It’s strange how every so often a series of things come together with a common link. And in this case a personal memory of somebody who was very supportive many years ago when I was trying to set up a community darkroom at a Community Arts project in Kemptown, Brighton back in the eighties. The memory is of a writer for The British Journal of Photography, Ainslie Ellis.
What brings this all together for me is an email from a good friend Frank, giving me a link to a short video by Martin Parr, about an exhibition Martin has curated and is involved with, looking back at the work of a great British photographer, Tony Ray Jones. Ainslie had written about and photographed Tony Ray Jones and written an essay for his book, which was to have an influence on Mark Power, a Brighton based Magnum Photographer. Mark was once asked the question , “What was the first photo book that you can remember buying or seeing that really had a strong affect on you?” He cited “A Day Off” by Tony Ray Jones. You can read his response here.
Another connection related to this post is a blogpost written recently by another Brighton photographer , Kevin Meredith. Clearly Tony Ray Jones’es work is still making waves long after he died, and long may that remain so…
Joel Meyerowitz on Tony Ray Jones