Thomas Street, NQ, Manchester.

ALIEN LIGHTS, THOMAS STREET 6.51am

I’d set down my tripod outside Bar 21 on Thomas Street. The building above is Victorian, but the front of the club below is modern, with an interior featuring sci-fi themed movie memorabilia. A large man came out from inside and firmly locked the door. He looked at me for a few seconds and nodded. He then lit a cigarette, sauntered across the road and disappeared.

A young woman to my right ran to her small Corsa, threw her handbag onto the passenger seat, and quickly drove away. Opposite, a young couple seemingly still out from the night before, were trying to phone a taxi. His shirt was neatly buttoned up at the collar and she had one high heeled shoe in her hand.

I waited for the light to come up, for the night to give up its darkness. Pockets…