Eye On Manchester blog by Aidan O’Rourke Tutor Photographer

Personal & professional diary on photography, languages, Français, Deutsch, local interest, art, music, travel and more

I recently made contact with retired photographer Patrick Black, who told me about his collection of photographs taken in the 1960s and 70s, many on the theme of football.

In particular he showed me his photographs of players George Best, Denis Law and Willie Morgan, taken probably around 1972.

Patrick also has photographs of Cardinal Heenan and other senior personalities involved with the construction of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool.

I visited Patrick on 14 Nov 2008 and took the photo of him on the right.

He is interested in licencing or possibly selling the collection in order to raise money for a special charity he is supporting.

I’m currently showcasing a sample of the photographs on my sites to gauge the level of interest. The photos are captured on 6×6 cm (2 1/4 x 2 1/4 ins) and 35mm negative.

For more information please contact me.

I’m currently reading a book – actually a PDF file on my computer – entitled The Manchester Wheelers, a Northern Quadrophenia. Using the format of a novel, it tells the story of the Northern Soul scene in the mid to late 1960s and is centred around the Twisted Wheel Club.

Chapter One starts with a vivid portrayal of a black and grimy Manchester drenched in rain. The main players enter the scene, a rough bunch, very Manc. There are references to long lost pubs and cafes, as well as much swearing.

The author of the book is… Dave.

It certainly has the ring of authenticity about it, and describes events and a scene I had no idea existed – I was 9 years old in 1967. I travelled with my mother on the 92 past the Whitworth St ‘Wheel’ many times, but never heard the name nor knew anyone who went there. I’m sure I heard the music, though I’m not sure where.

I plan to write a more detailed review on the aidan.co.uk site in due course.

My photo of a New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority bus, taken whilst it was passing the Dakota Building on Central Park West, 15 April 2005, has bee selected for possible use in Portfolio Magazine, published by Conde Nast.

It won’t be the first time a photo of New York by me has been used by a company in the United States. It’s very nice to be able to supply images of New York to customers in New York – a case of ’selling coals to Newcastle’.