8 31 August 2019I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI subscribe 0330 333 1113
Also out now
Thelatestandbestbooksandexhibitions
from the world of photography
BritishLifePhotographyAwards
TheGardenRoomsat Tennants,Leyburn,
Yorkshire,until3 September.AtRedbrick
Buildingin Glastonbury,Somerset,from
14 Septemberto 13 October.Entranceis free.
WITHtenseparatecategoriesincludingrurallife,
portraiture,BritsonholidayandBritishweather,the
BLPAsaimstoshowcaseandcelebrateBritishlifeand
culture,withworkfrombothemergingandestablished
photographers.Theexhibitionof thewinningimages
hasbeentouring,andyou’vestillgota chancetoseeit
in twofinalplacesbeforeit finishesin October– onein
Yorkshire,andanotherin Somerset.Thisyear,the
overallwinnerwasAmyBateman,whotookhomethe
prizeforherself-portraittakenduringlambingseason
(pictured).It’sjustoneof numerousimageswhichshow
themanyandvariedaspectsof lifeonoursmallisland.
Ifyou’vegotanyinterestin documentaryand
reportage,it’swellworthmakinganefforttogetalong
tooneof theshowsif possible– andperhapsit’llgive
youinspirationtoentersome of your own shots next
year, too.Amy Davies
© AMY BATEMANN
Vivian Maier
Runsuntil 14 Septemberat Huxley-ParlourGallery,3-5SwallowStreet,London,W1B4DE,
opening times Monday-Saturday 10.00-17.30. Entrance is free.
A
lthoughprettymuchunknown
throughoutherextraordinarily
ordinarylife,thephotographs
of VivianMaierhavecometo
receivemuchacclaimsince100,000of
hernegativeswerediscoveredin 2007.
Shewasa photographerwho
predominantlyshotin monochrome,but
thisexhibitiondisplays,manyforthefirst
time,someof herlesser-knowncolour
works.Maierspentmorethan 40 years
workingasa nannyforfamilieson
Chicago’sNorthShore,withherspare
timededicatedtowanderingthestreets
of thatcityandalsoNewYork.
Documentingfragmentsof everyday
urbanlife,herhugebodyof workis a
fantasticpeekintowhatlifemusthave
beenlikeat thattime.
Maierleftbehindmorethan150,
photographic images, including prints,
negatives,transparencies,androlls
of undevelopedfilm.Theworkwas
discoveredbychancewhena storage
lockerwasseizedafterMaierfellbehind
withherrent.Shediedin 2009,aged83.
Sincetheirdiscovery,manyof herimages
havebeenpublishedin booksand
exhibitedin museumsandgalleries,
whilethe 2013 documentaryfilmFinding
VivianMaierwasnominatedforan
AcademyAward.
Theimagesheredatefrom 1960 to
1984,showingscenesfromNewYork
andChicago,aswellasseveralof Maier’s
stagedbutoftenenigmaticself-portraits
- a selfie pioneerif youwill.Maierwould
makemorethan40,000colourpieces,
workingwithEktachromecolourslides
whicharedecidedlymoreabstractthan
themorestraightforwardblack& white
workshetendstobeknownfor.
Hereshefocusesherlensontexture
andpattern,aswellasfoundobjects,
newspapers,graffiti andsoon.Thisallows
ustoseethatnotonlywasMaieran
expertat composition,shealsohada
carefulunderstandingof colourbalance
andharmonywithintheframe.
If you’reasfascinatedastherestof
theworldseemstobewithVivianMaier,
you’vejustaboutgotenoughtimeto
checkoutthisshow,whichcomes highly
recommended.Amy Davies
Chicago, April 1977
BOOK
EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION
UrbanGypsies
ByPaulWenham-Clarke,HoxtonMiniPress,
£17.95, 128 pages, hardback, ISBN 978-1-
910566-49-
THENINTHbookin HMP’s(Hoxton
MiniPress)‘TalesfromtheCity’series,
UrbanGypsiesis a fascinatingglimpse
intothelivesof a groupof Travellers
livingbeneaththeWestway,anelevated
motorwaywhichconnects the suburbs
of Londontotheinnercity.
Hereis a culturethatis sooftenstigmatised,and
a specific communitythathasfounda homehere
formorethan 40 years,yetcontinuestolivewith
theconstantthreatof being moved on and losing its
identityforgood.
PaulWenham-Clarke’sportraitsarecareful,
considered,andnon-judgementalandareclearly
theresultof a deeprespectforthecommunitywhose
trusthegainedafterseveralyearsof trying.Forthose
interestedin localandcommunityprojects,thisis a
perfectexampleof whatcanbeachievedwithhard
work and determination.★★★★★Amy Davies
Colour Photographs
Self-Portrait, Chicago, June 1976
© ESTATE OF VIVIAN MAIER, COURTESY MALOOF COLLECTION AND HOWARD GREENBERG GALLERY, NEW YORK
©
ESTATE OF VIVIAN MAIER, COURTESY MALOOF COLLECTION AND HOWARD GREENBERG GALLERY, NEW YORK