David Hurn Exhibition 30th June
As a member of the OCA South West group a visit was organised to visit an Exhibition at the Martin Parr Foundation Gallery within the Paintworks area in Bristol which I attended on the 30th June.
I was fortunate enough to arrive early and over a coffee in the Baracoba Restaurant / Coffee shop and spent 30 minutes chatting one to one with David Hurn prior to the short walk down to his exhibition. After introductions I asked him about the fascinating story where he took an image to be used as an advertising poster for the James Bond Film from Russia With Love. For those not aware the prop master forgot the imitation Walther PPK gun and was forced to use David Hurn's Walther LP-53 air pistol that he fortunately had in the back of his car. The graphic designers also forgot to edit the long barrel of the air pistol. and so it reamains looking slightly odd in many images and the poster The full story can be found here:
http://www.thebondbulletin.com/connery-poster-mishap/
David explained to me that he never gets sentimental over objects and the gun had passed hands multiple times following his initial donation via auctions and to his recollection last sold for around £500,000.
Though confirming that among fellow professionals they never discuss equipment, only subject, he explained he used to small light weight Leica digital cameras one with a 50mm lens and one with 24mm. Never wanting to miss a potential opportunity he had these with him in a bag which he showed each marked with coloured tape so he knew immediately which lens was which if needing to select a camera very quickly. I found David very amiable and down to earth, generous in both time, advice and reflection of experience.
We were given a small period of time to walk around the exhibition and examine his images plus those he had obtained via "swaps" with other celebrated and talented photographers.
This is a video of the opening of his exhibition in Bristol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tFvU4J_nj8
I was fortunate enough to arrive early and over a coffee in the Baracoba Restaurant / Coffee shop and spent 30 minutes chatting one to one with David Hurn prior to the short walk down to his exhibition. After introductions I asked him about the fascinating story where he took an image to be used as an advertising poster for the James Bond Film from Russia With Love. For those not aware the prop master forgot the imitation Walther PPK gun and was forced to use David Hurn's Walther LP-53 air pistol that he fortunately had in the back of his car. The graphic designers also forgot to edit the long barrel of the air pistol. and so it reamains looking slightly odd in many images and the poster The full story can be found here:
http://www.thebondbulletin.com/connery-poster-mishap/
David explained to me that he never gets sentimental over objects and the gun had passed hands multiple times following his initial donation via auctions and to his recollection last sold for around £500,000.
Though confirming that among fellow professionals they never discuss equipment, only subject, he explained he used to small light weight Leica digital cameras one with a 50mm lens and one with 24mm. Never wanting to miss a potential opportunity he had these with him in a bag which he showed each marked with coloured tape so he knew immediately which lens was which if needing to select a camera very quickly. I found David very amiable and down to earth, generous in both time, advice and reflection of experience.
We were given a small period of time to walk around the exhibition and examine his images plus those he had obtained via "swaps" with other celebrated and talented photographers.
This is a video of the opening of his exhibition in Bristol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tFvU4J_nj8
David then proceeded to give us a talk to explain how SWAPS came about and some anecdotes which are very interesting and relevant: - There are talkers and doers; talkers tend to become academics and doers photographers - Love of subject matter will make the picture not ideas about composition - Love of photography not as important as love of subject; being in love with photography rather than subject matter a common error - Learning about context of subject takes a lot of time, photography does not- Taking time to make your composition work - Purpose not nice photography but interesting or intriguing photography. Need to know instantly what photograph is about not having to know about the way it is made.
I must thank Amano Samarpan for reminding of some statements from David
Interestingly when David was asked what was the best investment in becoming a photographer he said a good pair of shoes. If you are committed to photography then you really need to be out practicing it at least 8 hours a day.
A funny story recalled was about his good friend Don McCullen who got gone to Liverpool to do some reportage photography on the Liverpool Docker's strike. Don had rang David from hospital having been beaten up by some dockers who misunderstood his intentions. He asked of David how come he always ended up beaten up and not David. I'm sure there are many stories there.
Just before lunch we were invited for a tour of the Gallery but given I could do that at another time, further time spent with David I thought much more valuable and a great investment.
Thanks to Amano for capturing this image with my camera of David and myself
After lunch we shared some of our work which David commented on. A large proportion of the work appeared to be from students experimenting with themes and with photoshop artistry techniques. David did say it wasn't his genre so found it hard to comment.
OCA Tutor Matt commented and suggested that option of making things much simpler rather than complicated. Focus on a goal rather than without purpose experimenting. Experimentation is good but it must have purpose.
I took some of my documentary images printed at A3 taken from hotel windows that I stay in as part of my job. David made kind comments about the ideas and subject but stressed I need to take many more in order to create a collection, a body of work
My fellow students made good suggestions and comments allowing later reflection for myself.
A picture taken by Amano of the discussions / work sharing, the back of my head nearest the camera and David on the left, OCA tutor Matt who hosted the day on the right.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day meeting fellow students and tutor Matt, and I was absolutely thrilled to spend the best part of a day in company of Magnum Photographer David Hurn whose honesty, advice, comment were extremely valuable. David I felt was a very genuine, generous man who spoke with a passion about photography, his own photography and the work of others whom he talked about with whom he performed SWAPS with. You could see and hear from how passionately he spoke and his focus on the subject why he was able to become so successful
Interestingly he lives relatively local to me so I wonder if one day I could arrive at his door with a request to SWAP images
I thoroughly enjoyed the day meeting fellow students and tutor Matt, and I was absolutely thrilled to spend the best part of a day in company of Magnum Photographer David Hurn whose honesty, advice, comment were extremely valuable. David I felt was a very genuine, generous man who spoke with a passion about photography, his own photography and the work of others whom he talked about with whom he performed SWAPS with. You could see and hear from how passionately he spoke and his focus on the subject why he was able to become so successful
Interestingly he lives relatively local to me so I wonder if one day I could arrive at his door with a request to SWAP images
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