The Old and the New

I've been commissioned to create some more imagery for the walls of the new Community Hub at Codsall.

I've always loved the old images of the local area and always thought that merging old and new images together would make for an interesting picture.  I popped out today to try and capture street scenes from the same position as old images I have been given permission to use for the project.

This is Pattingham.  I just liked how the old tricycle was positioned close to the gentleman cyclist resting outside the Lychgate Coffee House, as though he was ready to jump on and cycle off.

Part of the challenge is working out the position of the original photographer, but even then, when you are sure you've lined up everything, the buildings in the distance seem much closer (or higher) than in the pictures I've taken.  I know that focal length will have something to do with it, but I also wonder whether the use of old plate cameras, with their ability to distort the scene by changing the plane and angle of the lens, is the reason I am having more trouble in lining everything up.

I've added another couple from today in case you are interested.