Photographing Hidden Manchester

With everyone having a multi-megapixel camera on their phone, and with digital cameras being so cheap and easy to use, its tempting to think that anyone can be a photographer.
Thankfully my own snaps give a lie to that, as they’re never much more than snapshots – but when you encounter a real artist you realise how digital photography can involve as much craft and skill as any artform. Andrew Brooks is described on his website as “a photographer, a conceptual digital artist and film maker” but that only begins to describe what are truly works of wonder. There’s echoes of Blake, Dali, and even Hipgnosis in his carefully crafted surreal digital canvasses. So I’m really looking forward to his new exhibition at Urbis, opening on 2nd December, where he was given access to “hidden Manchester” including the Town Hall clock, and subterranean chambers.
In what may prove to be a week of surreality, Redeye, Manchester’s ever interesting photography network, also host two fascinating artist-photographers next week, at the MDDA.
Its one digital artform I intend to leave to the experts.