It probably hasn't past anybody's attention that the BBC are running a 'Picture of Britain' competition.
All images are going into a database, which will compile a snapshot of Britain in 2005.
I hope everyone has been submitting their images of the West Midlands to show that we're not a concrete jungle and there's more to Birmingham than the Selfridges building.

I've submitted a selection of the photos I've taken (here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/arts/apictureofbritain/queryengine?templatestyle=random&page=1&pagesize=15&attrib_3=PERSON_REAL_NAME&oper_3=eq&val_3_1=Stephen%20Battey)). I'd be interested to see the photos everybody else has submitted.

That's an excellent set of photo's you've got there Steve, I'll take a gander at this competition when I've got more time over the weekend....might even enter a few snaps myself

Thanks Smiley.
Unfortunately the photo competition is now closed for entries. I was just wondering if anyone else had entered any piccys.
I tried to take a varied selection. Just about every other picture of Birmingham in the competition is of the Selfridges building! And while I think that is the most inspiring building we have here, there are so many others and I'd hate for people to think Birmingham is so one dimensional.

Oh right, late again :doh: Good luck with your pics anyway Steve

The shortlist for this competition has been announced and (putting on my gallant face), although none of my entries made the final list, you can clearly see why - the standard for this competition is very high. With the exception of that sodding spider in the urban category (!!!!) all the photos in the shortlist are top-draw.

One shadow hangs over the shortlist, however, and that is the stereotype the media continue to associate with urban areas.
All of the pictures in the urban category for the Midlands show grim, dirty urban life. No stunning modern architecture, buildings or monuments, which are present in the urban photos of the North, South, East and Wales.
For example, entries for Birmingham included photos of new shopping malls (http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/arts/apictureofbritain/queryengine?templatestyle=single_random&page=6&pagesize=1&templatestyle=random&config=&attrib_3=PERSON_REAL_NAME;oper_3=%3D%3D;val_3_1=Neil%20Ewins;attrib_4=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;oper_4=%3C;val_4_1=20050914090000;sort_1=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;sortsense_1=DESC;preferred_range_length=&), modern architecture (http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/arts/apictureofbritain/queryengine?templatestyle=single_random&page=6&pagesize=1&templatestyle=random&config=&attrib_3=PERSON_REAL_NAME;oper_3=%3D%3D;val_3_1=Jeremy%20Atkinson;attrib_4=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;oper_4=%3C;val_4_1=20050914090000;sort_1=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;sortsense_1=DESC;preferred_range_length=&), canal heritage (http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/arts/apictureofbritain/queryengine?templatestyle=single_random&page=2&pagesize=1&templatestyle=random&config=&attrib_3=PERSON_REAL_NAME;oper_3=%3D%3D;val_3_1=Michael%20Langford;attrib_4=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;oper_4=%3C;val_4_1=20050914090000;sort_1=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;sortsense_1=DESC;preferred_range_length=&), old Cathedrals (http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/arts/apictureofbritain/queryengine?templatestyle=single_random&page=1&pagesize=1&templatestyle=random&config=&attrib_3=PERSON_REAL_NAME;oper_3=%3D%3D;val_3_1=David%20Perkins;attrib_4=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;oper_4=%3C;val_4_1=20050914090000;sort_1=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;sortsense_1=DESC;preferred_range_length=&), leafy suburbs (http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/arts/apictureofbritain/queryengine?templatestyle=single_random&page=12&pagesize=1&templatestyle=random&config=&attrib_3=PERSON_REAL_NAME;oper_3=%3D%3D;val_3_1=David%20Towers;attrib_4=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;oper_4=%3C;val_4_1=20050914090000;sort_1=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;sortsense_1=DESC;preferred_range_length=&) and contemporary art (http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/arts/apictureofbritain/queryengine?templatestyle=single_random&page=13&pagesize=1&templatestyle=random&config=&attrib_3=PERSON_REAL_NAME;oper_3=%3D%3D;val_3_1=David%20Trippas;attrib_4=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;oper_4=%3C;val_4_1=20050914090000;sort_1=CREATED_TIMESTAMP;sortsense_1=DESC;preferred_range_length=&). However the BBC have not chosen any of these and instead favoured a dirty train station (http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/apictureofbritain/gallery/shortlist/single/england_midlands_human_10.shtml) and a derelict house (http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/apictureofbritain/gallery/shortlist/single/england_midlands_urban_9.shtml).
Not to poo-poo those chosen photos - they are stunning. But there were many stunning entries that painted a much brighter and more representative picture of the Midlands. This picture of Britain is subject to all the usual stereotypes.

I don't think that new st shot is very good at all.

The dilapidated building one is good though!

I agree mind - there is plenty of scope across the Midlands for an uplifting or interesting urban shot, but I guess urban decay is still fashionable, and combine that with a good photo and you get something like this competition!