
lovely photo alan...i wonder what that exact spot looks like now..be surprised if that large house in the middle is still thereAt the age of 16+ my family decided that we would move to Devon. For a period of six weeks I was drafted to Stoke-on-Trent, I presumed, to be out of the way during the move. I quite liked the area as it was full of industrial places which were obvious as seen easily. However staying with some relatives I was given an introduction to photography by my uncle.
My uncle, it seems, was very trusting as he allowed the use of his Leica camera and tripod and his facilities for developing and printing. I still have some negatives, black and white - it was in the early 1950's - in my possession. I took a lot of the five towns actually six if Fenton is included showing pot banks (pottery factories), coal mines, steel works, railways and not forgetting a few young ladies. Stoke-on-Trent is quite different today.
When reaching Devon I bought my own camera and printer and the means to do my own developing. This lasted for about a year when I joined the RAF. It was a hobby that I did not renew.
As is was:
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It was my uncle also that introduced me to the joys of photography, I still have his bellows camera. There would be no photos of me as a child if he hadn't been there to take them. What a trusting uncle you had, I only ever saw a Leica in the camera shop window on Aston Cross.At the age of 16+ my family decided that we would move to Devon. For a period of six weeks I was drafted to Stoke-on-Trent, I presumed, to be out of the way during the move. I quite liked the area as it was full of industrial places which were obvious as seen easily. However staying with some relatives I was given an introduction to photography by my uncle.
My uncle, it seems, was very trusting as he allowed the use of his Leica camera and tripod and his facilities for developing and printing. I still have some negatives, black and white - it was in the early 1950's - in my possession. I took a lot of the five towns actually six if Fenton is included showing pot banks (pottery factories), coal mines, steel works, railways and not forgetting a few young ladies. Stoke-on-Trent is quite different today.
When reaching Devon I bought my own camera and printer and the means to do my own developing. This lasted for about a year when I joined the RAF. It was a hobby that I did not renew.
As is was:
View attachment 228897
Oh boy - would I have liked to have been let loose in here! A photographers dreamland....... Now replaced by some stone steps and the floozie in the jacuzzi.......corner of victoria square and colmore row..some nice inside shots
lyn
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It seems that was what uncles were for, my dad's youngest brother taught me the basics, of photography and eventually I converted the redundant coalhouse to my own darkroom.It was my uncle also that introduced me to the joys of photography, I still have his bellows camera. There would be no photos of me as a child if he hadn't been there to take them. What a trusting uncle you had, I only ever saw a Leica in the camera shop window on Aston Cross.
Me too, those old chemist shops were so interesting to kids like me too. They were proper laboratory's with lots if glass and coloured liquidsOh boy - would I have liked to have been let loose in here! A photographers dreamland....... Now replaced by some stone steps and the floozie in the jacuzzi.......