32 Comments

Great project on a specific area. Many economic and political factors influencing the decline which the sceptical part of me thinks is intentional for financial gain of the property market. Can't redesign a city that has a focus of city living when business is going well as real estate prices are too high for developers. The fires at the top of town with a less than supportive state response destroyed local businesses due to the time taken to stabilise the area. Although I agree in traffic free zones the alternative in poor public transport has also had an impact, not to mention changes in human behaviour following COVID-19. You are in the right place to witness the gentrification of Glasgow, regardless of state of the streets what remains is any given day its the diverse people of Glasgow who are on the 'Z' that's due to change and you will capture it but over 10+ years.

Look forward to witnessing your project develop.

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Thanks Scott. Need to meet up one day on Argyle St. What time are you usually there?

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Sent you a message with my mobile, usually weekends. Be good to chat over a coffee!

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Great project. Really nice images.

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Thank you! Very interested in what you think about this given how much you travel (at least that is my perception!)

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We do travel a lot, but I'm not sure how that relates to your topic? That said, I think the idea is really cool, to document a street as it shifts. Sadly that seems to be happening more now since covid, when a lot of places shut down.

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It looks like the makings of a good series. I'd love to try something similar for my own hometown of Belfast - lots in common with Glasgow. Unfortunately, I don't live there right now! Best of luck with the project.

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Thanks Olli. Belfast would be good, having been subjected to so many photojournalists who rock up and then leave a few weeks later.

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Very true. I have a series of posts in my head on the failures of photojournalism in Northern Ireland throughout the 'Troubles', but when I try to write them down I just get angry. Maybe someday.

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Still getting used to your new 'ID' photo..... ;0)

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Me too!

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Happy to do so

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Great project! I love the image of the young woman on the bus and the vaping image. So good!

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Thank you!

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Neil, great project, and I like these images quite a bit. I'm in NYC, the best city in which to be a flaneur, I think -- images to follow. But your point about revisiting, a regular rather than a flaneur, is well taken. One small suggestion. "Girl on Train" is really good. But I'd crop it a little tighter -- that green sticker is distracting. Doing so would also balance the figures in front of and behind her. Just a (presumptuous) thought.

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Thanks, yes I toyed with that cropping and it was even wider before. I am fascinated by Bruce Schaff’s weekly posts from NYC. The craziest town in the world.

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Im with Andrew. Great project and good pictures.

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Thanks Alan! Will need to talk to you about this

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A great idea for a project. I look forward to seeing it develop.

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Thanks Andrew! I am curious to see how the seasons and the light changes, esp as I tend to go out at the same time each day

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Coincidentally I’m going to see the Letitia Bataglia exhibition at the London photographers gallery. Suggestion. Commence your journey in the 17th century in the Burgh Court (licensing) hidden in the City Chambers. Do not give your subject a break, use black and white. Content and aesthetic, best of luck.

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Thank you Jim! I will check the Burgh Court. I just got a book on Medieval Glasgow so am thinking about the high st a lot at the moment. Why b&w?

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My apologies for sounding a bit up myself, but Martin Kemp and Bernard Berenson used black and white to illustrate Renaissance works on the basis they offered a better view of the dynamics etc. I just meant that black and white added drama and gravitas. Just walked across George Square yesterday and what a mess. Years ago in a joint exhibition with Ursula Keller called the ‘Gallas Riviera’ (that’s Glasgow)I offered my solution by moving all the statues and spreading them around the city in ‘Celebrity Squares’. Lord Provost visited, bought Ursula’s work for Kelvingrove and ignored me!

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Oh dear. Funnily enough the William of Orange statue was moved from Trongate, so it's not unprecedented.

Glad to learn of another Martin Kemp not the one from Spandau Ballet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Kemp_(art_historian)

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Exciting. God speed. Looks good so far.

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Thanks Wessie!

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A very interesting project. Please keep sharing your progress!

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Thank you Susanne. My aim is to do an update once a month.

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Nail bars…. Turkish barbers ….no banks …

The way most town centres seem to be 🤷🏼

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The end of banks on the high st is coming. Very strange, especially when they were such grand buildings in the past

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Very interesting. I look forward to your posts.

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Thanks Søren!

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