street photography Archives - Blackpool Social Club

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…

19 May

Photo Essay: Blackpool’s public art

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblack and white photography, film photography, public art, street photography

Always keen for a themed photo project, David Simper, took his twin lens reflex film camera down to the town centre to see what he could make of Blackpool's public art collection. Even among local people, Blackpool might not project as a centre for public art, but there's more than you might think and plenty to occupy a twelve frame film on a bright morning. I caught the service 3 bus and disembarked at Church Street outside the school, to start the exercise with the Fancie Bench in Kings Square outside Stanley Buildings. From there to St John's Square and…

16 May

Photo Walk: Town centre sights

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsfilm photography, medium format photography, photowalk, street photography

Time flies and another Tea Amantes-based photowalk hoved into view. David Simper selected his trusty twin lens reflex film camera and caught the service 61 bus to the cafe to endezvous with the posse. Here's a few results for your delectation. Part of the Tea Amantes photowalk ritual is that Stan asks you to draw a theme for the day. This time mine was '3'. So, you can choose from three posts on the Prom... Or three people having a fag break outside Subway. For those interested, I used my Yashica 635 twin lens reflex…

15 Apr

Photo Essay: Street photography with Tea Amantes

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblack and white photography, blackpool arts scene, street photography

A recent exhibition of street photography by the Tea Amantes photowalk group highlighted some fine work from the collective in 2024. The group is already well on its way to building a body of work for 2025. David Simper loaded his rangefinder camera and headed down to the cafe to join the group, as it hit the streets of Blackpool for the third photowalk of 2025. The team gathered at the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery on 29th March 2025, its collective work still exhibited on the walls. It seemed to have grown since the new year and the room…

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…

24 Mar

Artist Q&A: Adam Mousley

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblack and white photography, blackpool arts scene, photography exhibition, street photography

A new exhibition of black and white prints, all taken on film, is a masterclass in the old ways of image making and perhaps the start of a long-term social record. David Simper caught up with the artist behind them. I've admired Adam Mousley's work for a long time and was therefore pleased to learn that he had secured an exhibition space in the downstairs cafe area at The HIVE in Blackpool. The collection is eclectic, but all delivered with a trademark intensity, strong composition, a quick eye and excellent use of perspective. Some of the shots were taken at various…

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.…

04 May

Gallery: StreetSnappers Photowalk

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsstreet photography, street snappers north west

David Simper followed on from his visit to the new Grundy Art Gallery exhibition, with a stroll over to the Tea Amantes cafe and art gallery, to catch the members of StreetSnappers North West for a photographic walk round the town centre. I had previously reviewed Stan Crook's solo exhibition at Tea Amantes and then the recent StreetSnappers show at the same venue, which was still on the walls when this event took place. I was keen to turn out for what had been the second photowalk organised. As I was quite early, there was time for a refreshing coffee.…

08 Apr

Exhibition Review: Northern Exposures

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

David Simper bussed it down to the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery to catch this excellent show of contemporary street photography in the North West. The Tea Amantes gallery is always conducive to an attractive and intimate show such as this, together with excellent snacks. On arrival a good crowd was already there creating a homely buzz of conversation. I noticed a good number of excellent photographers in the throng, and then there was me but I hardly count. Street photography has always fascinated me and I've never really had the nerve to pursue it properly. Nowadays a lot of people…

05 Aug

Exhibition review: Blackpool – the main resort – Stan Crook

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool art scene, digital photography, photographic exhibition, street photography

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The first Monday of the month comes around and this time I catch the service 6 bus to view Stan Crook's photographic exhibition at the Tea Amantes gallery and tea room. This is an exercise in love for our resort, expertly captured in colour and black and white digital photographs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="39809" img_size="medium" alignment="center"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="39810" img_size="medium" alignment="center"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="39805" img_size="medium" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Plain frames contain both single and individual images, mostly taken on the sea front at various stages of the year and in various lights. Thus the mood can switch dramatically. The exhibition opening coincided with the start of…