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What Does Photography Mean to Me?
Posted on 14/11/2018 10/03/2019 by gscott2012
PODCAST: A Photographic Life, Episode 29: Plus Photographer David Bailey
In episode 29 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering dyslexia amongst the photographic community, whether the expectation for writing to support photography is necessary, and where photographers are today with the moving image.
Plus this week Grant re-visits a recorded conversation from 2011 with legendary photographer David Bailey. In this brief edited extract Bailey uses some strong language to deliver his thoughts on how people see him, the importance of cameras to photography, and the problems of achieving success early on in his career. As always with Bailey he doesn't mince his words!
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/a-photographic-life-episode-29.mp3
In 1959, Bailey became a photographic assistant at the John French studio, and in 1960, he was a contracted as a fashion photographer for British Vogue magazine. Along with Terence Donovan and Brian Duffy, Bailey captured and helped create the 'Swinging London' of the 1960s. The three photographers socialised with actors, musicians and royalty, and found themselves elevated to celebrity status, named by fellow photographer Norman Parkinson 'The Black Trinity'.
'Swinging London' was aptly reflected in his Box of Pin-Ups(1964): a box of poster-prints of 1960s celebrities including Terence Stamp, The Beatles, Mick Jagger, Jean Shrimpton, Cecil Beaton, Rudolf Nureyev, Andy Warhol and notorious East End gangsters, the Kray's. Strong objection to the presence of the Krays by fellow photographer, Lord Snowdon, was the major reason no American edition of the Box was released, and that a second British edition was not issued.
Bailey's ascent at Vogue was meteoric and, at the height of his productivity, he shot 800 pages of Vogue editorial in one year. Since 1966, Bailey has also directed several television commercials and documentaries. From 1968 to 1971 he directed and produced TV documentaries titled Beaton, Warhol and Visconti. As well as fashion photography, Bailey photographed album sleeve art for musicians including The Rolling Stones.
In 1976, Bailey co-published Ritz Newspaper. In 1985, he documented the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium. In 1995 he directed and wrote the South Bank Film The Lady is a Tramp featuring his wife Catherine Bailey. In 1998 he directed a documentary, Models Close Up, commissioned by Channel 4. In 2012, the BBC made a film of the story of his 1962 New York photoshoot with Jean Shrimpton, titled We'll Take Manhattan. He continues to work for a variety of editorial clients including Vogue and publish books of work from his archive and of new work. He does not have a website for his work.
You can also access and subscribe to these podcasts at SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/unofphoto on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-photographic-life/id1380344701 on Player FM https://player.fm/series/a-photographic-life and Podbean www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/i6uqx-6d9ad/A-Photographic-Life-Podcast
Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer in Professional Photography at the University of Gloucestershire, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Focal Press 2014) and The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Focal Press 2015). His next book #New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography will be published by Bloomsbury Academic in January 2019.
His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay will be screened across the UK and the US in 2018.
© Grant Scott 2018
This entry was posted in:Opinions, Podcasts: A Photographic Life
Tagged with:audio, british photographer, british photography, conversation, David Bailey, dyslexia, fashion photography, film, icon of photography, inspiration, Interviews, moving image, On Our Radar, open source, opinion, photo education, photo stories, photographers dyslexia, photography, podcast, portrait photography, seventies london, sixties London, talk, united nations of photography, writing and photography, writing bursary applications, writing fund applications
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Podcasts: A Photographic Life
A Photographic Life - 90: Plus Oli Scarff 15/01/2020
In episode 90 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering if photographers need websites, how to get the best from Twitter and the importance of the past to the present and the future. Plus this week photographer Oli Scarff takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer […]
A Photographic Life - 89: Plus R.J.Kern 08/01/2020
In episode 89 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the purpose of the photo book, pressure put on photographers, and the rise of the 'photo-entrepreneur'. Plus this week photographer R.J.Kern takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer's […]
A Photographic Life - 88: 2020 'New Year, New Decade' Special 01/01/2020
In episode 88 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed taking stock, reflecting on where photography is at the beginning of a new year and new decade, making suggestions for New Year's resolutions, questioning the price of cameras and our expectations of making, creating and connecting with an audience for our work. […]
A Photographic Life - 87: Richard Avedon 'Christmas Special': Plus Gideon Lewin 25/12/2019
In episode 87 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on working with Richard Avedon, getting books signed by him, remembering stories about Avedon told to him by photographer Jean Loup Sieff and long-time Avedon assistant Gideon Lewin takes on the UNP Photo Proust Questionnaire in which he speaks about fellow Avedon assistant […]
A Photographic Life - 86: Plus Homer Sykes 18/12/2019
In episode 86 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering perceptions of creativity within photography, how the past ten years has impacted photography and the opportunities that technology has given us to tell visual stories and communicate. Plus this week photographer Homer Sykes takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with […]
A Photographic Life - 85: Plus Alex Buisse 11/12/2019
In episode 85 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed commenting on the death of populist photo magazines, considering end of the year and end of the decade photo lists and the importance of photographing family. He also explains his new photography related parlour game, the perfect Christmas entertainment! Plus this week photographer Alex […]
A Photographic Life - 84: Plus Stephen Dupont 04/12/2019
In episode 84 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the impact of technology on creativity, video art, moving image adoption and getting older! Plus this week photographer Stephen Dupont takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer's the […]
A Photographic Life - 83: Plus Erwin Olaf 27/11/2019
In episode 83 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the passing of the photographer Terry O'Neill, visiting the the Prix Prictet exhibition, and how being given a camera can change your life. Plus this week photographer Erwin Olaf takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer […]
A Photographic Life - 82: Plus MAKIKO 20/11/2019
In episode 82 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the use of a large format camera for news, questioning the handing out of awards and reflecting on how many images are stored on smartphones. Plus this week photographer MAKIKO takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer […]
A Photographic Life - 81: Plus Sebastian Meyer 13/11/2019
In episode 81 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the importance of creative space, exhibiting work and the need to respond positively to change. Plus this week photographer Sebastian Meyer takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer's […]
A Photographic Life - 80: Plus Julie Hrudova 06/11/2019
In episode 80 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the creation of photography to support narrative, the importance of being nice, the search for balance and the need for photographer interviews to be based on conversation not templated structures. Plus this week photographer Julie Hrudova takes on the challenge of […]
A Photographic Life - 79: Plus A.D. Coleman 30/10/2019
In episode 79 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the audience for photo books, paying for work to appear in a magazine and the teaching of digital visual literacy. Plus this week photographic critic, historian, educator, curator and writer A.D.Coleman takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer […]
A Photographic Life - 78: Plus Chris Harrison 23/10/2019
In episode 78 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed during a storm considering the democratic nature of photography, exhibiting work in imaginative spaces and the photograph as historical document. Plus this week photographer Chris Harrison takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in […]
A Photographic Life - 77: Plus Roger Steffens 14/10/2019
In episode 77 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering portrait photography, and the importance of history and influence. He also gives details of his latest book that has just gone on sale. Plus this week photographer Roger Steffens takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer […]
A Photographic Life - 76: Plus Trevor Brady 09/10/2019
In episode 76 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the concept of photo mentors, the importance of taking personal responsibility and how life informs the work we make. Plus this week photographer Trevor Brady takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length […]
A Photographic Life - 75: Plus Toby Binder 02/10/2019
In episode 75 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the mental impact working as a photographer can have and offers some simple advice on how to look after yourself. He also reflects on the recent upsurge in analogue film photography and recommended podcasts for photographers. *The app Grant mentions in this week's […]
A Photographic Life - 74: Plus Elinor Carucci 25/09/2019
In episode 74 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering Instagram requests for image usage, young photographers starting out on a photography education, the documentation of self and the death of photographer John Cohen. Plus this week photographer Elinor Carucci takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no […]
A Photographic Life - 73: Plus Paul Weinberg 18/09/2019
In episode 73 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the recent deaths of Robert Frank, Peter Lindbergh and Fred Herzog. He also questions our expectations of showing photography. Plus this week photographer Paul Weinberg takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in […]
A Photographic Life - 72: Plus Robert Trachtenberg 11/09/2019
In episode 72 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering importance of collaboration, making connections. He also suggests that photography competitions could film their judging process. Plus this week photographer Robert Trachtenberg takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he […]
A Photographic Life - 71: Plus Venetia Dearden 04/09/2019
In episode 71 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering photographic copyright, the appropriation of images and how to work out what to charge a client. Plus this week photographer Venetia Dearden takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she […]