Favourite Photographers

Garry Winogrand : 1928 - 1984


I've updated my blog list of favourite photographers with the name of Garry Winogrand. Garry captured mid 20th Century American life in the most wierd & (at the same time) compelling photographic vistas.

He was also prolific; very prolific. If you've ever read one of those Monty Pythonesque rants in a photographers blog about how "...in the good old days of film you had to be scrooge-like with your exposures.." and "...you couldn't just snap away like you can now with digital.." or "...I had to shoot 8 hour weddings on 1 roll of 36 exp. film (24 exp. if I wanted to eat that week).."; well consider this : Winogrand is reputed to have exposed 3 rolls of film every day for his entire adult life (100 pictures a day, 36,500 a year). When he died he left more than 2500 rolls of film exposed but undeveloped, 6500 rolls developed but not proofed, and 3000 rolls of unexamined proofs.

So don't feel guilty about how many images you photograph. Equally, the old "film is cheap" mantra is no different to the current "digital is free" nonsense. It wasn't. It isn't. Just do it.

Here's a couple of youtube links to an interesting documentary on the man himself :

Garry Winogrand Documentary Part 1
Garry Winogrand Documentary Part 2

Personal Work : Scotland Seascapes

A favourite photograph from this week

Photography Exhibition : Bradford

In England : Don McCullin


On Sunday I was driving back to Scotland and decided to call in at the National Media Museum (in Bradford) to see the Don McCullin exhibition. The exhibition represents Don's vision of England taken over a 50-year career; many photographs actually taken in Bradford. I walked around the exhibition twice then went for a coffee. I returned to the gallery later for a third viewing; it really is that good. Here's an exhibition link link

8 May to 27 September, 2009

National Media Museum
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD1 1NQ

tel : 0870 7010200

Free Admission

Julius Shulman : 1910 - 2009

"One of the finest architectural photographers of all time"


I've just read on the BBC website of the recent death of Julius Shulman (link to BBC article). So what was so special about Shulman? Well (for me) he shows, no matter what the subject, the key to great imagery is considered composition. Take a look at some of his work to see what I mean (link to his work, another link to his work). And the next time you're about to press the shutter take a moment to reconsider how you've framed your shot.

Photography Exhibition : Paisley

Double Exposure : Paisley Museum & Art Gallery


You have until Sunday 19th July to see photographs of Paisley taken by celebrated local artists Hugh Gibson and Charles Soutar. The exhibition is on at Paisley Museum & Art Gallery.

15 May to 19 July, 2009

Tue- Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Sun 14:00 - 17:00

Paisley Museum & Art Gallery
High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BA
Scotland

Tel : 0141 889 3151

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

A Developed Vision : Pioneering Scottish & French Photography

If you're into photography history you haven't long to catch this fascinating exhibition over at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. The exhibition features early examples of photography from Scotland and France; on display is a burgeoning range of photographic techniques from the likes of Hill and Adamson, Dr Thomas Keith, John Stewart of Pau, John Dudgeon, Henri Le Secq, Bisson Frères and Charles Nègre.

Here's a link to the exhibition link

27 April to 27 July, 2009
(Mondays or by Appointment)

Admission : Free

Royal Scottish Academy
The Mound
Edinburgh
EH2 2EL
Scotland

Tel : 0131 225 6671

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

Ayesha Malik

The Amber Arts is exhibiting new photographic work from Edinburgh based artist/photographer Ayesha Malik.

23 June to 21 July, 2009
(Tues-Sat)

Admission : Free

Amber Arts
78 Montrose Terrace
Abbeyhill
Edinburgh
EH7 5DP
Scotland

Tel : 0131 661 1167