City centre exhibition takes photography to new heights

IT’S Birmingham as you’ve rarely seen it before – a Brummie bird’s eye view.

Britain from the Air, which features 100 giant aerial photographs, is on display in city centre streets until August 21.

Included in the exhibition will be three stunning shots of Birmingham – two are of the transformed city centre, with the ‘blister’ roof of Grand Central an eye-catching attraction. The third is a gorgeously green view over Warwickshire County Cricket Ground and beyond.

“Britain from the Air showcases breath-taking and thought-provoking landscapes – including three aerial shots of Birmingham – and explores the forces that shaped them,” said a spokesman for the organisers. “The three large-format photographs of Birmingham feature the city’s recent additions to the skyline such as Grand Central at New Street rail station and landmarks such as Rotunda and Edgbaston Stadium, plus demolition work on Central Library.”

The exhibition is on show in New Street, Corporation Street, High Street, Temple Row, Centenary Square and at New Street Station.

It is a joint project between the Royal Geographical Society and street gallery pioneers Wecommunic8 – and is sponsored by Craghoppers outdoor clothing and supported by Retail BID Birmingham, the Business Improvement District for the city centre.

Dr Rita Gardner, director of the Royal Geographical Society, said: “From the drama of Suilven bursting out of Scotland’s Northern Highlands to the latest additions to Birmingham’s skyline, the exhibi- tion offers an opportunity for visitors to see our stunning landscapes from a unique perspective and explore the environmental and economic forces that shape them.”

Steve Hewlett, city centre retail manager, said: “The fascinating new images of Birmingham show how dramatically the city has changed in recent years – for the better.”