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Peter Gowland has died

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Mike Pieper

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Peter died March 17. My favorite glamour photographer and a really classy guy.
 
'Tis a sad day indeed. Back in the early 70's, I wanted to be just like him, and always wanted one of his 4x5 Gowlandflex cameras (of course, it was unaffordable then).

Rick
 
I remember when I bought my first large format camera, and 8x10" Gowland Pocket View on eBay that I still use (I also had a 4x5" version for a few years), and I had to order an extension rail and a few lensboards for it. I found the address online and mailed a letter, and a few days later was shocked when Peter Gowland himself called me in my office to check on the details. Since then we've occasionally been in touch by e-mail. He always loved to talk about his cameras and to find out what people were doing with them, and was eager to offer advice to younger photographers like myself.

Check out his website, www.petergowland.com , for more background on his life and career.

One of my favorite pages on that site is this collection of photographs of family and friends on the beach near their home--

http://www.petergowland.com/Glamour0002.html
 
A visit to his site a while ago inspired me to start drawing up plans for a 5"x4" TLR. It's currently on the list of four thousand and seven things I should get round to one day!


Steve.
 
I once called for info on his 4x5 aerial camera and was surprised when I ended up speaking with Peter. Even after it became clear that his 4x5 aerial wouldn't fit my needs, he was happy to spend time discussing aerial photography in general. Like Mike says, a real classy guy.
 
I've been an admirer of you're work since I first saw it more than fifty years ago, you've lived a very long and productive life, rest in peace Peter.
 
A great loss...Peter and Alice became friends when Ted spent the day at their home to prepare an article in honor of Peter's 90th birthday a few years ago. Both bright, funny, and sensitive people, and the standing joke was how hard Alice tried to get Peter to slow down, and never quite succeeded.

They routinely fed the wildlife that hung out around their home...I'll be making a donation in his memory to an organization that supports that part of their life together.
 
I have owned one of his cameras for 25 years and have always have recommended them. I am not a great fan of glamour photography, but I admire Peter's dedication and talent. RIP

Vaughn
 
what sad news. i hope he is making great cameras and images " upstairs "

i was lucky enough to speak with mr gowland on the telephone several years ago.
i had found one of his twin lens 4x5 cameras on ebay and it needed some work to bring
it back to life. i called one saturday and we chatted for a long time. he had all the lenses
and parts that i would need to refurbish the camera or if i wanted, he said he could do it for me ...

he was such a nice guy ...
 
mgb74 said:
I once called for info on his 4x5 aerial camera and was surprised when I ended up speaking with Peter. Even after it became clear that his 4x5 aerial wouldn't fit my needs, he was happy to spend time discussing aerial photography in general. Like Mike says, a real classy guy.
Click to expand...

This is very interesting. A long time back, I was shooting a lot of aerial, and needed a specialized camera for something I was doing, so I called Peter. He had not made an aerial camera, or at least not one that would work for me, but as we spoke, I could hear his mind working on the various design problems that would be involved in making one. I went on to other things and never followed up on it.

As I recall, I was looking for one that used roll film, and the issue of the self capping shutter was a big part of our conversation. Wish I had left him my phone number! It's fun to see the images of what he did with it, but it would be more fun to have one.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
His cameras were so unique, was glad I had a chance to own one. RIP.
 
As an independent he was a genuine innovator and an inspiration to all, I'm not a glamor photographer but I can admire what he accomplished in his lifetime.
 
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