You may like this video from 1982

[perkeleellinen]

This video is of an episode of the popular BBC arts programme Omnibus, broadcast 14th November 1982.

It shows five photographers (Lord Lichfield, Jane Bown, Beverley Goodway, Jo Spence and Bob Carlos Clarke) shooting the same model (Jilly Johnson - a famous glamour model in the early '80s). It's interesting to see their different techniques and visions. There's some good comments from the photographers on what they're trying to achieve and also nice to hear the model's perspective on each shoot.

Note: slightly not safe for work at times due to bare breasts.

 

[CMoore]

Pat Lichfield had quite the upper crust career.

 

[AgX]

Off topic, but I was surprised to see model Jill Johnston living in that conservative style.

 

[pbromaghin]

Wow, really good to see such completely different methods of work.

 

[MattKing]

Thanks in particular for the Jane Bown excerpt.
I recognize the sound of that shutter!

 

[AnselMortensen]

Wow.
Thanks for posting that, I'm a big fan of Bob Carlos Clarke's work from that era...and that photo in particular!
It is in his book "The Dark Summer", a relatively hard to find book.

 

[BradS]

Thanks in particular for the Jane Bown excerpt.
I recognize the sound of that shutter!

Was it an Olympus ?

 

[pentaxuser]

Was it an Olympus ?

It was She stood out in those days as one of the few and maybe only photojournalist who didn't use Nikons and who as far as I am aware didn't use colour either. I found here portrait of Jilly Johnson the best of the bunch. The natural look brought out the best of Ms Johnson's features

I think it is fair to say that she was at the opposite end of the scale from Bob Carlos Clarke

pentaxuser

 

[halfaman]

Really amazing how fast Jane Brown works, she was a veteran in her 60's already but I don't think that many photographers have such determination and clarity even after decades of work.

 

[perkeleellinen]

Glad the video was a hit!

I also thought Jane Brown's style was striking compared to the others and her results were my favourites as well. I liked it when the producer said to her that other photographers needed all day but she had it wrapped up in 25 minutes! Her response that it was her training was great.

Did anyone else pick up Bob Carlos Clarke's comment about having to print that photo 30 times to get the one he liked? That type of work was not easy in the days before photoshop!

 

[pentaxuser]

Glad the video was a hit!

I also thought Jane Brown's style was striking compared to the others and her results were my favourites as well. I liked it when the producer said to her that other photographers needed all day but she had it wrapped up in 25 minutes! Her response that it was her training was great.

Did anyone else pick up Bob Carlos Clarke's comment about having to print that photo 30 times to get the one he liked? That type of work was not easy in the days before photoshop!

I noticed that and he was an expert. So how many times for the rest of us?

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

Was it an Olympus ?

An OM-1 without the accessory hot shoe.
And almost certainly the Zuiko 85mm f/2 lens.
She did other good work with that combination

Samuel Beckett, just outside the stage door (and royally pissed off at her)

 

[BradS]

It was. She stood out in those days as one of the few and maybe only photojournalist who didn't use Nikons .....

Thanks.

An OM-1 without the accessory hot shoe.
And almost certainly the Zuiko 85mm f/2 lens.
She did other good work with that combination
View attachment 255258
Samuel Beckett, just outside the stage door (and royally pissed off at her)

Thanks Matt.I thought that I recognized the distinctive prism hosing as that of an OM-1 (or similar) but, I've never owned an Olympus SLR.
That's a fantastic portrait. Guessing he has blue eyes.

 

[perkeleellinen]

Posting this to tie up two separate things that have come together by chance. In the video I posted above Jo Spence creates pictures that are pastiches of sexist adverts. I've just noticed that RRBPhotobooks have published Jo's undergraduate thesis which looks fascinating but I fear is too rich for my blood:

https://www.rrbphotobooks.com/produ...and-photography-or-another-look-at-cinderella

 

[tballphoto]

the white suit set was concieted, and is still an over done setup for photographs, but the end result of it had the best effect on it.

bathtub ones were fun, particularly the black and white one. However still bathtub/shower stuff is over done and a tad pretentious even then.

The others, blah

 

[tezzasmall]

I was brought to this thread (and the Omnibus programme mentioned in the first post) via another, as is the way.

The programme is short and worth watching, despite its age, to see how five photographers captured the same model in their own way.

Terry S

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

I thought that the photo by Bob Carlos Clarke was the most creative because of the the darkroom printing involved.
I liked the one by Beverley Goodway too, but I liked them all to be fair.

 

[tezzasmall]

Wow.
Thanks for posting that, I'm a big fan of Bob Carlos Clarke's work from that era...and that photo in particular!
It is in his book "The Dark Summer", a relatively hard to find book.

One that I hunted everywhere for some good years ago, as I had read so much about it. I finally got a copy when eBay started I think. A great book and quite advanced for the time of publication.

Did anyone else pick up Bob Carlos Clarke's comment about having to print that photo 30 times to get the one he liked? That type of work was not easy in the days before photoshop!

Yes, I did notice as well and it didn't surprise me having read a lot about him - he was a perfectionist when it came to the printing stage.

I would love to own an original print, but they're way out of my price range with a lot of them now being printed digitally and still costing in the £1,000's.

Terry S