SPECTATORS

At the tender age of thirty eight I began my photographic career. I earned my living then, and had done since the age of fifteen as an Art Director for various Advertising Agencies in Manchester. In 1983 I began to take a further interest in Photography, and thought then that it was much more suited to my particular kind of artistry. One of the many photographers I admired at the time was the American Kenneth Graves, I particularly liked the way he chose to concentrate on the ‘STRANGE’ Often ‘COMEDIC’ but very familiar subject matter. So armed with a Pentax LS and and a couple of lenses I began my search for a project to concentrate on. I started by visiting my first love, a Speedway meeting at Belle Vue Manchester. I used to support the Aces in my early teens. After observing two violently excitable young children close to the starting gate I became aware of the intriguing possibilities of taking photographs of people in close proximity without them being aware of the camera. A Spectator chasing Spectators so to speak. After a few initial minutes they were so absorbed with the action on the track that they became totally oblivious of me poking my lens just inches away from their animated faces. My very first photographic essay was born. A rich pageant of serious sports fans images emerged, from a wealthy eccentric at Wimbledon with a straw hat and a tea towel on his head, A motley crew of cheerleaders at an American Football match in Tyldesley, Lancashire, who looked like they’d just been dragged in from the local comprehensive’s netball team, and a group 0f young motorcycle aficionardos risking life and limb climbing an advertising hoarding to get a better view of the racing. As I said I was a big admirer of Kenneth Graves, work at the time, but I had no idea of how much of an impact it had on my photographic style, and this project in particular. He was by no means the only photographer I admired or indeed who I was influenced by as my book collection will testify.They range from Gene Smith, Diane Arbus, Tony Ray-Jones, Martin Parr, Brian Griffin to Hannah Starkey, Trent Parke, Thomas Demand Alessandra Sanguineti, Alex Webb, and Alex Majoli. I presented ‘Spectators’ to Sue Davies at The Photographers Gallery London, Because I was new to fine art photography at the time I was oblivious to her importance and significance, however she told me that If it was down to her she would have put Spectators on, but she said that The Photographers Gallery adopted a committee decision, and unfortunately against her wishes they rejected it. The project was eventually exhibited at Gallery Oldham, Cornerhouse Manchester (City Life) The Turnpike Gallery. Much later CAFÉ ROYAL BOOKS. were to acknowledge it’s expertise on the subject