Filming Newcastle urban landscapes: Empty Coloured Flats in Newcastle
Capturing the textures and contrasts of city spaces is one of the most compelling aspects of filming Newcastle urban landscapes.
In my latest landscape shot, I turned my camera south from the footbridge that crosses the A167, connecting Newcastle and Manors. The scene that unfolded was both stark and strangely vibrant: the brightly painted yet derelict flats towering above Market Street East.
These abandoned buildings, with their panels washed in faded hues of blue, green, yellow, and lilac, form a striking mosaic against the muted grey skies. The flats, standing fragile and forlorn above the city, seem to teeter between memory and oblivion, their colourful facades a poignant disguise for the emptiness inside. Some windows are boarded, others smashed open to the elements, creating an unsettling but fascinating rhythm of colour and decay. Layers of graffiti add another dimension, speaking to the passing of time and the hidden stories these walls have witnessed. For anyone interested in abandoned buildings photography, these structures are an irresistible subject, offering both artistic potential and a glimpse into Newcastle’s shifting urban narrative.
The buildings on this eastern stretch of Market Street trace back to the early 20th century, which adds even greater context when filming Newcastle urban landscapes. Notable nearby examples include Plummer House (c. 1910) and Carliol House (1924–27), both reminders of Newcastle’s commercial growth before World War II. Carliol House, with its striking Art Deco façade, was built for the North Eastern Electric Supply Company and once boasted modern features like electric lifts and grand architectural detailing. Though many interiors have vanished, its outer shell remains an echo of a city brimming with industry and ambition. The contrast between such architectural optimism and the current dereliction is both stark and moving, and it’s exactly these kinds of details that make filming Newcastle urban landscapes so rewarding.
From my vantage point on the footbridge spanning the A167, the scene presented a perfect opportunity to capture the interplay between past and present—an essential theme in filming Newcastle urban landscapes. The far-off Tyne Bridge, with its iconic arch opened in 1928 and now Grade II* listed, punctuates the skyline and anchors the frame, reminding viewers of Newcastle’s resilience and identity. Including it in the background adds significant depth and context, enhancing the storytelling potential for anyone pursuing abandoned buildings photography or broader urban visual storytelling.
I filmed this shot using my iPhone 11 Pro, relying on its excellent wide-angle lens to encompass the entire façade and surrounding context. The wide field of view allowed me to capture both the striking flats and the glimpse of the Tyne Bridge in the same frame, helping convey the layered geography crucial when filming Newcastle urban landscapes. Shooting handheld, I let the natural winter light shape the mood, with overcast skies lending a soft, diffused quality that emphasised the muted colours and shadows. I deliberately avoided artificial lighting to preserve the authenticity of the scene and the way the city breathes under a grey sky.
The iPhone’s built-in stabilisation helped keep the shot steady despite standing on the footbridge, which vibrated slightly with passing traffic below. I shot in 4K at 24fps to maintain cinematic motion and preserve detail, knowing the iPhone 11 Pro’s dynamic range would help retain highlight and shadow information in this high-contrast urban scene. I also locked the exposure manually to prevent sudden shifts in brightness as cars moved below or clouds passed overhead. The phone’s small size allowed me to remain inconspicuous, perfect for filming Newcastle urban landscapes in busy city spots without drawing too much attention—a crucial factor when documenting the subtle beauty of abandoned buildings photography.
Filming Newcastle urban landscapes like this feels like bridging eras: capturing the hopeful architecture of the early 20th century, the neglect of recent decades, and the enduring unity symbolised by the Tyne Bridge. It’s a bittersweet tableau—one that mourns what’s been lost, but also insists that memory and meaning still linger in these walls, waiting to be rediscovered through the lens.
While it’s easy to pass by these buildings without a second glance, filming them reveals a different truth. They’re not simply ruins but vibrant fragments of Newcastle’s story, offering texture, colour, and a raw glimpse into the city’s shifting identity. For filmmakers and photographers drawn to abandoned buildings photography or anyone passionate about filming Newcastle urban landscapes, these flats stand as a poignant reminder of how places, even in decay, continue to shape our sense of the city and ourselves.
If you’d like to explore more scenes like this, you can view my collection of landscape films here.