Issuu

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID CANTOR LRPS ABOUT THE TAYLOR WESSING PORTRAIT PRIZE 2016

WAYNE LEE EXPLAINS HIS BREXIT PROJECT

ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

LONDON

CAPITAL INTEREST

Image © Katherine Boswell

DECEMBER 2016 / VOLUME 2 / NUMBER 10 / WW.RPS.ORG

Seasonal greetings: RPS London members’ night shots

DECEMBER 2016 /JANUARY 2017

IN THIS ISSUE Page 2

Old year, new year at RPS London, workshop with Gerry Badger, Bookworm Club info

Page 4

David Cantor LPRS talks about his image shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2016

Page 7

Wayne Lee shares images and ideas from his project on Brexit

Page 10

Del Barrett ARPS attended the Joe McNally FRPS talk

Page 12

Susi Luard ARPS looks back on her Breathing London year

Page 14

A collection of night shots by RPS London members

Page 18

Norman Smith LRPS reviews the London Streets groups activities of 2016

Page 20

Dave’s Diary: Dave found himself on a boat, taking pictures of the sea and the sky

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Useful links

RPS LONDON NEWS IN BRIEF

WELCOME! … to the last issue of 2016 which also covers the first month of 2017. 2016 has been an eventful year for RPS London. The region saw the launch of a new city-wide project, Breathing London, the change at its top with Del Barrett ARPS leaving and Judy Hicks LRPS and Neil Cordell taking over as joint regional co-ordinators. Micro-groups and individual members have continued to explore their photography in many exciting ways, some of which they have shared in this publication. There were many events, workshops and talks and it is good to know that this exciting programme is set to continue in 2017. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy snappy new year.

ABOVE © Britta Giersche

Britta Giersche Capital Interest Editor

There is still time to book …

Workshop with Gerry Badger ABOVE Books by Gerry Badger © Ilya Fisher LRPS In February we have an exciting event specially organised for London RPS, "Make a Photobook Workshop with Gerry Badger". This workshop takes place over the weekend of 4th & 5th February. During it Gerry Badger will teach you to take take your photobooks to the next level. The venue is Regents University, located in Regents Park. Gerry Badger is a photographer, architect and photography writer whose works include The Genius of Photography, the book that accompanied the BBC series of the same name, and The Photobook: A History, volumes 1 & 2, co-authored with Martin Parr. For the workshop, you will shoot the pages for your photobook on one single day prior to the course, following a brief from Gerry Badger. Over the weekend you will gain the skills to make this into your own photobook. Gerry will teach you editing skills, sequencing, size and page layout, lead image, telling a story – beginning, middle & end. You’ll leave with a pdf ready to print into a book. The cost of the weekend is £165/£195 to RPS members/non-members and you can find more details and book your ticket here

The Photograph as Contemporary Art … is the title of the book by Charlotte Cotton, former Head of Programming at The Photographers' Gallery, London, which the Bookworm Club is currently discussing. The book provides an introduction to contemporary art-photography, identifying its most important features and themes and celebrating its exciting pluralism through an overview of its most important and innovative practitioners. In the next session Jennette Russell is going to introduce chapter 2 'Once upon a Time'. For more information visit the RPS events page.

CAPITAL INTEREST TOPICAL

DAVID CANTOR LRPS David Cantor LRPS had one of his images selected for exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2016. Here, he recounts the story behind the image.

Where was it taken? The image was taken in May of this year. I'm engaged in a tattoo parlour project and had just dropped off a print to one of my subjects and started looking for some footwear in a shop selling upmarket trainers on Shoreditch High Street, East London. Was it planned? No, it was a chance encounter with a fellow shopper. Many of my photographs come about as a result of approaching complete strangers. The young man was so stylish with his wide-brimmed red hat and great dress sense, he was a photographer’s dream. After a few head shots, I asked him to stand sideways. The profile was the last of six photos. How much time did you have to take it? The whole encounter lasted about five minutes. Who is this man? His name is Abdel. He was born in West Africa, raised in Portugal and is now living in London. What gear and settings did you use? My camera of choice is an Olympus OM-D EM-5. I used a 12-35 mm lens. Aperture f/2.8. ISO 800. Auto White Balance. Shutter speed 1/50th. How was this image lit? I used the ambient light in the shop and looked for an uncluttered background. How did you find your gear helped you in this situation? The 5 axis stabilisation on Olympus cameras is outstanding, enabling a shot like this to be taken hand held and the sensor renders skin tones very accurately. Why did you decide to enter this into the Taylor Wessing competition? I feel that this image is probably one of the best that I have taken, it is very special to me. I like the simplicity of the composition, the subject’s dignity and his far-away gaze. I was encouraged by family and a few friends to ‘have a go’. So I did! Have you entered before? No, and hopefully it will not be the last time. Tell us about when you found out your image had been selected, how did it feel? I was having lunch with my wife, my son and his family, I looked at my phone and saw the email message from the National Portrait Gallery. Elation and a sense of disbelief, I think that sums it up. Did you receive a prizes, award? No, but to be one of the 57 to be selected from the 4,303 entries submitted feels pretty good. (I have some further information that is currently embargoed and can release it depending on your date of publication)

ABOVE Abdel Small – the image selected for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize exhibition © David Cantor LRPS

Can you tell us about the exhibition? The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2016 exhibition opens 17 November at the National Portrait Gallery and runs until late February 2017. It then transfers to two other UK destinations. More info may be found here. Is there anything that you can tell us about yourself? I took up photography seriously about twelve years ago and my usual photographic forays are to the East End of London. I was born just a mile from the National Portrait Gallery, so I'm very comfortable in the West End too.

CAPITAL INTEREST TOPICAL

If there’s anything else important you can think of do let us know. Tower Hamlets used this image to promote their 2016 Black History Month programme that ran for the whole of October. It was used for the events brochure cover and a borough wide street poster campaign. This is the second year in a row that my work has been used in this way with the team at Tower Hamlets. Lastly, my image is featured on my website created for Photomonth 2016 that runs until the end of November.

BELOW Posters to promote Tower Hamlets’ Black History Month © David Cantor LRPS

CAPITAL INTEREST EVENT

Wayne Lee's project on Brexit In October, WayneÂ Lee presented his story on Brexit at the SE London Group meeting in Greenwich. Working entirely on B&W film, his project is an observational, not a political statement.

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CAPITAL INTEREST EVENT

After a vicious campaign filled with lies and fear mongering, the UK voted to leave the European Union on the 23rd of June, 2016. Originated from outside of the UK myself, I was saddened that the once inclusive and diverse country I have now called home is now regressing and divided. The potential negative effect of Brexit on the economy has been the main message from the Remain campaign, but not many people talked about the human factor: how freedom of movement within member states has contributed to our arts, science, and technology. Over the years I have made a lot of friends from different countries in Europe, and their stories, their cultures,

and their friendships have broadened my horizons and enriched my life in immeasurable ways. I wanted to document what I see in the aftermath of the referendum, as a way to channel my emotion and put it to creative use. Armed with my old Canon AE-1 loaded with a roll of Ilford HP5, I went to a few demonstrations on the street. I saw how the younger generation feel left out and being unfairly cast aside, when it is their future that is at stake. I could see their energy but also helplessness. In the long run, it will be interesting to observe and document how the society changes in the coming years, as an air of uncertainty hangs over our nation.

ALL IMAGES Â© Wayne Lee / www.36frames.eu

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CAPITAL INTEREST REPORT

ABOVE Joe McNally in front of one of his iconic images during the RPS London talk © Julian Rouse LRPS

McNally’s Capers In late November, the London Region hosted an evening with Joe McNally FRPS during which the audience was entertained with a thrilling rollercoaster ride through McNally’s thirty-five year career as a photographer. By Del Barrett ARPS

The evening buzzed with eloquence, wit and self-

heroes relate their stories, which can be viewed here.

deprecation as McNally took us on a photographic tour

The second pause came a few minutes later, when

of his work from his first project on a trawler to his recent

McNally showed us a picture that he’d taken whilst

work at the Brazilian Olympics.

standing on the edge of the top of the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai. For someone like me, who is truly

As a student, to secure additional credits for his

terrified of heights, this was a heart-stopping moment,

college course, McNally came to London to work as

the only reassurance being that McNally had clearly

a photographic assistant and whilst here, managed

lived to tell the tale. In true McNally style, he soon had

to blag his way on to a fishing trawler in Lowestoft

us laughing again, as he explained the negotiations and

for a two-week fishing trip in the North Sea in

training that he’d undertaken in order to gain access to

November. This adventure reflects the go-for-it

the tower. We were then treated to nail-biting images of

attitude that characterizes McNally – or ‘Hank the

him swinging in a window-cleaning cradle as it bounced

Yank’ as his shipmates called him – and his approach

down the tower. There’s a video here of his ‘unusual

to photography. As became evident throughout the

vantage point’, but be warned, it’s not for the faint-

evening, McNally is fearless and ready to roll up his

hearted.

sleeves, get stuck in and do almost anything to get the shot. We followed him on his journey from National

McNally was very open about his life as a photographer,

Geographic, to Newsweek, TIME and LIFE Magazines,

even to the point of telling us how his studio was on

as well as any number of national newspapers, which

the verge of bankruptcy when he was shooting the 9/11

took him from sports photography to photo-journalism

portraits, and yet he undertook the project and raised

and all things in between, including spending eight

£2m for charity, rather than trying to make money for

days with a young realtor called Donald Trump, whose

himself. This was a game-changing time for McNally as

ostentation and flamboyant tastes gave the word ‘flash’

he realized that the traditional photo-journalism work

a whole new meaning – and we’re not talking Nikon

of the past was not going to continue into the future.

Speedlights here.

Many a lesser man would have given up – and many did – but McNally simply reinvented himself, adjusted his

For the most part, the audience chortled away at

working practices to the demands of the new world and

McNally’s amusing anecdotes of his life behind the

continued to produce stunning work, something that

shutter, but there were moments when we were stunned

he still does with both panache and pizazz. And, as he

into silence by his work. The first was his collection of

himself says, he continues to have a lot of fun, as indeed

heart-rending and poignant images entitled Faces of

all those who attended the evening did.

Ground Zero – Portraits of the Heroes of September 11th. This was a series of life-size images of firemen, policemen, priests and other heroes of the day, shot on an enormous Polaroid camera. Ten years later, McNally followed up on the heroes to find out what they were doing now and how 9/11 had changed their lives. As well as stills, he’s made some video clips where the

CAPITAL INTEREST EXPERIENCE

BREATHING LONDON

In 2016, the Breathing Londoners took many walks and Susi Luard ARPS took part in all of them. Here she recalls some of her adventures. Throughout the seasons in 2016, trudging through brambles and nettles on trails and pounding the pavements for miles (could be as long as 10 miles a walk) the Breathing London squad walked and shot woodlands, meadows, parks, rivers, canals, gardens and other open spaces, meeting friendly people along the way, pets, horses, cattle and wildlife (and I was careful not to scare the pretty fallow deer at Hampton Court). There was even a dog actress called Bluebell (a black and white Spaniel wearing a pink scarf). By the canal we all stopped to adore a white English bull terrier with the characteristic black eye-patch. We have been known to go out in adverse weather conditions and confirmed that trees made very leaky shelter from torrential rain. I particularly love the canals as it gives a different view of London and they lead us away from the traffic, giving us calming water and reflections. When Geoff Nicholson (the author of Bleeding London, a book that inspired a previous RPS project named after his book) came to London he walked with the Breathing London squad from King’s Cross to Camden along the canal towpath. The Gasholder Park at King's Cross by Regent's Canal is a stunning place and a great example of change of property use. There was a great street art by Otto Schade just before we surfaced onto Camden Market. The only floating bookshop on a barge called Word on The Water had a Saxophonist on board (picture in the previous Capital Interest issue).

Inspired by Susi? Find out more about the project here

The Breathing London walks keep us fit - once we had to leg it when we accidentally set off an alarm. It also gets our creative juices flowing. At the Tarn Bird Sanctuary pond we started messing around with ICM (intentional camera movement) during a short break. Barbie (carried around as an instant foreground interest) got taken out of my bag to pose next to a barge called Barbie-G. To me, what Samuel Johnson said about London is still true - when a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford. Happy holidays and I wish you a great new year!

CAPITAL INTEREST SEASONAL

Night Shots In order to create some seasonal fun, we ask members to submit night shots for this issue – and here is a selection of the images we received. Enjoy!

“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” Sarah Williams

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“What hath night to do with sleep?” John Milton

“By night the skyscraper looms in the smoke and the stars and has a soul.” Carl Sandburg

“The dawn of beauty always comes after night.” Sorin Cerin

“Night is certainly more novel and less profane than day.” Henry David Thoreau

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LONDON GROUPS

RPS LONDON STREET GROUP Norman Smith LPRS, Organiser RPS London Street Walks, reviews the micro group’s activities and excursions in 2016. Looking back to the turn of the year we had a great exhibition adjacent to The Heritage Centre in Woolwich, at the Berkeley Gallery. This began as part of the Capital Exposure pop up exhibition week but extended into January of the New Year. We showed over 30 prints and raised awareness of the RPS in the South East of London. To co-coincide with this we took the opportunity to run a street walk in this area of London which is undergoing massive change. Since that time we have visited some great locations:

Brick Lane 16th April Coincident with the Documentary Group’s AGM we found ourselves in Brick Lane once again. Rich in photographic inspiration it is difficult to stay away from this area. We had 10 stalwart members of the Documentary Group in tow after the meeting and we were treated to George Galloway’s campaign bus for the Mayor of London amongst other goings on. Remarkably, with this walk we celebrated our 2 year anniversary of RPS London Street Walks.

Covent Garden 13th Feb We visited around Valentine’s Day in the hope of some lovers’ inspiration, but it was somewhat lacking this year. The day was saved by the obligatory kissing couples and the commercial exploitation element which I suppose can always be depended on.

Westminster 14th May We had an attendance of 13 for our usual wander around Parliament Square, then Whitehall to Trafalgar Square and thence to Piccadilly. Crowds in abundance, demonstrations outside Downing Street, Buddha’s Birthday in Leicester Square - this area never fails to disappoint.

Camden 12th March In March, led by Neil Cordell, now one of our Regional Organisers, the London Street group visited colourful Camden along with its trendy market. Luckily, it was a beautiful sunny day for the 16 (12 RPS members – 4 nonmembers) participants to shoot their images and was enjoyed by everyone. This area offers rich pickings and the tourist element provides a certain amount of ‘cover’ allowing the street photographer a little more freedom.

Portobello Road 18th June Another great turnout for the first time that we have ventured into Portobello Road. An eye opener for me personally since, despite being a born and bred Londoner, I have never previously ventured there! Suffice to say I will be back.

Kingston 16th July We took the opportunity of collaborating with our South West London members and - having got my passport stamped to travel from the South East – I arrived full of anticipation. We were not disappointed and had a wonderful day. Good weather and the varied subject matter from the town, to the river and finally to the pub, a rare treat on our walks, but something we should put into the itinerary more often! Bethnal Green 13th Aug Well attended, with 19 of us, Bethnal Green to Shoreditch was an adaptation of a walk we did last year but this time taking in the Bethnal Green Road for its market stalls. The shops provided just as much inspiration as we walked through to the Cat Café for refreshment. Little did I know one needed to book for the café so all we got to do was admire the cats in the window and promise to think ahead for next time. Brixton 17th Sept We visited the town centre, the markets and the windmill, cohosted with the SW London group. Fred Barrington assisted in pulling people together for this one and we managed 24 in attendance. Possibly our best attended event ever. A fantastic mix of cultures, Brixton is a location we will certainly re-visit. ‘The Line’ 15th Oct As I write we are about to explore The Line. This is an official walk with works of art which follows the Greenwich Meridian Line, as far as possible, from Greenwich to Stratford, East London. It is rather long so we will walk the route from North to South as there are more public transport links involved which allows for people to leave the course if they find they cannot complete it. The one remaining event for this year will be Sun 18th Dec Columbia Road. This is a Sunday only market which is particularly vibrant at Christmas time. See you all there!

OPPOSITE PAGE Bethnal Green 2016 © Norman Smith LRPS THIS PAGE TOP TO BOTTOM Brixton 2016 © Jennette Russell LRPS Bethnal Green 2016 © Gordana Johnson Brixton 2016 © Paul Reynolds Privacy © John Kelly LRPS Royal Mail © Balwantrai Thanki

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DAVEâ€™S DIARY

HISTORY Photographer of old; child of the darkroom; reborn to digital FAVOURITE GENRE Street; people; life around me PHILOSOPHY Always looking; snapper; grab the moment CAMERA Nikon D750 14-120mm; Olympus Stylus 1 A regular column about a photographerâ€™s CAMERA CLUB South London Photographic Society life in London by Dave Harris LRPS LRPS April 2015

Put the Camera Away! Last month, Dave went on a cruise and saw mainly never-ending sea, never-ending sky and never-ending horizon. How did he capture it all? I found myself on a boat recently. Not that I was lost, of course, but I was captive on a big liner with my camera. And, I thought, lots of time to indulge my snapping fingers. But a few things conspired against me. It was November. Very overcast and grey. Very cold and wet. And the cabin was so lovely and warm. The captions on the Wildlife Pictures of the year came to mind: "We spent days camped in the freezing Arctic tundra to get this one shot." And I managed ten minutes on deck. I went on deck most mornings and evenings. Except when the doors were roped up to stop loony photographers braving the tornados. Even in the worst light (and we had plenty of that), the sea and sky are breathtakingly beautiful. Your head bobs up and down, and side to side, to capture the immensity of the ocean. Now I'm not a poet (as you can tell). My camera is my pen (maybe you can't tell!).

But it's not easy to photograph the never- ending sea, the never-ending sky, and the never-ending horizon where they (sometimes) meet. You are forced to break all the rules of composition. No foreground interest. No foreground at all! Some passengers said they saw dolphins. I didn't. Birds? None. Other boats? None. Just the sea. And where do you put the horizon? In the middle? Top third? Bottom third? I hedged my bets and took all three. You might ask "Why bother?". I did ask. But it was beautiful, and I wanted to catch it. We passed over an area of Ocean called the Grand Banks. It's a shallow area of sea where cold and warm currents mix to generate fog. Beautiful moved to jaw-dropping. The games the light played with the sea and the sky and the fog were beyond words. I took pictures, and moved around the deck adding bits of ship to give some dimension. The light was dancing. I slowed down and stopped everything. I put my camera away. I just stood and watched. And savoured. For ages. I have the Grand Banks in my memory. Sometimes you must put the camera away and enjoy the moment. And leave the photography to the Planet Earth team.

All Images ÂŠ Dave Harris LRPS

USEFUL LINKS

RPS LONDON GROUPS RPS LONDON BLEEDING LONDON BREATHING LONDON LONDON, CINE LONDON, NATURALLY LONDON, STREET LONDON, URBAN FIRST TUESDAY

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INFORMATION & ADVICE

Or pictures to show? Have you been on a trip, at a workshop or to a fair? Are you working on a project or preparing an exhibition? Have you met a photographer who your fellow RPS London members should know of or visited an exhibition they should see? We love to hear from you.

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