Liverpool Capital of Culture images from the grass roots

Jan 6 2009 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

However, it was Crossroads by Something Wicked This Way Comes that was judged the best people shot.

Meanwhile, the landmark picture that caught our picture editor’s eye was Photonutter’s lighthouse being bludgeoned by heavy seas.

There have been hundreds of wonderful shots of the Three Graces and even more outstanding cityscapes uploaded this year. But the lighthouse composition and the movement in the picture made this image stand out, according to the experienced press photographer.

Picking the best picture from a gallery of 10,500 shots was a tall order.

But the nominations by regular Flickr users helped narrow down the search.

The eventual winner was a picture taken of the event that probably attracted more attention in Liverpool than any other. Arriving in a blaze of disaster film publicity before disappearing down a tunnel beneath the River Mersey, La Princesse was a unique piece of street theatre.

Throughout the giant spider’s invasion of Liverpool, there was an inescapable impression that the city had been caught up in a real life B-movie. Thousands crammed on to the streets to see the arachnid.

Innumerable pictures were taken of what many will remember as the highlight of 2008.

But among the best was The Northshore’s shot taken outside the Arena and Convention Centre, on Kings Dock.

Our picture editor said: “It’s a great shot and is the sort of photo you would be able to do in an old-fashioned dark room. He’s managed to keep the foreground light, which is very clever, and the people have really made this picture special.”