If you want to have a crack at long exposure photography but don’t fancy scouting out your own locations, no worries – because Tomasz Kozak has done the hard work for you.
The local snapper has not only found the best spots in and around Greater Manchester for long exposure captures, he’s also chosen to share them with the rest of the city-region – allowing us to gawp at the north in striking new light.
Listed below are just some of the best spots he’s stumbled across during his travels.
Media City, Salford
Media City / Image: Tomasz Kozak
The Metrolink line running to the Trafford Centre offers a great opportunity for budding night time photographers hoping to capture the lights of passing trams on film.
Head down to Trafford Wharf near the Imperial War Museum to find the best spot, or alternatively try Trafford Bridge – which has some great views across Salford Quays and Media City.
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Victoria Station, Manchester
Victoria Station / Image: Tomasz Kozak
Manchester’s oldest train station is not short of bright lights and cracking photo opportunities.
Tomasz has taken some wonderful snaps here, but does warn that he’s occasionally been told not to use his tripod in the station – with staff sometimes requiring a permit.
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The good news is there’s plenty of opportunities to grab some good shots from the outside, too – with the exterior of Victoria Station proving equally picturesque.
M60 Ring Road, Whitefield
M60 ring road / Image: Tomasz Kozak
Looping around Manchester, the M60 passes through most of the outer boroughs with the exception of Wigan and Bolton.
It has a glut of opportunities for long exposure hopefuls, but Tomasz recommends two places in particular near Whitefield.
There are few compositions to be captured around Piccadilly station but Tomasz’s favourite is taken from the rope bridge just outside that stretches over towards the village.
Watch out for camera shake as you shoot, though, because it can get very wobbly as people pass by.
Castlefield, Manchester
Castlefield / Image: Tomasz Kozak
One of the most photographed areas of Manchester for a reason, Castlefield is genuinely one of our favourite places in the city.
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According to Tomasz, the area’s industrial feel “with many old bridges and constantly passing trams” offer some of the best compositions you can get.
Stockport Viaduct, Stockport
Stockport Viaduct / Image: Tomasz Kozak
If you shoot from the bridge at Wellington Road, you get a really nice composition of Stockport Viaduct in the background – but truth be told there are so many different angles to play with here.
It’s actually one of the more surprisingly scenic spots when the sun goes down.
St Peter’s Square, Manchester
St Peter’s Square / Image: Tomasz Kozak
Metrolink can always be relied on for some good light trails, and they don’t get much better than from St Peter’s Square where you can combine them with the striking architecture of Manchester’s Central Library and Town Hall.
There’s plenty more of these terrific images to feast your eyes upon online.
Whether you can believe it or not, it’s actually been two whole decades since the 2003 Christmas cult classic that is Elf was released to the world, and with December literally just a few days away now, there’s no better way to celebrate this special anniversary than seeing the film return to the big screen for a limited time only.
From this week, you can head on down to Vue cinemas in both Manchester Printworks and inside Quayside MediaCity, as well as others throughout the region, to watch the beloved festive flick.
Going on to become a much-loved festive favourite that’s watched by families all over the world every time December rolls around, Elf is a Christmas comedy film that tells the story of a human raised by Santa’s elves.
Elf is back on the big screen in UK cinemas from this week / Credit: Warner Bros.
As Buddy grows older, he eventually learns about his origins, and heads to New York City on a mission to meet his biological father.
Directed by on Favreau and written by David Berenbaum Elf has been hailed by many as a modern classic, and it’s often listed as one of the best Christmas films of all time.
It stars legendary comic actor Will Ferrell as the title character Buddy the Elf, alongside a talented ensemble cast of famous faces such as Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Jon Favreau, Peter Dinklage, and more in supporting roles.
Ferrell’s performance as Buddy was also praised by critics and audiences alike at the time of the film’s release, and many have even called it one of the best performances of his career.
It’s to celebrate 20 years since the beloved festive flick was released / Credit: Warner Bros.
Speaking ahead of Elf’s return to cinemas this Christmas, Mike Anton, who is the General Manager of Vue Manchester Printworks, said: “Christmas is all about spending quality time with friends and family, and creating treasured moments to last a lifetime.
“So we’re glad to be marking the merry occasion with a lineup of some of the most iconic and beloved Christmas classics.”
Tickets to see Elf at Vue Manchester Printworks and Vue Manchester Quayside are now available to get your hands on from just £4.99 when booked online here.
If you also find yourself at a loose end in Manchester city centre over the next couple of weeks, there’s another a little hidden cinema tucked away inside popular hotel King Street Townhouse that’s screening a jam-packed lineup of classic Christmas films throughout December too – including Love Actually, Home Alone, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
You can also sip on festive cocktails, and snack on popcorn and pick n mix while you watch all the festive flicks too.
Featured Image – Warner Bros.
Art & Culture
You can see the Northern Lights as part of a ‘mesmerising’ science show in Manchester this winter
Emily Sergeant
Mancs will get a glimpse of the Northern Lights as part of a “mesmerising” science show happening in our city this winter.
As the nights draw in, the air gets colder by the day, and the festive season nears closer and closer, Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum is an ideal place shelter from the harsh winter conditions outside.
And luckily, there’s a packed lineup of events for everyone to get stuck into over the next few weeks.
The massively-popular cultural destination – which has recently celebrated 40 years since opening on its original site in the heart of the city centre – is inviting families to head on down and discover “the secrets of light and colour” through a series of illuminating activities, special shows, and immersive experiences.
Opening on Saturday 16 December, and running for a limited time only, ‘Light Lab’ promises to “brighten up the winter holidays with an adventure though light and colour”.
Visitors will get the chance to make light perform jaw-dropping tricks, create colours, and spark creativity as they experiment with reflections, before getting to “journey from the Sun back to the Earth” during a series of special science shows led by the museum’s team of expert Explainers.
They’ll also be able to discover how light travels through our atmosphere, find out why the sky is blue, and explore the science of solar flares too.
During the special science shows, you’ll even get to “marvel at a mesmerising display” of the Northern Lights too – with real NASA footage of the Aurora Borealis to be shown up close.
You can see the Northern Lights as part of a ‘mesmerising’ science show in Manchester this winter / Credit: Science Museum Group | Pexels
For those after something a little different, and fancy learning a thing or two this festive season, then on Tuesday 12 December, visitors can take a front row seat for the live recording of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution ahead of its broadcast on the BBC.
Aside from that, the Museum’s currently-ongoing resident and guest exhibitions are remaining open to visit throughout the winter too.
This means visitors can also discover the inner workings of the digestive system in world-premiere exhibition, Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You, be whisked away to new worlds with ultimate gaming experience, Power Up, or see science and “mighty machines” in action in the Museum’s interactive gallery, Experiment, and in the Textiles Gallery too.
The Museum’s currently-ongoing exhibitions are remaining open to visit throughout the winter too / Credit: Drew Forsyth (via Science Museum Group)
On top of that, they can also “discover world changing ideas” in Revolution Manchester, and get up close and personal with incredible objects from Professor Stephen Hawking’s office, which are also on display.
Find out more about everything happening down at the Science and Industry Museum this winter up until Sunday 7 January, and grab tickets to any events here.
Georgina Pellant -
20th August 2021 
