The Foot Of Our Stairs

A photographic exploration of the phenomena of steps and stairs.

The Stop House - Grand Union Canal Braunston

a set of stone steps leading down to an old white painted wooden door as if to a cellar. The brick walls on either side of the steps are painted white. There is a black metal handrail on the left hand wall and litter and detritus in the stairwell.

Camera: Canon EOS250d EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM 1/50sec at f/8 ISO 400

Taken: October 2025

Taken during the same walk as the previous photo. This was round the side of the Stop House or Toll Office which is a Grade II listed building near the Braunston Marina and not in a great state of repair. It was built in 1796 to collect tolls, and then reopened in 1990 as a waterway office apparently. These are some of the dingiest steps I have seen.

Grand Union Canal - Braunston

a set of stone steps leading up to a canal lock with a set of feet at the top and the arch of a bridge across the top right hand corner of the picture

Camera: Canon EOS250d EF 50mm f/1.4USM 1/60sec at f/7.1 ISO 200

Taken: October 2025

Taken during a walk along the canal looking for inspiration, and not finding much on a grey day. Still, there were steps.

Northampton - Denmark House

a set of stone steps leading up to a black door with eight white circles in a two by four grid each with a black square inside. The doorway is surrounded by a brick wall which has stone stripes across and several windows in it.

Camera: Olympus Tough TG7 1/400sec at f/2.8 ISO 100, 7.31mm

Taken: July 2025

Taken in Northampton during a lunchtime walk - looking for the colour blue and steps of course.

Northampton - Billing Road

a set of stone steps leading up to a glass door that looks black from the outsidewith a pointed arch above and a slim stone column on each side. There is a black railing on either side of the steps and a pot with a round ball shaped box shrub in it on either side of the door. A hanging basket on each side of the door is round. The door is in a red brick wall with light stone patterning.

Camera: Olympus Tough TG7 1/800sec at f/4 ISO 100, 7.84mm

Taken: July 2025

Taken in Northampton during a lunchtime walk - looking for the colour blue and steps of course.

Winterbourne Gardens

several sets of wide outdoor stone steps receding into the distance, planting on either side of the steps with a row of trees in the middle section.

Camera: Olympus Tough TG7 1/200sec at f/8.0 ISO 100, 4.5mm

Taken: July 2025

Taken in Birmingham on a very hot day - the only steps I took a picture of that day because I was with my brother and I didn't want him to think I had gone really weird.

Bedford Square

black door, topiary and foliage on either side of the path leading up to it, four broad stone steps, archway above the door with alternating brickwork and white plaster

Camera: Olympus Tough TG7 1/400sec at f/2.0 ISO 100, 4.5mm

Taken: June 2025

Taken in London on a very hot day whilst tramping back to Euston Station - I had planned more pictures when I was in the Capital, but I don't like the heat and don't trust trains to run in hot weather. But I did like these steps and this entranceway.

Stepladders

set of metal stepladders leaning against a railing, a white brick wall behind has air conditioning units and red graffiti, there is a beer keg on the floor and a printed sign saying no unauthorised parking Limitless Travel Employees Only.

Camera: Canon EOS250D EFS 24mm lens 1/260secs at f/5.6 ISO200

Taken: June 2025

Another one from Birmingham and OK, not exactly steps, but I liked the picture and stepladders should count. Taken near the Custard Factory in Digbeth - an area that is much trendier than when I lived in Birmingham over 30 years ago (when you wouldn't venture down there on your own).

Writing

set of outdoor steps with a statue of a reclining man writing in a large book

Camera: Olympus Tough TG7 1/500sec at f/2.8, ISO100 7.31mm

Taken: June 2025

Also from the photowalk in Birmingham although near to the library and town hall this time - a cleaner part of town.

Bicycle and Steps

set of outdoor steps with a black bicycle leaning agains them a brick wall behind has some grafitti

Camera: Canon EOS250D EFS 24mm lens 1/500secs at f/8.0 ISO200

Taken: June 2025

I went on a photowalk in Birmingham, and took many pictures, some with steps in them. These are a particularly grotty but short set oppositive Moor Street Station where we were stopped for ages waiting for someone who had disappeared. This was a bit of a theme and one of the reasons I probably won't be going on another organised photowalk for some time. I was very pleased with my newly acquired 24mm lens though.

Shepherd Walking

man walking down wood and gravel steps outside with a strong shadow cast from the handrail on the left

Camera: Olympus Tough TG7 1/320sec at f/8.0 ISO 100, 4.5mm

Taken: April 2025

Out on a new favourite walk close to home. I particularly liked the shadows cast on the steps. The shot was accidental and not posed (he didn't know I was taking this shot). Interestingly this version is from Affinity Photo which shows a different crop to the one from Lightroom. Something to learn about and investigate as they are both undeveloped but exported.

Zig Zag

Black and white photograph of metal steps, painted white with zig zagged shadows and a white railing.

Camera: Canon Powershot S90 1/320sec at f/4.0 ISO 80, 6mm

Taken: November 2012

I took this years ago as part of a 366 Project and I didn't label where I took it at all. It could be in Northampton, and probably is.

Peterborough Cathedral

Colour photograph with a set of stone steps leading up to a dark wooden door. There is a pattern carved in the vertical sections on either side leading to an arch over the door.

Camera: Olympus Touch TG-7 1/500sec at f/2.8 ISO 100 4.5mm

Taken: March 2025

A day out with a lovely friend in Peterborough to see the exhibtion The Longest Yarn in the cathedral. It was cold, early March and quite grey. Peterborough was quite uninspiring, but the exhibition was excellent.

Frozen Braunston lock number 3.

Colour photograph with a set of stone steps leading up to a black and white lock gate. There is a circular wall and a ramp which is covered with ice.

Camera: Canon EOS 250D, EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6, at 30mm, ISO 200, 1/125s, f/4.0

Taken: January 2025

A walk down the Grand Union Canal in the frost and mist to test out an old box camera but I took my digital out as well as the weather was beautiful and I got quite a few nice pictures for an hour's work.

Holy Trinity Coventry - round the corner

Colour photograph with a set of stone steps in front of a red stone wall of a church. At the left is a tree trunk and on the right of the picture is a stone tomb both of which are in some green grass.

Camera: Canon EOS 250D, EF50mm f/1.4 USM, ISO 1000, 1/80s, f/8.0

Taken: November 2024

One of my favourite sets of steps - as shown in one of the earlier photos on this website, but from a slightly different angle and taken about ten years later. The area around the church has changed, but this part is still the same.

Holy Trinity Coventry - close up

Colour photograph with a set of stone steps and a pair of open black gates. Behind is a large black door with a pointed stone arch over it. The church is made of yellow coloured stone, the steps are more grey in colour.

Camera: Canon EOS 250D, EF50mm f/1.4 USM, ISO 800, 1/100s, f/8.0

Taken: November 2024

Another picture taken on my trip to Coventry in November. This time with my DSLR and the 50mm lens. It was a gloomy day and this was shot at ISO800 - which I would never have attempted with the 400D.

Holy Trinity Coventry

Colour photograph with a set of stone steps leading to a some open black gates. Behind is a large black door with a pointed stone arch over it and a large stained glass window above the door with more stained glass windows on either side. The church is made of yellow coloured stone with pinnacles on the roof. The steps and the wall at the edge of the steps are more red in colour.

Camera: Olympus Tough G7 1/125sec at f/2.8 ISO 100 4.5mm

Taken: November 2024

Another picture taken on my trip to Coventry in November. I've never gone inside the church, but it is fairly impressive from the outside.

Duffield Cottage, Derbyshire

Colour photograph with a set of stone steps leading to a black iron gate and fencing. Behind is a brick house, with a black door and white columns holding up a porch with a triangular section above the door into the roof area decorated with a white flower design

Camera: Olympus Tough G7 1/80sec at f/2.5 ISO 125 6.37mm

Taken: December 2024

One of my favourite houses in Duffield, I love the front of the house as well as the steps

Preston Capes Church Pulpit

Colour photograph with a set of three wooden steps leading to a wooden pulpit, with a brown and grey tiled floor

Camera: Canon S90 1/60sec at f/2.8 ISO 640 6mm (6.0-22.5mm)

Taken: about January 2012

A different type of steps this time, taken at a time when I was out photographing local churches for no particular reason.

London - possibly near Piccadilly taken some years ago on an old film camera

Black and white photograph with a set of stone steps from bottom left to top centre, with a bench to one side and a yong lady reading sitting on the bench

Camera: Ensign 16-20 Ensar 75mm lens

Taken: about 2019

I think I took this in a small garden off Piccadilly when I was in London for a meeting. I could be entirely mistaken, but I am fairly sure it was in London somewhere but I didn't write anything down.

Towcester Metal Steps times two

colour photograph, portrait layout, looking at a set of metal fire escape steps on the left with white building walls on either side and a metal footway leading from the top of the steps across to the right into the building on the right. Another set of steps in the background and some plants on the footway at the top.

Camera: Olympus Tough G7 1/60sec at f/2.0 ISO 125 4.5mm

Taken: November 2024

I took this before I went to a meeting in Towcester. I was about 30 minutes early so decided to have a wander round as I haven't been there for years. It has changed quite a bit - not many sets of steps to be found though. There is actually another set of steps in the background as well behind the vegetation.

Palais des Papes

colour photograph, portrait layout, looking at a large set of stone steps curving round, with a high wall on one side and stone walls with windows in the background

Camera: Canon EOS 400D, EF50mm f/1.4 USM, ISO 200, 1/50s, f/5.0

Taken: September 2011

Another one from the Avignon holiday and one of my favourite pictures of steps.

The Temple Steps, Nimes

colour photograph, portrait layout, looking at a large set of marble steps with wide columns, two young ladies sitting on the left and some people entering the temple at the top of the steps

Camera: Canon EOS 400D, EF50mm f/1.4 USM, ISO 200, 1/640s, f/5.6

Taken: September 2011

Another one from the archive from the same holiday taken during a day trip on the train to Nimes.

Avignon Side Street

black and white photograph, portrait layout, looking up a set of outdoor spiral steps with vertical strips surrounding the steps

Camera: Canon S90

Taken: September 2011

Another one from the archive. I had completely forgotten I had taken this photo when I was looking back through Lightroom at photos I took on holiday in Avignon in 2011.

Coventry Cathedral

colour photograph of stone steps leading from bottom to top, with arched bombed out stained glass windwos on either side and an oped doorway leading to the bombed cathedral

Camera: Olympus Tough G7

Taken: November 2024

A first visit back to Coventry in years.

Costa Coffee, Northampton

black and white photograph of a spiral staircase viewed from the side with metal uprights

Camera: LG Cameraphone

Taken: July 2018

One from the archive, and one of my favourite photos. I used to hang out in coffee shops a lot more before work, now I just drink more economical and better filter coffee in the office before work.

Northampton General Hospital

photograph of a set of internal stairs with a wooden banister and blue painted uprights, curving round two floors, steps are blue and landings beige

Camera: MotoG9 Cameraphone

Taken: November 2023

Another one from Northampton General Hospital, this time taken internally at the older end of the hospital. I love some of the old staircases, this one heads to the area under the Victorian and Georgian bits of the building, which some say are haunted.

Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

black and white image of stone steps from left to right, with an old gnarled tree growing next to them in the same direction

Camera: CanonEOS400D, EF50mm f/1.4 lens at 1/160s at f/7.1 ISO200 converted to jpeg in Adobe Lightroom

Taken: August 2012

Another one from the back catalogue from days when I used to frequent Coventry quite a lot.

Canons Ashby

colour image of stone steps from left to right, with daisies growing in the cracks

Camera: CanonEOS400D, EF50mm f/1.4 lens at 1/160s at f/9.0 ISO200 converted to jpeg in Adobe Lightroom

Taken: October 2019

One from the back catalogue containing not only steps but also nature reclaiming buildings.

The Courthouse Pub in Rugby

colour image of some black and white square tiled steps leading up to a black door. The word courthouse is just visible above

Camera: Olympus ToughG7, 1/125s at f/2.8 4.5mm ISO100 cropped and converted to jpeg in Adobe Lightroom

Taken: September 2024

I had to spend two hours in Rugby whilst I waited for my car to be serviced on a dreary, humid day. There was a paucity of steps to photograph.

Northampton General Hospital Cripps Postgraduate Medical Centre Fire Escape

colour image of a blue spiral staircase up the outside of a white building

Camera: Olympus ToughG7, 1/320s at f/3.2 ISO100 cropped and converted to jpeg in Adobe Lightroom

Taken: August 2024

One of many spiral staircases used as fire escapes around the hospital, but the only blue one I've found.

Braunston Locks - Number 2

colour image of a set of steps leading up to a black and white lock gate with a number 2. Sweeping wall on the right of the photo. A bridge arch on the right of the photo

Camera: CanonEOS400D, EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 28mm 1/125s at f/7.1 ISO200 converted to jpeg in Adobe Lightroom

Taken: August 2024

Taken along the Grand Union Canal - with a lovely flower display.

Rushton Triangular Lodge

two colour images side by side of indoor spiralling stone steps with white walls, on the right a window in the shape of a cross letting in light

Camera: CanonEOS400D, EF17-40mm f/4 lens, left hand image 1/6s at f/7.1 ISO400, right hand image 1/13s at f/5.6 ISO 400 converted to jpeg in Affinity Photo

Taken: July 2009

Handheld before I knew what I was doing, hence slightly blurred

London - Autumn Leaves

black and white photograph of a set of concrete steps with three dry sycamore leaves

Camera: Canon Eos400D, EF50mm f1.4 lens, 1/40s at f/5.6 ISO200, converted to B&W and cropped to square format in Adobe Lightroom

Taken: November 2011 on my one and only TweetUp

Daventry - behind my favourite take away establishment

black and white photograph of an outdoor staircase

Camera: Olympus Tough G7, P-mode, converted to B&W Adobe Lightroom

Taken: August 2024

Coventry University- Steps and Reflections

colour photograph steps reflected in five wall mounted frames with a yellow pole at the front

Camera: CanonEOS400D, EF50mm f1.4 lens, 1/160s at f/5.0 ISO200, converted to jpeg in Adobe Lightroom

Taken: April 2012

Daventry - steps to the war memorial

concrete steps with two empty larger cans and railings with old stone walls on either side

Camera: Olympus Tough G7, P-mode, curves adjusted in Adobe Lightroom

Taken: August 2024

The Daventry War Memorial dates from 1922 and is just next to the Holy Cross church and graveyard. These steps lead in a circular anticlockwise direction up from Abbey Street to the memorial, itself a simple cross made of Northamptonshire stone. It is Grade II listed.