Thomas Joshua-Cooper.

Keith Tapscott. · Jan 13, 2008

I don`t know much about him, other than he works in 5x7, has had some books published, currently lives somewhere in Scotland and used to do workshops. I have read post here about TJC and I am wondering if he still does workshops? The only information I have is from what I have read on the photo-forums e.g., apug.

tim rudman · Jan 13, 2008

I only have limited info, based on inviting him to talk at the Arena annual weekend seminar in the S.E. of England some years ago.
I was told that he didn't travel outside Scotland, but I wrote to him anyway with an invitation. I sent him 2 personal letters but I had no reply.
Tim

Les McLean · Jan 13, 2008

Keith Tapscott. said:
I don`t know much about him, other than he works in 5x7, has had some books published, currently lives somewhere in Scotland and used to do workshops. I have read post here about TJC and I am wondering if he still does workshops? The only information I have is from what I have read on the photo-forums e.g., apug.

Keith, Thomas lives in Glasgow and works in the Glasgow School of Art where he is, I think, Professor of Photography. He has several books, I have three of them, Point of No Return, published in 2004, being the last one that I know of, I believe it is still available and can recommend it but have a look at it before you purchase because Tom's work is a bit of an aquired taste. The others that I have are Dreaming the Gokstadt and Between Dark and Dark, both long since out of print. Tom used to do one workshop each year at Inversnaid in Scotland but I don't think he has done that for several years. Even though he is a good friend of mine he agreed to do one workshop only for me many years ago. Tom is an inspirational teacher and if you see a workshop advertised I'd suggest that you book up immediately for there are many photographers waiting for that pleasure.

Les McLean · Jan 13, 2008

tim rudman said:
I only have limited info, based on inviting him to talk at the Arena annual weekend seminar in the S.E. of England some years ago.
I was told that he didn't travel outside Scotland, but I wrote to him anyway with an invitation. I sent him 2 personal letters but I had no reply.
Tim

Tim, he never answers letters, emails and even telephone calls, one of his assistants does that. He is very difficult to catch by phone. The only reason that I can get to him is that I have his private darkroom telephone number so I have to hope he is in there when I call and he is prepared to answer it. A very private but interesting character.

Keith Tapscott. · Jan 13, 2008

Thanks for the info Les, from what you have said, the workshop seems unlikely.

Cheers,

Keith.

roy · Jan 13, 2008

Keith, have you looked at the Inversnaid programme; could he lecture there ?

Vaughn · Jan 14, 2008

Thomas is also a friend and mentor of mine...but that was many many years ago before he left the USA for Scotland and was teaching at Humboldt State University (late 70's/early 80's). And Les is correct, he does not answer letters.

Good luck in tracking him down. The best you might be able to do is to attend a talk, if he ever gives one, in relation to one of his shows.

Vaughn

Keith Tapscott. · Jan 15, 2008

Vaughn said:
Thomas is also a friend and mentor of mine...but that was many many years ago before he left the USA for Scotland and was teaching at Humboldt State University (late 70's/early 80's). And Les is correct, he does not answer letters.
Good luck in tracking him down. The best you might be able to do is to attend a talk, if he ever gives one, in relation to one of his shows.

Vaughn

As Les said. http://www.gsa.ac.uk/gsa.cfm?pid=103

Keith Tapscott. · Jan 15, 2008

Vaughn said:
Thomas is also a friend and mentor of mine...but that was many many years ago before he left the USA for Scotland and was teaching at Humboldt State University (late 70's/early 80's). And Les is correct, he does not answer letters.
Good luck in tracking him down. The best you might be able to do is to attend a talk, if he ever gives one, in relation to one of his shows.

Vaughn

As Les said. http://www.gsa.ac.uk/gsa.cfm?pid=103

Vaughn · Jan 15, 2008

Keith Tapscott. said:
As Les said. http://www.gsa.ac.uk/gsa.cfm?pid=103

Tracking him down on the WWW is one thing, in person is another story!

Vaughn

Les McLean · Jan 16, 2008

Vaughn said:
Tracking him down on the WWW is one thing, in person is another story!

Vaughn

Vaughn, clearly you know Tom I will probably meet up with him sometime in the spring when I go to the College if he's there that is. I'll pass on your good wishes

Vaughn · Jan 16, 2008

I would appreciate that! Tell him that I am still the photo tech for HSU and that someday I'll send him a carbon print of my three 3 10 year old boys.

Vaughn

Neil Souch · Jan 24, 2008

I was lucky to see an exhibiton of his seascapes at the St Ives TATE a few years ago - all done on 10x8 IIRC and the prints were the size of a wall. Quite stunning in fact and very different from the norm. A guy well worth getting hold of, or getting to see, if you can.

Cheers,

Neil.

Keith Tapscott. · Jan 24, 2008

Neil Souch said:
I was lucky to see an exhibiton of his seascapes at the St Ives TATE a few years ago - all done on 10x8 IIRC and the prints were the size of a wall. Quite stunning in fact and very different from the norm. A guy well worth getting hold of, or getting to see, if you can.

Cheers,

Neil.

I read some where that he used to use an old 5x7 Camera and Kodak Plus-X film which AFAIK is no longer available in LF film-sheets. Perhaps he has moved on to the 8x10 format.

Vaughn · Jan 24, 2008

As far as I know he works with 5x7. Long before moving to Scotland he was considering 11x14...but on the advice of Ansel, he stayed with 5x7 (one of the deciding factors was depth of field...the longer lenses often required to cover 11x14 don't have much).

Vaughn

Les McLean · Jan 24, 2008

To my knowledge Tom still uses his old 5 x 7 camera. I once took him to a workshop and he sat in the back seat of the car holding the camera, wrapped in the focussing cloth, on his knee. We travelled over 200 miles with Tom lovingly nursing his beloved 5 x 7 as described. He told me that when he travelled overseas by plane he carried the camera in the same manner. That was quite a few years ago, I wonder what he does these days with all the idiocy that takes place when checking in at airports.

Neil Souch · Jan 26, 2008

Maybe the images I saw were from a 5x7 camera and not a 10x8. It was a while ago and my memory grows dim! In any event the quality showed through and many of them stayed with me to this day.

Cheers,

Neil.

david b · Jan 26, 2008

TJC had a show in Santa Fe a few years ago and the prints were gorgeous.

Black Dog · Jan 26, 2008

I was lucky enough to do a workshop with him at Inversnaid in 2002-he must have mellowed because we were usually all climbing the wooden hill by 1 am....

Thomas Joshua-Cooper.

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