Black_White_Photography_-_Winter_2014

01

B+W

L

ast week I went by train to Bexhill,

going to see the Magnum exhibition

at the De La Warr (which was,

incidentally, brilliant). I often go to

the gallery as their exhibitions are

exceptional and I always go by train

because it’s a wonderful ride through some of

the best Sussex landscape – and, en route, you

emerge right at the edge of the sea, which is

spectacular. The weather that day was perfect.

Sitting behind me were two women who,

it transpired, were on their way to Hastings

to go to the Jerwood gallery (a relatively new

and prestigious art gallery in the town). They

had got on the train at the same station as me,

Lewes, and, as we pulled out, they started to

investigate their phones for an app dedicated to

art galleries. This, apparently, proved difficult

and occupied their time for the whole journey.

As I got out at Bexhill, I glanced at them,

heads still buried in their phones, and wanted

to tell them what they’d missed in terms of

reality – they were on the trail of ‘beauty’

or ‘art’ but had completely missed all the

magnificence that had surrounded them for

the last half hour.

I would, of course, be the first to admit

that I frequently do just the same – become

so preoccupied that I am unaware of what’s

happening around me. And only in retrospect,

understand that I might have missed

something important.

Unless we learn to really look, to be aware of

what’s in front of us, how can we look at art and

fully understand or appreciate it? The virtual

world is fascinating but increasingly we are

exchanging it for the real world, the one

we actually live in. Isn’t that a shame?

I’m going to start leaving my phone at home

now and then. That’s a start.

Elizabeth Roberts, Editor

[email protected]

EDITOR’S LETTER

PINBOARD

© Sarah Ketelaars

follow us on twitter @BWPMag

© Steven Dempsey

COVER IMAGE

This month’s cover image is by

Seamus A Ryan. To see more of his

work turn to the feature on page 44.

Although this may look like a beautiful UK countryside winter

scene, this photograph was actually taken almost 5,000 miles away in

Washington State, USA. American reader Steven Dempsey took it last

year, one January morning, with his Canon 5D Mark II. We love the

image’s delicacy and way Steven has captured the atmospheric light.

stevendempseyphotography.blogspot.com

© Martin Snelling

Tweeting this picture and the

words ‘the perfect combo’ soon

after the last issue of B+W went

on sale, it’s clear Martin Snelling

recognises a great pairing when

he sees one... Share your pictures

with us by tagging @BWPMag.

@LeftofNever

A GREAT

COMBINATION

This month we visited the

National Portrait Gallery’s new

exhibition Snowdon: A Life in

View – a retrospective comprising

Lord Snowdon’s beautiful B&W

portraits of leading figures in the

arts and high society. Look out in

a future B+W for our full review.

npg.org.uk

BLACK+WHITE SPY

A TRANSATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE

facebook.com/blackandwhitephotog

PICK OF THE PICS

We’ve cheated a little this month

by choosing Andrea Ehrenreich’s

composite image of nine pictures.

Turn to 60-Second Exposure on

page 80 to see more of her work.

© Andrea Ehrenreich

© Seamus A Ryan

© Anna Bonita Evans

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