"Photography has become my mental health medicine!" says Daniel

This is Dan's story, thank you for your interest! I hope you find it of interest. Dan is autistic. He loves his adopted City Birmingham, he loves to travel and he loves photography.


'Bonnie', one of our family cats in 1988

From the age of about 7 I have been fascinated by photography, and had my first camera by the age of 10, an Halina 110 film format with two built-in lenses and a flash. I would take photos while on family holidays in Wales and I particularly enjoyed capturing the rally cross meetings when visiting the local motor racing circuit.

1987, Lydden Hill rallycross circuit, Dimi Mavropoulus's crazy Audi S1

An equaly mad Metro 6R4

I would send off the films for processing and had to endure an almost intolerable wait of a couple of weeks for the prints to arrive. When they did arrive it was better than birthdays and Christmas!

'Old Harry Rocks' near Tunbridge Wells, part of a college photography assignment in 1989

It was not until I went to college that I did any ‘serious’ photography, including developing and printing. I did several photography projects at college and with my first portfolio I was able to get a summer job doing baby and child portraiture in Mothercare, Boots, and BHS, taking and then selling photos to parents. I received very positive feedback about my photography but I was determined to seek a career in TV and Video Production, and taking photos was purely a hobby. I sold my camera in the third year of university for beer money and almost instantly regretted it.

The view from the top of the Sears (Willis) Tower in Chicago 1997

In 1997 I went to Chicago with my father and took a small 35mm snapper. I took many photos of the huge buildings there, I was obsessed with skyscrapers and still am. I wanted to capture the feeling of standing at the base of a massive skyscraper unlike anything I had ever seen.

I had found myself in Birmingham starting my first job in the television industry in 1994 and, although I had the typical south-east view of the place and had never been before, I very quickly fell in love with the city and felt moved to use my photography as a way of dispelling all the negative myths about it. Inspired by my trip to Chicago I started to photograph what has become my adopted home city.

Victoria Square in December 2003

In 1998 at the age of 30, I was diagnosed with autism (Asperger’s syndrome) and started to understand more about my challenges and how to manage my anxiety levels better. I also understood why I had ‘special interests’, photography of architecture was definitely one of my strongest, and I adore maps and have seventy two different atlases, I love skyscrapers and satelite photography, I can't get enough of Google Earth and I can't wait till I can afford a VR kit!

In November 2005 I went to New York and Chicago for ten days working but still came back with 39 rolls of 36 exposure film!

Looking up at the 450m Willis (Sears) Tower in November 2005

It was my birthday on this trip and I was feeling rebellious so I took this one on Fifth Avenue, November 2005

I bought my first digital SLR camera in 2008 and started to accumulate a large collection of photos of Birmingham. I showed some of them to friends and family and was overwhelmed by the positive feedback and encouragement I received.

Cambrian Wharf with the Flapper Canalside Pub in 2009

In 2010 I produced a set of ten Birmingham postcards, had 200 of each printed and managed to get a few small city shops to sell them. The venture didn't succeed very well and I lost interest in photography.

I was encouraged by a good friend to develop a distinctive style and I had already identified several things that I naturally did like framing with thirds, juxterpositions, high colour, because I liked the resulting photos. But I also realised that there was the 'no people' aspect of my photography and how it reflects how I see the world.

In 2011 I found myself alone for Christmas Day and whilst I was a bit down, I wasn't lonely. As an autistic person I have a base state of alone, so I took the opportunity to indulge my 'special interest' of city photography and to wander the streets of Birmingham city centre to get some shots. Serendipity intervened to gift this set of rare photos.

CHRISTMAS DAY 2011 GALLERY

In 2013 I whad been working as a freelance video editor for a large company consistently for 18-months. The 3-hours of driving every day and extremely difficult working conditions resulted in so much stress that I became ill with clinical depression and anxiety disorder and had to cease work as a freelancer.

As part of my recovery, I was encouraged to indulge my ’special interests’ and chose to further my Birmingham promotion project by publishing my photography through social media. I published some of my archive of photos of the city but also started to take many more on a regular basis. I had fantastic feedback, I have continued ever since,  my Twitter account now has over 1400 followers and I have sold some of my photos as printsprints.

In 2015 I became a regular contributor to the new @BirminghamWeAre Twitter account and have gone on to become a full development partner with the parent social media platform FreeTimePays.com.

My photography has been considered as a large contributory factor in the success of their community engagement project which encourages others to send in their photography of the city.

 

I seem to be able to see photographs waiting to be taken, I can 'frame' a scene instantly in my mind so I just need to use the camera to capture it. I love to use the 'rule of thirds' with my compositions, I like to find great juxtapositions, colours, reflections and odd 'muddles' of things that are hard to work out what's going on at first glance.

The Birmingham Pyramids, April 2016

In 2016 I visited Edinburgh with my mother and came back with many great photos of the city.

Edinburgh, a Sea of Chimney Pots - April 2016

In  May 2016 I was honoured to win ’The Cube Photographer of the Year’, after submitting one of my photos of the iconic building.

My winning submission for the Cube Photographer of the Year 2016

Later in 2016 I was also contacted by a gentleman from Price Waterhouse Cooper in Birmingham inviting me to display my photos of the construction of their new headquarters at Paradise Birmingham, One Chamberlain Square, as a timeline gallery at their current base.

My photos on the wall at PwC with Matthew Hammond, Chairman, PwC Midlands in June 2018

The Demolition of the Central Library, June 2016

The Construction of PwC's One Chamberlain Square during May 2018

I continued to photograph the construction of the building and was invited by PwC to collaborate on a 'coffee table' book about the building using mainly my contruction photos photos.

This was completed in January 2020 and I went to the opening of the building where the book was distributed to lots of people and I got one to take home.

As part of my extra-curricular work with BirminghamWeAre I have produced five 'Birmingham Gems' charity calendars.

 

More recently, apart from publishing almost daily photography of Birmingham and especially since the pandemic restrictions, I have tried to develop several themes in my photography that have happened serendipitously over the year's. 'Reflections' is one that I have posted recently about, read more here: Reflections of Birmingham

Reflection of the Library in the part frozen pool in Centenary Square on 25th December 2020.

'Birmingham Lamps' is another, there are so many different types around the cityI

On or off, I like lamps, here one by the Arena Birmingham on the Canal.

I have also collected a lot of photos that show the architectural or general muddle that is the city of Birmingham I am calling 'Muddle Earth'

The view from Grand Central on 25th December 2020

In 2020 I uploaded a total of 3,378 photos of Birmingham taken in 2020.

I have a great passion for city photography and love to go on photography visits. I have created many galleries of my photos from these trips, please click below to view.

CITY PHOTOGRAPHY

Below are some examples.

Edinburgh, the Queen's Birthday Gun Salute, taken from Princes Street Gardens on a 300mm lens, April 2016  EDINBURGH GALLERY

Glasgow, September 2018, the view from the Necropolis, but what's a tomb and what's a building in the distance?  GLASGOW GALLERY

Cardiff, August 2017, one of the newly painted red dragons on the ornate obelisks outside City Hall.  CARDIFF GALLERY

Leeds, July 2017, one of the magnificent gold owls at the Civic Hall  LEEDS GALLERY

Paris, November 2011, the view Down the Champs Elysees  PARIS GALLERY

Amsterdam, August 2005, a tram jam in Leidseplein  AMSTERDAM GALLERY

Roma, April 2002, the Ruins of Il Tempio die Dioscuri ROMA GALLERY

Tivoli, April 2002, the Tivoli Gardens  TIVOLI GALLERY

New York City, November 2005, on my best ever birthday, the view north-west from the Empire State Building  NEW YORK CITY GALLERY

Passions

Construction & regeneration, Art; Culture & creativity, Photography

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Daniel Sturley

0121 410 5520


Art; Culture & creativity
31 Dec 2022 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

Birmingham UK, My Personal 100 Favourites Taken in 2022

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I like to take photos, it's helps my mental health and I don't put myself under any pressure. I love my adopted home city and since discovering that it is a beautiful and amazingly photogenic, diverse and muddled up urban landscape, I have sought to expose the negative myths about Birmingham by publishing my photos since 2010. Please see my 2022 favourites gallery:

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January 1st 2022, Clent Hill.

6th January, snow in Central Square in Brindleyplace.

15th January, the Broad Street Cluster.

15th January, The Cube from the 'Secret Garden' atop the Library.

20th January, pre-sunset over Ladywood.

3rd February, Ladywood.

19th February, Three Snow Hill.

19th February, Luke Perry's 'Forward in Unity' sculpture in Colmore Square.

23rd February, the Library from 103 Colmore Row, on the 'Views from 103' photography tour.

23rd February, the sunrise from 103 Colmore Row, on the 'Views from 103' photography tour.

23rd February, an abstract from 103 Colmore Row, on the 'Views from 103' photography tour.

23rd February, the Lower Terrace on 103 Colmore Row, on the 'Views from 103' photography tour.

19th March, the city skyline from Egg Hill near Frankley.

19th March, Bank Tower Two on Broad Street.

26th March, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha and St Micheal's Church from the Library.

26th March, the 'Iron_Man' and the city Council House in Victoria Square and 103 Colmore Row.

26th March, the weather vane atop St Philip's Cathedral.

26th March, the Shakespeare Memorial Room atop the Library.

16th April, sunrise from Brindleyplace.

16th April, Bank Tower Two reflected in the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

7th May, the 'Golden Men' back in Centenary Sqaure.

7th May, the drunk robot at 'Reflex' 80's club on Broad Street.

14th May, a reflection of the 'Golden Men' in Symphony Hall.

14th May, the 'Flower of Life' pattern in the Library.

22nd May, 'Old Joe', the Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower.

22nd May, 'Old Joe', the Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower.

28th May, 'Muddle Earth' at the construction of the Octagon at Paradise Birmingham.

2nd June, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Victoria Square.

2nd June, photo panels at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Victoria Square.

12 June, the installation of 'Foreign Exchange' in Victoria Square.

12th June, 'Foreign Exchange' in Victoria Square.

12th June, 'Perry' photobombs the 'Floozie'.

12th June, 'Foreign Exchange' in Victoria Square.

24th June, the city skyline from Dudley Castle.

25th June, an interior of the Library.

26th June, the city skyline from Egg Hill near Frankley.

5th July, 'Foreign Exchange' in Victoria Square.

5th July, a view from One Centenary Way as part of an invited photographers event.

10th July, 'Perry' banner on the city Council House.

10th July, the Town Hall.

10th July, Chamberlain Square.

22nd July, the Cordia Blackswan sponsored 'King Kong' statue at Great Hampton Street in the Jewellery Quarter.

22nd July, the Cordia Blackswan sponsored 'King Kong' statue at Great Hampton Street in the Jewellery Quarter.

27th July, the Queen's Baton Relay arrives in Brindleyplace.

28th July, Westside BID's 'Big Whistle' event.

31st July, the 'Brummie Bull' in Centenary Square, detail of the red lit eye.

31st July, there will be a few of the Bull in this gallery! Here the nostrils.

31st July, this of the Bull was made into canvases presented to BBC's Mike Bushell and Ian Ward, Birmingham City Council Leader.

1st August, the 'Brummie Bull' with the Library.

1st August, 'Foreign Exchange' and the Town Hall.

1st August, 'Perry' banner on Colmore Row.

1st August, the Commonwealth Games floral display in Cathedral Square.

1st August, the Library.

5th August, the BBC's Mike Bushel in Centenary Square.

5th August, a rainbow and 103 Colmore Row.

6th August, Central Square in Brindleyplace.

6th August, the Cordia Blackswan sponsored 'King Kong' statue at Great Hampton Street in the Jewellery Quarter.

6th August, the Canal in Brindleyplace.

6th August, the 'Brummie Bull' and the Library at twilight in Centenary Square.

7th August, 'Perry' in Centenary Square.

6th August, the scene of 'Muddle Earth' in Centenary Square.

7th August, 'Perry' says "no more hiding, Birmingham!".

9th August, the full moon and the Hyatt Regenct Hotel.

14th August, the England giant flag pin in Centenary Square with the Library.

20th August, a view from the Library over Centenary Square.

20th August, part of the the giant flag pins display in Centenary Square.

20th August, the 'Brummie Bull' form the Library.

20th August, the Utilita Arena Birmingham.

2nd September, the 'Brummie Bull' floraly adorned for the opening of the 'PoliNations' event.

3rd September, during the first 'Sunset Shift' display at 'PoliNations in Victoria Square.

11th September, flowers at 'PoliNations'.

11th September, the city flag at half-mast for the passing of Queen Elizabeth 2nd.

11th September, the Victoria R statue during the 'PoliNations' event in Victoria Square.

19th September, part of the city skyline from Barr Beacon.

24th September, the Laurence Broderick Bull statue adorned with an amazing head dress for Pride Birmingham 2022.

24th September, a couple at the start of the Pride Birmingham 2022 parade.

1st October, a scene in Chamberlain Square that I just had to document.

1st October, sometimes it appears easier to put the crane on the top of the concrete core, here at the construction of South Central.

2nd October, an abstract reflection in one of the lamps by the canal in Brindleyplace near Old Turn Junction and the Arena.

2nd October, after his time on display in Centenary Square and having been 'saved' for the city, the 'Brummie Bull' was hosted for a while in a brownfield site provided by an owner in Ladywood.

8th October, a view west from the 'Secret Garden' atop the Library.

8th October, a reflection pattern from the windows in the Library Amphitheatre.

10th October, the city Council House, 'Big Brum' at the Museam and Art Gallery with 103 Colmore Row, featured as November's photo in the 2023 Birmingham Gems Charity Calendar.

19th October, part of the city skyline from Cotteridge.

29th October, empty chairs on the City Star Flyer in anticipation before the opening of Ice Skate Birmingham 2022.

30th October, the city skyline from Lickey Hills Country Park.

5th November, the rides at Ice Skate Birmingham 2022.

5th November, the City Star Flyer at Ice Skate Birmingham 2022.

6th November, the Frankfurt Christmas Market in Victoria Square.

6th November, the Frankfurt Christmas Market in Victoria Square.

12th November, a rare selfie reflection in a Christmas Tree ball in Central Square in Brindleyplace.

13th November, the Remembrace Day Parade in Colmore Row.

13th November, the 'AIR' ride at Ice Skate Birmingham 2022.

19th November, the Christmas Fayre in Cathedral Square.

20th November, shadows on the classic stream engine at the Thinktank museum.

23rd November, twigs and the 'Flower of Life' architecture on the Library.

1st December, the revealing of the Luke Perry HIV Memorial in Hurst Street.

10th December, 'Old Joe', the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower at the University of Birmingham, in a pool of sunlight from Lickey Hills Counrty Park.

25th December, the city skyline from Oaklands Recreation Ground in Yardley.

25th December, a part of the city skyline from Oaklands Recreation Ground in Yardley.

Happy New Year to you all!

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103 passion points
Art; Culture & creativity
26 Apr 2020 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

My Exercise Photo Walk - 26th April 2020

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I went out for my exercise walk in the mid morning sunshine and went into Centenary and around Brindleyplace, here are my favorite 12.

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Photos by Daniel Sturley

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80 passion points
Art; Culture & creativity
26 Dec 2019 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

The Empty Streets of Birmingham on Christmas Day 2019

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Being autistic has its advantages when it comes to having a special interest, mine is the city and photography. I went out at about midday into the city centre to see if I could get another set of 'empty city' photos like I did in 2011, and great medicine for my mental health it was! Here's a gallery of what I got, they had to be black & white, 28 photos in this post.

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To see my 2011 photos click here: 2011 - Alone in the City

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80 passion points
Photography
28 May 2019 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

Daniel Sturley Photography - Recent Birmingham Photos - May 2019

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Here's a gallery of my favorite photos from the last few months, this of the Hyatt Regency Hotel and The Cube reflecting the sunset just after heavy rain. (Taken 27th May).

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Please click the links to see more of any photos that have galleries.

Construction at Arena Central

Construction of One Chamberlain Square

Construction of Two Chamberlain Square

Blossom in Oozells Square with the Ikon Art Gallery at Brindleyplace.

Grand Central Birmingham

The statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Square.

Construction of Bank Birmingham on Broad Street.

The full moon over the city.

The setting sun reflected in Alpha Tower.

The Library of Birmingham lit up in green for St Patrick's Day.

Gas Street Basin.

A crane at Three Snowhill dismantles its sibling. Crane and Plant Photography Feature.

Crane and Plant Photography Feature.

Construction of One Chamberlain Square

Crane and Plant Photography Feature.

The fountain in Central Square at Brindleyplace dyed blue for World Autism Awareness Day.

Construction of Bank Birmingham on Broad Street.

The view across the canals by the Arena Birmingham.

Oozells Square in Brindleyplace.

Old Turn Juction on the canal at Brindleyplace.

View west from the 'Secret Garden' atop the Library of Birmingham.

Crane and Plant Photography Feature.

Construction of Bank Birmingham on Broad Street.

Construction of Bank Birmingham on Broad Street.

Construction of Two Chamberlain Square

Construction of One Chamberlain Square

Construction of One Chamberlain Square

Crane and Plant Photography Feature.

Aston Hall.

Aston Hall.

Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha & Saint Michael's Church.

Dhamma Talaka Vihara in Ladywood.

The Library of Birmingham.

Three Brindleyplace.

Stainless steel sculpture in Cannon Hill Park.

Part of the memorial to the Sousse terror attack victims in 2015, called 'Infinite Wave' in Cannon Hill Park. Gallery

Construction of One Chamberlain Square

'Sky High', my photos from the photography and art trip to the top of the Rotunda thanks to Staying Cool. Gallery.

Construction of Two Chamberlain Square

Construction at Arena Central

Construction at Arena Central

Crane and Plant Photography Feature.

Crane and Plant Photography Feature.

The 'Knife Angel' in Victoria Square. Gallery

The 'Knife Angel' in Victoria Square. Gallery

Crane and Plant Photography Feature.

Construction at Arena Central

Construction of One Chamberlain Square

The Library of Birmingham lit up in green for Birmingham Pride.

Photos by Daniel Sturley

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60 passion points
Art; Culture & creativity
04 May 2019 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

Cannon Hill Park, the Memorial to the Sousse Terror Attack Victims - April 2019

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In March the memorial to the 31 British victims of the 2015 Sousse Terror Attack in Tunisia was unveiled by Prince Harry in Cannon Hill Park, here's a small gallery of photos of this amazing sculpture called 'Infinate Wave' created by George King Architects.

Photos by Daniel Sturley

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There are 31 stainless steel tubes creating this sculpture, one for each of the 31 British victims.

Photos by Daniel Sturley

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100 passion points
Modern Architecture
27 Apr 2019 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

Aston Hall - April 2019

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Here's a small gallery from Aston Hall including some interiors.

Photos by Daniel Sturley

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Photos by Daniel Sturley

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80 passion points
Photography
13 Oct 2018 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

Christmas Day 2011 - Alone in the City Centre

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In 2011 I found myself alone for Christmas Day and whilst I was a bit down, I wasn't lonely. As an autistic person I have a base state of alone, so I took the opportunity to indulge my 'special interest' of city photography and to wander the streets of Birmingham city centre to get some shots. Serendipity intervened to gift this set of rare photos.

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Photos by Daniel Sturley

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70 passion points
Photography
29 Sep 2018 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

Daniel Sturley's City Photography

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I have been lucky to visit many great cities and have collected a large gallery of photos from my travels.

Click here to see my main timeline gallery and use the tags to filter the photos.

View the full post to see some of my favourites and the individual city galleries.

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My home city Birmingham, the view from Frankley of the skyline, September 2018

My BIRMINGHAM GALLERY is somewhat massive so please use the additional tags under the photos to filter them down, you can always use the text search on the page too.

Taken from the the top of The Shard, London Oct 2017  LONDON GALLERY

Edinburgh, the Queen's Birthday Gun Salute, taken from Princes Street Gardens on a 300mm lens, April 2016  EDINBURGH GALLERY

Glasgow, September 2018, the view from the Necropolis, but what's a tomb and what's a building in the distance?  GLASGOW GALLERY

Cardiff, August 2017, one of the newly painted red dragons on the ornate obelisks outside City Hall.  CARDIFF GALLERY

Leeds, July 2017, one of the magnificent gold owls at the Civic Hall  LEEDS GALLERY

Paris, November 2011, the view Down the Champs Elysees  PARIS GALLERY

Amsterdam, August 2005, a tram jam in Leidseplein  AMSTERDAM GALLERY

Roma, April 2002, the Ruins of Il Tempio die Dioscuri ROMA GALLERY

Tivoli, April 2002, the Tivoli Gardens  TIVOLI GALLERY

New York City, November 2005, the view north-west from the Empire State Building  NEW YORK CITY GALLERY

Chicago, November 2005, the view from the bottom of the 450m Willis (Sears Tower)  CHICAGO GALLERY

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50 passion points
Photography
01 Mar 2018 - Daniel Sturley
Inspiration

The Library of Birmingham is Purple!

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The Library of Birmingham is lit up in purple tonight, a light dusting of snow creates great lighting conditions for night photography.

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60 passion points
Photography
20 Jan 2018 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

Sunrise Behind Arena Central

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Nice colours as the sun rises behind Alpha Tower and the new HSBC UK Headquarters building at Arena Central.

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66 passion points