peterm1
Veteran
I have posted a version of this video here a few times over the years as it is of interest to many people but hard to find.
The last time I posted, it must have been over 5 years ago however, as the file disappeared off Youtube. Recently I stumbled on it once more and thought it's time to acquaint a new audience to the joys of James Ravilious. I especially like the fact that the video is narrated by Alan Bennett an English writer and playwright for whom I have a weird admiration. I think it's his voice which always strikes me as gentle and a little sad which incidentally somehow complements this video.
James was the son of a famous English water colorist Eric Ravilious as explained in the video and no doubt this is from whom he inherited his eye. James passed away rather young in 1999.
https://www.bitlanders.com/movie/james-ravilious-a-world-in-photographs/21614
The last time I posted, it must have been over 5 years ago however, as the file disappeared off Youtube. Recently I stumbled on it once more and thought it's time to acquaint a new audience to the joys of James Ravilious. I especially like the fact that the video is narrated by Alan Bennett an English writer and playwright for whom I have a weird admiration. I think it's his voice which always strikes me as gentle and a little sad which incidentally somehow complements this video.
James was the son of a famous English water colorist Eric Ravilious as explained in the video and no doubt this is from whom he inherited his eye. James passed away rather young in 1999.
https://www.bitlanders.com/movie/james-ravilious-a-world-in-photographs/21614
twvancamp
Thom
Thanks for sharing this, Peter! I downloaded so not to be lost. I learned about James' photos on RFF and find them very inspiring. This mini-doc is wonderful, especially the interviews with the subjects.
Out to Lunch
Ventor
Peter, why not put out some work of this photographer, instead. Cheers, OtL
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
Thanks Peter - Ill save this for later viewing, but it's a part of the world I know, and his work is unfamiliar to me, so worth the study!
charjohncarter
Veteran
He is my favorite B&W photographer. And you are right Alan Bennett's voice goes well with the voice of James Ravilious and really compliments his work. I even have tried some of his lens hood ideas that his wife showed in the film.
arseniii
Well-known
Thank you for sharing! Always interesting and refreshing to see/learn about art.
(too much gear talk these days)
(too much gear talk these days)
Michael Markey
Veteran
Thanks for the post Peter .
As you say .... lost for too many years .
As you say .... lost for too many years .
twvancamp
Thom
John, I didn't quite follow that bit. Is it a hood that creates vignetting right outside the frame? Loved seeing how he (mis)treated his gear!
charjohncarter
Veteran
He masked his hoods right up to the edge of the exposed negative, it is a little tricky to do.
I did it with a filter on one of my lenses, but haven't had the film developed yet. This lens is prone to flare so I thought I'd give it a try. I blacked out the blue before use:
DIY semi hood by John Carter, on Flickr
I did it with a filter on one of my lenses, but haven't had the film developed yet. This lens is prone to flare so I thought I'd give it a try. I blacked out the blue before use:
DIY semi hood by John Carter, on FlickrCharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
What a fabulous documentary. Ignoring for the moment the accidentals like Alan Bennett, the local accent - so different to that of Cornwall and Plymouth - and the wonderful characters, the photos stand on their own. Last week I went to see the Don McCullin landscape exhibition, with immense drama and black skies, here these are so different, yet the people still live in a similar shadow.
I saw this life from a distance when my parents lived on Bodmin Moor. The smallholders without a bean, the trousers held up with twine, the heavy coats and the dogs. It was dying then, the small sheep farmers would make profits of £5000 in a good year, and work all hours in horrible conditions.
I'll study again, but some beautiful images and much to learn about black taping lenses - his version of bailer twine and trousers!
I saw this life from a distance when my parents lived on Bodmin Moor. The smallholders without a bean, the trousers held up with twine, the heavy coats and the dogs. It was dying then, the small sheep farmers would make profits of £5000 in a good year, and work all hours in horrible conditions.
I'll study again, but some beautiful images and much to learn about black taping lenses - his version of bailer twine and trousers!
Michael Markey
Veteran
That made me laugh .
I`ve always got some bailer twine in my jacket pockets .
Old man at the farm plaits three strands and makes a stronger rope .
Cuts the verges with a Sythe ... some things never change .
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
That's lovely Michael!
Amusingly, there is a stock of bailer twine in the cupboard under the stairs here - my late mother would never throw anything useful away, even in a modern townhouse in the centre of Plymouth.
Amusingly, there is a stock of bailer twine in the cupboard under the stairs here - my late mother would never throw anything useful away, even in a modern townhouse in the centre of Plymouth.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Nice shot Micheal
Michael Markey
Veteran
Michael Markey
Veteran
Thank you .
Rural communities .... I was helping clearing an old barn the other day except nothing could be thrown away .... which of course was the purpose of the exercise
Anthony Harvey
Well-known
Thanks for the link, Peter, it’s a charming film, informative about a certain type of picture-taking and the technical things that go with it. I found its relaxed style and the calm life of the people it portrays quite comforting in these troubled times.
I recommend the book too: “An English Eye: The Photographs of James Ravilious” by Peter Hamilton with a foreword by Alan Bennett. When I bought it new in 2011 it cost £21 but on Amazon UK a new copy is now £293 and an second hand copy is £55!
Peter Hamilton is a university academic who has curated many international photographic exhibitions. His other excellent books include “Robert Doisneau: A Photographers Life”; and a book on Willy Ronis: “Willy Ronis: Photographs 1926-1995”.
Hamilton also includes a detailed account of James’s working methods and techniques including his preference for an M3 with vintage Leica lenses (uncoated 35mm and 50mm Elmars, 28mm Hector) and HP5/HP5S and later Tri-X, always at 200 and always developed in Perceptol 1:2. He only used natural light and rarely took colour photos, and then mainly Kodachrome 25. Much of his work is 35mm but later he included some larger format work, especially 6x9. Sadly he died aged 60 in 1999.
I recommend the book too: “An English Eye: The Photographs of James Ravilious” by Peter Hamilton with a foreword by Alan Bennett. When I bought it new in 2011 it cost £21 but on Amazon UK a new copy is now £293 and an second hand copy is £55!
Peter Hamilton is a university academic who has curated many international photographic exhibitions. His other excellent books include “Robert Doisneau: A Photographers Life”; and a book on Willy Ronis: “Willy Ronis: Photographs 1926-1995”.
Hamilton also includes a detailed account of James’s working methods and techniques including his preference for an M3 with vintage Leica lenses (uncoated 35mm and 50mm Elmars, 28mm Hector) and HP5/HP5S and later Tri-X, always at 200 and always developed in Perceptol 1:2. He only used natural light and rarely took colour photos, and then mainly Kodachrome 25. Much of his work is 35mm but later he included some larger format work, especially 6x9. Sadly he died aged 60 in 1999.
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
His book is "The Recent Past"
Paul T.
Veteran
It is a lovely film, a BBC production I think that was on Iplayer for a few year and has disappeared for more.
There was an excellent but small exhibition on James at London's South Bank, perhaps 14 years ago, and little about him since.
There was an excellent but small exhibition on James at London's South Bank, perhaps 14 years ago, and little about him since.
Anthony Harvey
Well-known
I didn’t realise until now that a more recent book of his photographs was published in 2017, James Ravilious “The Recent Past”. And his widow, Caroline, known as Robin, has written his biography, the second edition published in 2019: “James Ravilious: A Life”. I love his work so much, and lived in Devon myself, that I’ve ordered both!
Micah
Newbie
(I was composing this when Anthony posted just above, so please excuse any overlap.)
There are a number of resources for those who wish to explore Ravilious' remarkable photography.
The Beaford Archive has scanned and put online 1,700 of JR's photos that the photographer deemed his best (they also show dozens of his contact sheets). Each photo is captioned, and a number of them have comments from people who know something about the subjects of the photos.
Anyone interested in books of Ravilious photos should order them soon, as they become increasingly pricey after they're out of print. All of these are well-illustrated, with high-quality reproductions; be sure to look on used-book sites for them and not just on Amazon.
James Ravilious - A Life was written wonderfully by his widow, Robin.
The Recent Past has a good number of the best photos on the Beaford site linked above.
An English Eye (2007) has excellent text by Peter Hamilton (also biographer of Doisneau and Ronis) but it is out of print and thus is climbing steadily in cost.
Down the Deep Lanes is 20 years old now and out of print but available used (at a price). Large reproductions, too many of which unfortunately are double-truck.
There are a number of resources for those who wish to explore Ravilious' remarkable photography.
The Beaford Archive has scanned and put online 1,700 of JR's photos that the photographer deemed his best (they also show dozens of his contact sheets). Each photo is captioned, and a number of them have comments from people who know something about the subjects of the photos.
Anyone interested in books of Ravilious photos should order them soon, as they become increasingly pricey after they're out of print. All of these are well-illustrated, with high-quality reproductions; be sure to look on used-book sites for them and not just on Amazon.
James Ravilious - A Life was written wonderfully by his widow, Robin.
The Recent Past has a good number of the best photos on the Beaford site linked above.
An English Eye (2007) has excellent text by Peter Hamilton (also biographer of Doisneau and Ronis) but it is out of print and thus is climbing steadily in cost.
Down the Deep Lanes is 20 years old now and out of print but available used (at a price). Large reproductions, too many of which unfortunately are double-truck.
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