photography Archives - Blackpool Social Club

02 Dec

Exhibition Review: Annemarie Farley – ‘Lament’ in Cyanotype

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, cyanotypes, hive arts, photography

Monday 24th November 2025 saw David Simper catch the service 61 bus to the Church Street HIVE gallery, where Annemarie Farley was opening her show 'Lament' featuring her cyanotypes on glass. This event was extremely well attended, numbers being boosted by members of the Royal Photographic Society, there to view this unique show and to give Annemarie her certificate as a chartered member of the society. The pieces are roundels of glass carrying exquisite cyanotype images of flowers, some framed, others mounted on slices of tree trunk, which gives an interesting more 3D effect. The subject's detail is caught with…

08 Nov

Exhibition Review: Back to Front – Lee Cobb at Tea Amantes

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool art scene, photographic exhibition, photography, tea amantes

The month has turned again and it's time for the new exhibition at Tea Amantes. Following on from Kenny McCrae, the new show features another photo walk stalwart, Lee Cobb. David Simper caught the service 61 bus to the town centre to catch Lee's vision. The clocks have gone back since last month's show launch and so it felt a little strange for Corporation Street to be that much darker as I disembarked from the bus and walked the short distance down Albert Road to the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery. A good crowd was in the house, including many…

15 Oct

Exhibition Review: It’s Not So Grim – Kenny McCrae at Tea Amantes

David Simper1 CommentVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, photographic exhibition, photography, street photography, tea amantes

A regular at the Tea Amantes photo walks, David Simper was keen to see his colleague's work. He caught the service 61 bus down to the town centre to view this exhibition. One of the Street Souls street photography group and a ring leader of the Tea Amantes photo walks, Kenny is overdue his own exhibition at the cafe and gallery. His work does not disappoint. The pictures revolve around a street photography ethos, mixed with opportunities for more formal portraits. Colour interchanges with monochrome for a pleasantly varied effect. I'm pretty sure I can remember watching Kenny take some…

24 Jul

Exhibition review: ‘Kaleidoscope’ – Emilia Zogo

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblack and white photography, photographic exhibition, photography, tea amantes gallery

Having reviewed Emilia's previous Tea Amantes exhibition, David Simper was keen to follow up and see her latest work. The show did not disappoint. These dream-like multiple-exposure photographs focus on the British seaside and form part of her masters degree exhibition. Since her last show, Emilia Zogo, has clearly taken a radical step forward in terms of her artistic expression. These multiple exposure images are very different from her previous photography, the choice of digital monochrome aside. The pictures have a dreamlike quality, presenting a new perspective on the British seaside, our bit of it in particular. They…

28 Mar

Exhibition Review: Photowalk pics 2024

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scenne, photography, street photography, tea amantes

As a participant in several of these photowalks, our regular reviewer David Simper has three pieces in this exhibition himself. Nevertheless, it was with some anticipation that he caught the service 61 bus down to the Tea Amantes gallery to see what else was on offer. Thirty strong images and good company awaited. Photography might seem like somewhat of a lonely pursuit, and indeed it can be, but it's always good to take pictures in a group. Photography can also be a social thing, with like minded people – there's strength in numbers. Monthly photowalks have been working out of…

15 Mar

Join New Langdale Photographers for a year long project in Hawes Side

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsOpportunitiescommunity, Hawes Side, photography

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="52569" img_size="medium" add_caption="yes" css=""][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=""] Get ready for an exciting photographic adventure! From now until 2026, the New Langdale Photographers, an exceptional group of photographers with diverse needs, will partner with Blackpool-based photographer Claire Griffiths. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=""]This collaboration explores how creativity can cultivate meaningful shared experiences, contributing to a lasting legacy. The project seeks to uncover the hidden gems of the Hawes Side area of Marton through a year-long initiative.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] Previously, the New Langdale Photographers undertook an extensive project highlighting the contributions of Blackpool Borough Architect J.C. Robinson, who designed 30 notable buildings in the area,…

04 Mar

Exhibition Review: No 12 Collective

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, photography, photography exhibition

David Simper travelled down to the town centre on a Friday night to catch a new exhibition from the No 12 Collective, based in the UCLan photography department. The group returns after staging an exhibition at Hive a year ago. He arrived to find the place bustling. This group's previous show was excellent and I was keen to see this new collection as the No 12 Collective returned to The Hive gallery on 28th February 2025. The prints were generally large and well presented. I noticed that they were accompanied by photo books and business cards, which had not been…

12 Feb

A Winter Photowalk: out with the Blackpool Community Darkroom crew

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblack and white photography, blackpool community darkroom, photography, street photography

David Simper got out in the thin winter light for some communal photography. Loading his film camera he bused down to the Blackpool centre to grab some frames with the squad. The Blackpool Community Darkroom posse gathered at the Aunty Social building, 28 Topping Street, on 4th January 2025, paid £7 and were presented with a black and white film for the exercise in hand. Recording the Blackpool urban landscape in whatever light is presented. I always really enjoy these walks – photography can be a lonely business and it's good to work in a group of people, a team.…

08 Dec

Photography Exhibition Review: This and That – Elizabeth Gomm

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, photographic exhibition, photography

Elizabeth Gomm's photograph have featured on Blackpool Social Club many time over the years, as the photo journalist diligently captures many of the town's major happenings. David Simper was keen to see some of them exhibited. He caught the handy service 61 bus down to the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery to view the images on offer. Elizabeth's work majors on the type of wildlife photography that I always wanted to do as a young photographer and never quite managed to do. Many of the creatures photographed here are readily available in our parks and seashore, but that doesn't undermine the…

26 Sep

Exhibition Review: Always Look on the Bright Side

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, Exhibition, photography

Always keen to present Blackpool in a positive light through a thriving arts scene, HIVEArts has put together an eclectic mix of photographs, celebrating the upside of our fine resort. David Simper returned from an event in Liverpool in good time to view the collection, delayed only slightly at Poulton by a trespasser on the track. Always Look on the Bright Side is a group exhibition of work from some acomplished photographers and a great exhibition to brighten our lives as the days lengthen into autumn. The clocks going back beckons and winter is only just over the horizon. It…