W
hen the ‘First
Exhibition of
Sporting and Other
Dogs’ (with classes
for22differentbreeds)washeldat
Manchester’s Belle Vue Zoological
Gardensin1861,itwasasanadjunct
tothemainevent–apoultryshow.
Dogshowswereintheirinfancy;
the first documented was in
Newcastlejusttwoyearsearlier.
But,bytheturnofthecentury,dog
showshadgainedafollowing,and
respectability, thanks to the rise of
dogbreedingasahobbywithin
fashionable society and particularly
among women.
Justoveracenturyafterthat
first Manchester show, a young
photographer roamed the halls and
arenas of Belle Vue with her camera
andafeelingthat‘doggypeople’
wouldprovefertilesubjectmatter.
Shirley Baker (1932–2014), brought
up in Manchester, was best known
for her pictures documenting the
communitiesinherhomecityon
thecuspofseismicsocialchange.
Shebegantoworkinadocumentary
style on personal projects, giving up
ambitions to work atThe Guardian,
as union rules restricted women
working as press photographers.
In visiting Manchester Dog Show,
ShirleyBakerwasverymuchan »Dalmatian, Manchester
Dog Show, 1966
BEST IN SHOW
PHOTOGRAPHER SHIRLEY BAKER CAPTURES THE
VERY HUMAN STORIES AT AN EVENT DEVOTED TO
ANIMALS, WITH DISTINCTIVE WIT AND HUMOURPhotography: MARY EVANS PICTURE LIBRARYTHINK (^) | GALLERY