Reflections, Centenary Square, Birmingham

Plaza water fountains, also called pavement fountains - a grid of individual fountains that rise, fall and stop altogether - have become something of a cliche in cities across the world. There are multiple examples in Britain such as this one in Peterborough and this one near King's Cross, London. We recently came across a further example in Birmingham in Centenary Square. Unlike others, when this one stopped a large area remained covered in a shallow film of water. I don't know whether this was intentional or not but it certainly provided good reflections of passers-by.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Pavement fountains

It has been interesting to see the spread of "pavement fountains" in recent years. I've come across several in Britain and I've seen them in other countries too. They are a magnet for young children and dogs in hot weather, and have their attractions for older folk who are young at heart. What draws children, and what leads to them getting wetter than they perhaps intended, is the apparent randomness of the way in which they turn off and on, catching out the over-confident. The fountains in the photograph are near King's Cross in London, a particularly large example that was offering welcome relief on a hot July day.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10