Joseph Poole

The first two weeks of the photojournalism module have been enjoyable and eye-opening. Coming into this module I already had a general appreciation for photography and a keenness to take shots from my Google Pixel whenever I travel anywhere, however, it is not something I have ever taken seriously. These initial sessions have already given me a better understanding of how capturing moments with purpose and intention can tell a powerful story through images.

Despite having a general interest in the area, I am a novice when it comes to the practical and technical elements, so I am much looking forward to learning more in the coming weeks. As someone who just uses the default camera app on my phone, photo composition, framing and lighting are not something I have ever paid a great deal of attention to, but the first two sessions have made their importance clearer to me.

These sessions have also made me aware of the variety of different types of photojournalism, and by conducting the research in the second week, I was able to identify an area of the industry that intrigues me – travel photojournalism. Throughout this module, I am eager to develop my ability to tell compelling stories through images and also improve my technical ability, as this may be an area of journalism I would like to go into professionally in the future.

In 2025, Leeds and Dortmund will celebrate 56 years of being twinned cities, a partnership dating back to 1969 – a fact relatively unknown by local residents.

Leeds’ “Man with the Barrel” statue sits in Dortmund Square, aptly named after the twin city who gifted them the statue in 1980, as recognition of the goodwill between the two places.

Statue of the 'Man with the Barrel' located in Dortmund Square, Leeds City Centre. — “Man with the Barrel” in Dortmund Square | Photo by Joseph Poole

The statue has cheered up Leeds citizens for over four decades, however, not many people are aware of the story behind it.

One Yorkshire local showed their surprise behind the Dortmund connection: “I had no idea, I see the statue every day but I never knew the significance.”

Another person claimed: “I thought the barrel man resembled the city’s drinking culture.”

City twinning is not so common nowadays – it was more of a post-Second World War phenomenon, with European cities setting up connections to promote peace and understanding between communities that were once at odds with each other.

In a world of uncertainty, Leeds’ “Man with the Barrel” provides a necessary beacon of positivity and a reminder of the importance of cooperating with our European neighbours.

Dortmund is home to the world-famous football team Borussia Dortmund, who play in the top tier of German football.