Photography in the World’s Most Boring Town 🥱 

Thanks a lot for watching and for all the lovely comments!! Obviously, this style of photography is so different for me and a few of you have commented saying you can see similarities to James Popsys’ style - I absolutely love his photography and have definitely been inspired by his work somewhat! Please check out his channel youtube.com/@jamespopsysphoto?si=0rMBTj6zu5UiGGyC Some of you seem to love it, and some hate it! Either way, I’m really enjoying the experiment. Let me know what you think!

Henry, looks like your photos are deliberately over exposed,! You been watching James Popsy😂

We live in Morecambe and think it's a great place........... SO we'll be looking out for you 👊👊 see you soon

Your editing here reminds me of James Popsys and Roman Fox. Great stuff!

Ah, Morecambe, my old stomping ground. I remember when they were refurbishing the Midland Hotel. I will always have some love for Morecambe.

Well done! Funky music, buzzing location and great snaps. This is my kind of photography. Shoot what you see Henry 👍

Loved the whole setup of the video Henry, from the choice of music to the way you edited the images, about twice a year I have a walk around my local town of Hexham, and each time I spot something that I have not captured before, top video

I love the look of these photos, they have a really nostalgic feeling to them and make Morecambe look quite exotic.

I really can see Mr Popsys influence in these images...I love the images. Great to see a famous photographer try something different.

I stopped off in Morecombe for a few hours on my way up to the Lake District. I didn't see you, but kept my eye out for the 'local celebrity' :) The best fun I had was taking photos of people trying to do the Eric Morecombe pose next to the statue whilst having their photograph taken. So many people stopped and attempted it, some with more success than others. I did get one of my favourite photos of all time that day of a lady that nailed it. Such a fun way to pass time.

Another great video, the post processing really suits the images. The Midland Hotel does a lovely afternoon tea. Calendar ordered 😀

It's great that you're trying different types of photography. It's adding different skill sets to your arsenal. When people overlook the beauty of their hometown, this is called "place blindness" or "familiarity blindness"-a term that can be used for other things too. This occurs when people become so accustomed to their everyday surroundings that they stop noticing or appreciating the beauty and uniqueness of these places. Whereas it might have picturesque aspects that might captivate someone new to the area. Photography is great in that we can visit any place and find something beautiful. After all, beauty is subjective.

The word "kitsch" indeed comes from German, and its origins are somewhat debated, but it generally dates back to the 19th century. In German, "kitsch" originally referred to artwork that was considered to be in bad taste, overly sentimental, or mass-produced to appeal to popular tastes rather than artistic merit.

Was in Morecombe in June, I love the place. Took lots of photos along the front.

I can't believe you live in Morecambe. I've been watching your videos for a while now, and you live in my old hometown! I grew up there in the 70's and 80's. I recently returned to see family a couple of months ago - I was in my element walking the streets at dawn, revisiting and shooting some of my old haunts. It hasn't changed much - the same shops and businesses, the same arcades, the same hotels, only looking a little worse for wear! I'm glad you see your hometown has some gems to photograph. I'm looking forward to returning sometime soon to continue my photographic exploration of my old hometown.

Apparently we all live in Boringtown ... 😀 My town is a lot like yours, 'cept no sea, no mountains, no coast, no tourists (as far as I can tell) ... LOL

That’s so funny that I came across your video. We recently went on holiday near Morecambe and I took an old camera with me rather than use my phone and we walked up and down Morecombe we even went into the market where I purchased some vinyl. Great videos keep up the good work. 👍🏼

Thoroughly enjoyed this video, I love street photography so your video inspired me to look locally because I live in a west country seaside town. Lisa x

As always another great video, Henry. Here in Germany, ‘Kitsch’ is synonymous with ‘bad taste’. When someone fills their living room with souvenirs from their holiday destinations, such as the unspeakable snow globes with the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty or the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral). Or the garden full of garden gnomes. Of course, there is also the aspect of irony, so it is not always easy to judge the intention behind such decorations. Obscene garden gnomes to provoke the stuffy neighbour or something. Speaking of which, I liked ‘The Bay’ (here in Germany in the German dubbed version) and the Morecambe area and I am now amazed that a lot of the exterior shots in the series were probably actually filmed in Morecambe.

As a streetphotographer, I'd love to visit your hometown! Seems to be tons of photos to be had. Beauty shots by the way and loving that softer color tone on the images 😊

Whenever I want to photograph a building, statue etc, there's always a car in the way. But my main interest is photographing classic or custom cars, but then there's always a person in the way. One of life's little mysteries.

Loved this video gives me James Popsys vibes

Thank you for teaching me how to see. I completely love the post editing style. Again, teaching me to edit consistently throughout a shoot. 👍

Get a Lewis's Coffee Snapped 😊

I live in a town of 315 people. Everything is closed and people are in their houses by 5pm, and no one is out and about on weekends. Your town is far from boring comparatively. I do, however appreciate the mentality that there is always something to photograph even in areas with not so much going on.

Henry - this is a really good video. I love it because of three main reasons. 1) you are showing the value in questioning long held and previously untested assumptions such as “this place is boring”. 2) You are clearly demonstrating that the photographer’s eye sees art, beauty, and interest that others can not see (it’s an important point that our photography literally reshapes our brain to enhance our ability to see). 3) Intentionally or not the way in which you have documented your town is so interesting that I suspect that many photographers will want to visit for a day or three! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Best wishes Stephen

I’m off to Morecambe tomorrow for the week ( got a caravan there ) always enjoy a walk through the town and then grab a sunset at Heysham

😂 even in switzerland we use “kitschig”, “kitsch”😂.

Henry, I recall asking you some time ago about showing us a bit more of your hometown of Morecambe. This video adventure has been a revealing and satisfying tour. Thank you! Where I live in eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley area, there are dozens of small towns and villages - each with unique names, particular beauty, and historic charm. You, my friend, have just inspired me to go out and capture those local gems with my camera. (Places such as Emmaus, Macungie, Jim Thorpe, Hellertown, Bangor, Trexler, Limeport, and Alburtis, to name a few). Wow! I've got my work cut out for me! I am totally excited to get started! Thank you, thank you!

This was a kitschy cool fun video. It’s always nice to see you step out of your landscape comfort zone. The somewhat overexposed images & the 40mm focal length definitely has that “Popsys” feel. And I mean that in the best way. Unfortunately for me, I can’t seem to make it work the way y’all do. Finally, as much as I hate the word, “kitsch” probably is the best description for those shops. Seems like most seaside businesses lean towards that look. “Schmaltzy” (extremely or excessively sentimental music or art) can work, too, I think. Anyway, fun video. 👍🏻

Look at you, getting your street photography on! I'm lucky. Spent the past 18 years in Alameda, California, a city with a small town feel with views of San Francisco Bay and its birds on one side and the bustling Port of Oakland on the other, interesting 19th century homes, a decommissioned Naval Air Station that is finally being redeveloped and plenty to shoot if you walk out the door and look around, even if it's just what's currently blooming in your neighbors' gardens. In the throes of final pack out for a move to a small community south of here in the Santa Cruz Mountains where I will be surrounded by forests of coastal redwoods and a 25 minute drive to the Pacific Ocean, so I can't wait to get settled into the new place and explore with camera in hand. I'm going through photography withdrawal here! Thanks, as always for the adventure.

Good stuff Henry. Not sure Morecambe qualifies as boring though. Then again, i enjoy photographing Swindon! 😂

You’ve been watching too many James Popsys vids - the bleached look 😂

Excellent video, Henry! Loved the captures! Even though it was an urban environment (vs your preferred rural environ), I thought this type of video should be in your regular rotation. Thanks for sharing👍🏼

Going all James Popsys with those skies 😅

Lovely video. Tbh you should use your in-camera settings to your advantage when doing these kinds of shoots, especially with the "James Popsys"-style. Even though these settings only affect the LCD and JPEG they will help you see what you imagine right away, on the LCD. I've actually started shooting RAW+JPEG (on my OM-5) for my travel photos but I keep the same settings on even when I plan to post process, when doing more "serious" photography. The settings I'm talking about is Gradation, Highlight / Shadow control and I also go with Custom WB at 5400k to get the WB consistant throughout the whole day. Let me know if you'd like to give it a shot.

Great content and delivery as always Henry, thank you.

My wife, myself and our 2 dogs love Morecambe, Don't dis Morecambe, its lovely in the sunshine, and the light can be lovely. Having said that, I've been down there today in the pouring rain, took a monochrome only camera but the rain was so heavy I didn't bother getting it out of the bag! Will try again tomorrow.. P.S. Seen Tyson many a time out running on the prom, he's always been a gent and said hello!

The 'washed out' look works. A lot of your processing here reminded me of James Popsys' preferred style too. You have a photographers eye mate, so when you engage it you'll see photos. It's just very different from landscapes and I've enjoyed all you street/urban vids. If you don't mind Henry, let me have a bit of a rave here: We all enjoy looking at historic photos of our towns and cities. No one dislikes them whether B&W, Sepia, or colour. The only reason a lot of those exist is because photography was new, and the people setting up studios photographed everything for the joy of it. No one is documenting our lifestyles in these small towns and cities these days they way they inadvertently did, and it's a shame. The future will thank anyone who leaves behind a record of all the 'boring and kitch' parts of England. I regularly do this in my street photography, and sometimes just to document new buildings, or juxtapositions between old and new. I will eventually hand all these to the state library for their archives for future generations and I hope others will do the same. End of rave 🙂

My local town is one of the most deprived in England - Whitehaven! I know the feeling of thinking it is boring & uninteresting & not worth bothering with but it is one of the best Georgian towns in England. It has a harbour, a marina, some fine buildings & industrial heritage but sadly, like many others so run down at the minute. But there are beaches, cliffs, a bird sanctuary, & of course the fells close by for inspiration. Just a matter of trying to see things through fresh eyes and a different perspective: macro instead of landscape for example. Love your dedication and also your trips with Ian Worth.

Hi Henry, the word kitsch is also used in Dutch. We even have a programme called 'Between Art and Kitsch' (literally translated); a programme where people can visit experts with all kinds of objects - paintings, porcelain, coins, very old things, anything - to find out how old it is, whether there's a story behind it, whether it's worth anything and whether it's art or kitsch. So here the word is used more for the latter, is it really art or is it kitsch. Then the word seems negative, but there are quite a few people who love kitsch. And anyway, it is subjective 🙃. Thanks for another fun video!

I love this video - lived in Morecambe for a short time 50 years ago, and hated it! Recently, I appreciate the town and really like that you've captured the vibe!

It’s tacky… or kitsch… until it’s gone. Then it becomes nostalgia, is missed, and are glad someone thought to document it. Loved your white washed vision. Btw, now I know where some scenes of my fave mystery series were filmed. Great tour of your seaside.

The colours from your video camera, are much more appealing , than the washed out edit to me. But it is interesting, and inspiring to go and shoot the very familiar. Thank you!

Enjoyed your walk about. Was really hoping you would take the book shop shot straight on from the side street! Different tricks😊

Hello Henry! Well done you! Something I've mentioned before and as well posted to Thomas Heaton, among others I can't remember, Nigel Danson and Ian Worth and Gavin Hardcastle perhaps, is this: After 50 years doing this I always go back to an exercise my father always did when he'd move from wide open spaces (landscapes let's say) to an urban setting, especially one's home town that as you say we're so familiar with that we take it for granted, give yourself a task of photographing in a limited area. This forces you to look in a more focused and intimate way, smaller and seeking graphic motifs. Some of your photographs in this video are quite fine, and some would be better if you moved in closer and focused on the graphic. Nonetheless, what you're doing is something I always do when I come in from wide open spaces or if I need a kick in the ASS, I'll begin looking for tiny little moments and compositions and that always refocuses my seeing. Bravo Mr. Turner, you're the real deal and I gladdens my heart to see you exploring the discipline in this way. A very normal exercise but not at all insignificant in how it focuses the eye. 🙏

Henry, I certainly enjoyed that, and the term Kitsch is very apt. I found myself in your hometown , on a dark, brooding and damp February day earlier this year. I made the decision to shoot in mono , and got some cracking images. There were some buildings there, that were just so vibrantly coloured , that I also had to shoot in colour. What’s interesting is that although we did the same walk, that we saw totally different images, and have both come away pleased. It’s started me off on a project of shooting the more traditional Victorian railway seaside towns out of season and it’s a great hunting ground. Skegness, Mablethorpe, Hunstanton, withensea, Bridlington, Scarborough, Around the Wirral and Merseyside , Barmouth, Heasham, and even Silloth. There’s plenty more and many revisits to come. Keep it up Henry, there always interesting in your weekly posts.

Henry, we were taking a break in Grange Over Sands a couple of years back, the guy in the cottage next door heard us talking about visiting Morecambe for the day and told us not to bother (bit of a dump according to him). I don't agree at all, it was a great place, sure it has its grubby bits, but every town has. The people were lovely, loads of photo opportunities, I got some great shots from inside the wonderful super cluttered bookshop, I asked first of course. Eric Morecambe, Tyson Fury, Graham Hicks and Henry Turner.....great little town!

The minute you said Tacky I said Kitch and it's something I love - Vegas (at least before it became reasonably formulaic in the last 10 years) was the ultimate in kitch. My wife and I drove route 66 this year and the "kitch" elements were among the things I wanted to photograph more than anything. Wholeheartedly agree with the beauty in it! Great video, thank you for sharing your approach to photographing something outside of what many would consider you to be known for!

What a great video! I stayed in Morecambe once for around a month, and I only saw Tyson once in his car! Do you often see him running down the Bay?

If I didn't know better I'd have thought from your photos I was watching a James Popsys video. Which I will be right after I finish this great video.

Great video, not the norm. Conveys life and reality 👍😊

I go to Morecambe all the time with my camera. It will be interesting once the Eden project is built.. These shots remind me of James Popsys'.

Now that was a BRILLIANT day out! Thanks for taking us along. Calendar ordered.

Ok, it's never boring mate as long as you're seeing and clicking! I get excited seeing your images in this video, they are valid and completely legitimate images! Simple, graphic, a bit bleak or strange but VERY exciting. When I do what you're doing, I spend my time thoroughly excited. Man, when you click the shutter and you know/hope you've gotten a good image and then when you get back to the studio/darkroom and see and edit your images, the excitement only builds. There are many quite fine images here. Thanks and well done.

I get your point and I love your images. I don't know that I'd have seen any or all of them to be honest. But let me tell you about OUR boring town. We have two traffic lights and the only water we're near is the kids splash pad in the "town square" on the main street. Our tallest building is two stories and the only architectural interest is a restaurant with a glass arc over the entrance. Oddly enough, our local photography club left us with a summer theme challenge, and I finally landed on "Welcome to Stellarton." I'm trying for 15 - 20 images to show, but WOW - what a boring town we have! 🙂

I need more like buttons ❤🎉 always look forward to Friday lunch times when I sit back and watch the latest vid, and what an absolute treat this week Henry 😊 I spent so much time in Morecambe as a child and lived there briefly 24 years ago, and I can see nothing has changed 😂 you really did a fabulous job finding all those beautiful images, and I think the final images really capture the "kitch" you also mentioned, and the feeling of Morecambe on a rare lovely sunny day in summer 🌞 thank you for keeping pushing your boundaries and experimenting, and for taking us with you ❤very inspiring ❤ now I'm craving fish and chips with a cuppa 😂

Morecambe is lovely. So long as you avoid looking east 👀 The overexposed look doesn't do it for me. But each to their own. I commute along the prom every day, and no two days are the same. Even the wild windy grey days have a beauty to them. Heysham head is interesting. And the bright murals are lovely.

Must have too many subscribers.......called into Morecambe today & it was full. Had to retire to Hest Bank & photograph the railway bridge and eat ice cream! Top drawer!

You missed out the best bit of pure kitch in Morecambe, Aunty Wainwrights on Euston Rd :) I have been shooting Kitch in Lancaster for years. Its a great way to reset :) great video :)

top video Henry

I didn’t mind your shots in this video, Henry, but found the whites a little muddied. Have you tried a ¼ black mist filter for the middle of day shots? I find I’m using one a lot on my OM5. Seems to bring out the highlights, yet subdue them at the same time. Great for contrasty shots. I seem to be stuck to my local area these days, and find more intimate nature shots of more interest than landscapes. The word, Kitsch, is German.

Well Henry, really enjoyed that one, it took me back many years to days when I visited Morecambe and raced karts at Heysham for a while. The street photography of the blingy northern seaside shops etc was great. I thought when you mentioned the street shots from Tenerife you were going to shoot more litter bins but thankfully not. Great vlog as always and thanks again from Ireland for taking me back 50 years. Keep them coming Terry

Henry, enjoyed every second of this video. It's not always the grand landscape is it? I'm not sure if you really know how good you are at this style. I would love a collaboration with James Popsys somewhere. Can you tee that up maybe? You have a photo book right here, with these images. Can't praise you enough.

My town makes your town look like Paris (France). I would definitely have enjoyed photographing your city. Nice job and thanks for the video.

Spot on Henry, Kitsch is a German noun meaning “trash, rubbish; slapdash, pretentious, sentimental, or tacky. A very versatile word. I love the Midland Hotel. One of the best examples of the 1930's architectural style and a great place to stay in!

I live in Cleveleys just north of Blackpool and our most photographed things are Marys Shell and the Troll.

Hi Henry really enjoyed the video loved seeing the local area and I know what you mean about struggling to see good good compositions in your local area, I think it's time you revisited the idea about a exhibition of images from the local area that I think you talked about putting on before lockdown, keep up the good work.

Have a james popsys look to these photos

I’ve not been to Morecambe since I was a kid and I’ve just hit 52 a few weeks back, I think it’s because it’s always been considered more for the elderly if staying for a holiday, we got bored when we were there as we were with a summer play group for a few days in a caravan. If you go to Blackpool, the Caravan sites are quite far out but geared more to families or say North Wales where there’s so much more happening. Now I feel I want to have a day there, more after watching your channel Henry, I remember an earlier video, think it was during or at the end of Covid as you were shooting close to home, on the beach again and pointing towards the Lakes where you would usually be, I may even go just to get some seascapes then hit the Lakes or Yorkshire afterwards, just go on a day when the high tide is early enough. Always a pleasure watching you Henry, your energy inspires me, you remind me a lot of Mali Davis, you both love what you do with no excuses. Keep it up!!!

A promessing street photographer! 😅

'Faded Seaside Glamour'

Thought you'd take an image through the "big picture frame". I'm just up the road near junction 36, always find something to shoot when I come down to the seaside! Like you say Tyson is a sound bloke.. always speaks👌 Not a criticism in any way but the images have a "James Popsys" look, I like them... think I might give that a go myself. Great video as always cheers Alistair 👍

Great vid, I think there’s something very tacky about the British seaside and that’s the charm of it. 👍🏻

I appreciate your approach to finding images locally. I am fortunate that my local area provides a panoply of interesting images and wildlife. I did think that most of your images were overexposed and too bright. If that was your intent, that is fine. Nonetheless, I think a lot of your images would have been more effective with lower brightness. I admire your approach with a search for different ways to see things. That is what photography is all about. Cheers.

Hi Henry, don't get me wrong, I absolutely Love your photography, just the best! Anyway, I honestly thought you had used the Raw Images pre-processing, until you said that was the Washed-Out look you were after!... I just can't see that myself, maybe one or two, but the majority look like snapshots from a cheap camera-phone. I'll probably buy your 2025 Calendar as long as it doesn't include any of the shots in this video! .. Love your work Henry!

Really like the low contrast washed out effect. The only giveaway that they're not vintage pics is the lack of people. I guess Morecambe was packed out in its heyday!

Hi Henry, i thing "kitsch" its more used for things and not for city views. When i google "kitsch" and translate the explaination to english this is what they say and i will confirm this too. "Today, “kitsch” mainly stands for anything that is perceived as overly sentimental, ingratiating or cute, or for things that appear superficially “chic” and practical, but are ultimately completely superfluous (compare junk)." But anyway, love the style you post-process these photos from your hometown. It definetly transport a special situational view to it onto the photo. Cant wait to hold the new Calender in my own hands. All the best and cheers from Berlin. Jan

I love this week's vlog Henry! Found your thoughts on street photography from your local area really interesting, having had some similar thoughts myself about my own "backyard" which I have just started to appreciate. Familiarity can be exploited to bring out some really interesting images once you put your mind to it. But I've never thought about editing style whilst taking the shots so that sounds really exciting.

Just goes to show, you don't need to travel very far or wait until you're on holiday to get out and take photos. I can talk! I don't even do it myself! But thanks Henry for the inspiration; totally different to what you normally do, and yes, very much like Roman Fox and James Popsys.

And again thank you Henry! I've preordered my calendar as usual. Look forward to seeing what you have to offer us.

I have a similar home location but on a much smaller scale and I’m finding improvisation is the key, I tried minimalistic and I seem to have exhausted my options so maybe a change in post processing would help although I love vibrant colours so that’s going to be hard to change. My other option which I’ve been considering for quite a while is buying the dedicated Pentax Monochrome DSLR as I love working with strong contrast.

Just catching up on RU-vid after being back from a wonderful vacation in Austria. Your home town looks nice to me, it would be a place I'd like to photograph. My home town on the other hand, I have no clue what to photograph. I guess it's a bit like that for everyone, because their home town just is too familiar and doesn't look interesting because fo that. Kitsch also is used in Dutch by the way, I do believe it's stolen from Germany though 😂

I kept expecting you to say you were channelling your inner @jamespopsys with the processing treatment. :-) There are lots of cool subjects everywhere, and it helps to look at it through a different eye like you're doing.

Sounds like you're making the case for moving to Scotland so what's keeping you Henry 😂

Hello mate I come from a small seaside town in North Wales, I mainly do street/travel now, the secret is trying to look with new eyes, approach like it’s the first time, I’d love to shoot your home town, I saw 6 shots in the first couple of bits of b roll that Would work. I’ve dropped off in the last year because of my move from landscape, I followed you from the start end still love dropping in as after as I can, keep it up mate, top drawer ❤

Thank you for this video Henry. You've inspired me to go out in my area, which I'd stopped doing awhile ago because it was boring and I'd photographed everything. Well done!

Great video Henry love the different aspect of the photography 😍

Seaside Kitsch?? Funny that you should do a video of your home town as I have in the past thought of doing projects based on my home city, but never executed. One, which to be honest I have missed now, and I am so annoyed with myself, was to photograph, the city of my childhood, as I remembered it. Sadly, a lot of those areas no longer exist, and I only have myself to blame for missing the opportunity, what a lovely photobook that would have made. My latest idea though, and I will do this one, is to shoot my home city, but in the rain, in both daylight and at night. I just thought that it might be interesting, and in the wet should create added interest with reflections and more drama. when will I start this, most likely in the autumn! Have a great weekend.

Morecambe. My birth town. Most of the “kitsch” you pointed out looked exactly the same when I left 20 years ago. When I was on the prom a few months ago, I did wonder what Nick Carver would make of some of the buildings. One man’s ugly is another man’s beautiful.

🤣🤣🤣 Books Books I saw that a mile aways in your wide shot! Glad you had the same idea. I would have gone vertical and removed a lot of the distractions and kept in the bottom right of the frame the double yellow lines in an arc.

So glad Lees Games and AJs Famous Double Burgers is still there. Makes me miss Morecambe.

Loved the vid, staying in Morecambe for Saturday night this weekend, lots of memories from my childhood holidays there plus my wifes parents lived in Bare in their later years

If you think that’s a boring location you should see where I live 😂

I was jus getting ready to comment on the brightness then you adressed it as being done purposely. Im not a fan but to each their own. Still contemplating that camera to add to my Pentax K3iii and Ricoh Griii.

Thanks for an interesting video. From Australia, your hometown has lots of character. I enjoy the processing. Light and airy.Black and white grunge would work too.

I need to get out and do this! And nice to see a sunny day in Morecambe it’s been a bit rubbish today! Not far from my house up near the battery. Great vid Henry 👍

Hi Henry this is one of my all time favourite videos, I live in Seaham Harbour and much like you I have walked around bored stupid even though I love it. We have good parts, bad parts and bloody awful parts. I know I am not seeing things in my home coastal town as my mates come very regular for photos.

Some years ago, I think it was post pandemic, I was walking along a road in Morecambe just behind the seafront. It was a grey, cold winter's day, not much doing and on a boarded up shopfront someone had spraypainted the words: 'Bring me sunshine...' If only I had had my camera with me on that day !😁

A word you could use that is between vintage and tacky is "Retro".