Retrospective: Liverpool Home

The boy in this photograph followed me from the top of the road to the point where I took this photograph of him. At the time I recall studying the work of Humphrey Spender who was involved in the Mass Observation Project.

Based in Bolton, a team of paid investigators went into a variety of public situations: meetings, religious occasions, sporting and leisure activities, in the street and at work, and recorded people’s behaviour and conversation in as much detail as possible. Humphrey Spender supplemented the more traditional work of diarists with a photographic study. I was struck by Spender’s ability to capture scenes apparently without being seen. His ‘fly on the wall’ approach gave his images an authenticity that eclipsed any photograph that hinted at the presence of the photographer. In the coming decades I began to develop a range of techniques that would enable me to get to the heart of a composition without the people in it being aware of my photographic intent. The photograph of the boy (below) benefits from a more ‘formal’ technique anabling full use of depth of field and a few vauable seconds to compose the subject within the context of the surrounding Council Estate  and the ‘Neo-Gothic’ Anglican Cathedral.

Boy in Liverpool 8 with Anglican Cathedral in the background. 1976

The photograph of the small boy (above 1976) was taken with his full knowledge. Indeed he pestered me for a minute or so as I walked down the road. Wearing my camera around my neck would normally mean that children would ask you to take their photograph!

This exhibition Lambda C Type image is printed on paper measuring 59cm x 59cm. For sale at £200 (with a certificate of authentication signed by the photographer). For purchase please contact Rossana at mercaditoproductions@hotmail.com