General Features

Jon Bounds is the founder of website Birmingham: It's Not Sh*t.  He champions the Birmingham cause and has produced a rather lovely calendar featuring "13 shots of real Brum, with no spin."  We'll let him tell you all about it:

Best of the year

I didn't take June's picture - I'm in it. I was investigating the story of there being a beach under Spaghetti Junction, and after finding it I decided to sunbathe. With all the talk about urban beaches this year it was good to show that Brum had had one for years!

December features the startling contrast to be found on Holloway Circus between the modern Beetham Tower and the Chinese-style structure in the centre of the island - with the added bonus of snow. I couldn't hang around for the right light, the snow was melting fast. I think one of the greatest thing about a city is how different elements sit side-by-side, St Martins and the Bull Ring is another good example of this, but I'm sure there are more to hunt out for next year.

Some people take great photos of people, but I prefer - certainly to promote the city - great big imposing and iconic buildings, of which it can be difficult to find new and interesting views. I like to get up high, and am always searching for a new vantage point - the tops of car parks are great for this as high as a office window might be you're unlikely to be allowed to lean out. In Birmingham, Moor St car park is a good one for views of the ubiquitous Selfridges, and the slightly eerie red metal cage on Brunel St offers some of the best angles on the Mailbox.

If you're going to put together a calendar (and you could print your own at home even if you don't fancy putting it up for sale on the internet) my main tip would be to remember to keep taking shots all the way through the year. If you want that snow-scene it's no good waiting for the white-stuff to fall - get the picture when it does. The same goes for those perfect sunny-day images you need for July and August - that hasn't been easy this year.