Liverpool Capital of Culture images from the grass roots

Jan 6 2009 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

The Daily Post’s Flickr online photosharing gallery for amateur photographers has been a huge success during Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year. With just days before the final event, Daily Post picture editor Richard Williams selects his favourite contributions

PHOTOGRAPHERS across Merseyside have sent in more than 10,500 pictures to our Flickr site documenting Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008.

Some of the spectacular work by these snappers have become a staple of the Liverpool Daily Post, contributing some of the most memorable postcards each week.

And the site is set to continue in 2009, capturing not only the high profile events, but everyday life across Merseyside.

Daily Post picture editor Richard Williams has now looked over a selection of pictures chosen by regular contributors or included in previous issues of the Daily Post.

“I always enjoy looking at the Flickr site. People out there have a really fresh eye and have produced some great pictures. The quality is very high.

“If there’s one thing I’d like to see a bit more of, it would be people shots, because these are the skill of the press photographer.”

He picks out Community Brother’s work as being a shining example of someone taking top-notch people shots in the city.

His back catalogue has the ability to make the viewer smile or feel real sympathy, and never flinches from the task of documenting Liverpool people in 2008.

The portrait of a biker waiting to be checked in at the Isle of Man Ferry terminal at the Pier Head landed best black and white nomination.

In his notes, Community Brother tells a tale behind the smiling eyes. “He was going to the 45th International Rally at Union Mills, in the Isle of Man. The smile on his face and look in his eyes reminds me of the look that everyone has on Christmas morning when they were a child.”