Blackpool’s continuing economic trauma, but I really do see hope for the future as new investment comes in.
In terms of regeneration or replacement of obsolete buildings, care to preserve our heritage buildings must be taken. 
Hats off to organisations striving to turn the town centre around, including Blackpool Council, Blackpool Business Improvement District and Blackpool Business Leadership Group.
Let’s hope the town centre strategy also has good effect.
I think it would be good to repeat this photographic exercise annually, which would chart the recovery process. If I can remember what I snapped the last time. Places look so different when they’ve been recovered.
One snag of photographing shops on a Sunday morning (2nd April 2023) is that live premises have their shutters down, but after a check, the photos here are of empty premises. The advantage is, not many people around. Despite the slight insanity of what I was doing, I wasn’t challenged once. I do hate justifying what I’m doing to people when it really isn’t their business.
As you can see, I can also take more touristy photos. The nice bits we want people to notice. Soon that should describe everything.
I’d used my last frame at the corner of Church and Topping Street, so why not nip round into Edward Street to have coffee and a delicious brownie at the Upside Down Cafe (other cafes are open). I managed not to buy a plant, but mainly because I need to build some furniture to put more on.
Timing it almost perfectly, I caught the service 6 home from Topping Street. A satisfying morning’s work. Especially on getting the pictures back and finding most of them ok.
