What is New Jackson?
New Jackson (formerly known as Great Jackson Street) is a burgeoning skyscraper district at the southern end of Deansgate. It is dominated by the Deansgate Square towers, which include the South Tower—currently the tallest building in the UK outside of London. The area features sleek glass facades, modern public squares, and a distinct futuristic feel.
Why Shoot Here?
- Scale and Height: The sheer height of the towers is awe-inspiring. Use a wide-angle lens to capture them from the ground looking up.
- Glass Reflections: The glass exteriors of the buildings reflect the clouds and the changing light of the day, creating dynamic patterns.
- Modern Public Realm: The squares and walkways around the base of the towers are beautifully designed with modern street furniture and lighting.
- Sunset Shots: The towers catch the late afternoon light beautifully, glowing orange and gold as the sun sets over the city.
Best Times to Shoot
- Sunset: The towers catch the late afternoon light beautifully — the glass turns orange and gold as the sun drops.
- Blue hour: The towers are lit up at night and the surrounding public realm is well-illuminated, making this a strong blue hour location.
- Clear days: Cloud reflections in the glass are a key feature — a clear sky with scattered clouds gives the best results.
Composition Ideas
- Shoot from directly below looking straight up for dramatic converging verticals — a wide-angle lens is essential.
- Use the public squares and walkways as foreground, placing people for scale against the towering glass.
- Capture the towers from the Castlefield canal basin for a wider context shot including water reflections.
- Look for reflections of other buildings and the sky in the glass facades — these change constantly with the light.