James Ravilious

[peterm1]

Has anyone watched this on you tube?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYg8mxvUgJE

Absolutely marvelous and very sympathetic video about a photographer who is probably not as well known as he should be.

I can particularly relate to Ravilious and his photos as I grew up in country South Australia which in that era (1960s-1970s) was even then still inhabited by a few people like the ones he photographed in Devon - well after all they came from similar British and Irish stock so perhaps that is not so surprising despite the differences in countryside. And of course he loved to use the same cameras as most of us for this work. If you have not seen it, watch it - you will learn something.

And of course there is a web site http://www.jamesravilious.com/gallery.asp

And a book http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Eye-Photographs-James-Ravilious/dp/1905622147

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Peter,
WONDERFUL video. Thank you so much for posted it here. Seeing how the local residents now react to his photographs is something special. And of course, the photographs themselves are just splendid.

 

[Bingley]

Yes, I've seen that. A wonderful photographer, sadly gone in his prime. He developed a look to his photos that's quite distinctive.

 

[fixbones]

Wonderful photographer, inspirational video !!

Thanks for sharing

 

[leica M2 fan]

Thanks for the links, I've never seen such inspiring footage before.

 

[nickdando]

This film, which was shown on the BBC and is narrated by Alan Bennett, is available on a genuine DVD from http://www.banyak.co.uk/shop-ravilious.php
It's also worth looking at http://www.beaford-arts.org.uk/index.php?id=5 where you can see some more of James' work, purchase prints, cards, post cards or books about his photography.

Nick

 

[coelacanth]

Really really inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing the link!

 

[35mmdelux]

excellent. thanks -

 

[Lilserenity]

One of my all time favourites, I spent much of my youth growing up in North Devon not many miles from where he was based although we only moved there in 1988; right on the threshold of when it really changed. The new link road to the motorway did that, you could get to the M5 in 40 minutes instead of almost an hour and a half on the old road (still exists, imagine stuck on it behind HGVs all the way.... it's the B3227 now) -- after that, it changed, the chains and the builders became very interested in the area as it was accessible at last.

But I do remember the first couple of years and it was a quirky place to live; before it was cool to move to North Devon to get away from the City in many ways. Perhaps shaped me as much as a photographer and a person more than any of my time in the South East (Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire) where I was born. I have since moved back to the South East coast but my parents still live there and I visit a few times a year. I love it but it's so very different now but it's raw natural beauty remains, it's just much more 'pacified' now and no longer so much the wild wild west.

I have the DVD here and it's just fantastic, really re-energises me when I'm looking for some inspiration. He was a true talent in my eyes, and one of the unsung greats.

There was a recent exhibition in London; so his work does get exhibited.

He also had a fantastic way of expressing his vision in words; a refreshing view. I particularly like his expression of little silver paintings -- perfect.

Vicky

 

[martin s]

Very appreciated.

martin

 

[peter_n]

Ravilious was a wonderful talent. I have his book An English Eye and I recommend it. I would think that the BBC film is inspirational for many, especially documentary photogs. Thanks for posting Peter!

 

[charjohncarter]

I saw it before too. But what an inspriation, I even fooled with further shading my lens hoods.

 

[sojournerphoto]

I couldn't agree more. I saw the video a couple of months back and have since bougth a copy of Down the Deep Lanes from Beaford Arts and An English Eye from Amazon. Both are also available direct from Bardwell Press the publisher.

Both books are excellent. An English Eye contains really outstanding work and is beautifully printed. Down the Deep Lanes is an exploration of the Devon landscape and the history that has shaped it. Again beautifully reproduced photos and interesting text.

Bardwell also publish Silence at Ramscliffe, which will probably be my next book purchase, about the the english foot and mouth outbreak that was so badly handled - albeit that it brought the extent of animal movement around the country to light.

Both Ravillious books are highly recommended.

Mike

 

[peterm1]

Yes I keep watching this over and over. I had known about Ravilious for a few years and enjoyed it whenever I saw one of his photos. But it was only recently that I became aware of this video which is aided in setting the tone for a retrospective on Ravilious by the wonderful voice of the narrator and the beautiful string music used as a theme. I think it says something about immersing yourself in the place where you are taking photos - you would never get many of the shots that Ravilious got if people did not trust you. How many of us have THAT kind of commitment.

I especially liked that moment in the video when the lady who had been one of his subjects and had been happily chatting about how she walked backwards when she saw him to avoid being photographed suddenly went all quiet and reflective and quietly said "Poor old James!" in a soft voice as she gazed at one of his photos. You could tell she liked him.

 

[sojournerphoto]

Yes I keep watching this over and over. I had known about Ravilious for a few years and enjoyed it whenever I saw one of his photos. But it was only recently that I became aware of this video which is aided in setting the tone for a retrospective on Ravilious by the wonderful voice of the narrator and the beautiful string music used as a theme. I think it says something about immersing yourself in the place where you are taking photos - you would never get many of the shots that Ravilious got if people did not trust you. How many of us have THAT kind of commitment.

I especially liked that moment in the video when the lady who had been one of his subjects and had been happily chatting about how she walked backwards when she saw him to avoid being photographed suddenly went all quiet and reflective and quietly said "Poor old James!" in a soft voice as she gazed at one of his photos. You could tell she liked him.

Peter

Alan Bennett, the narrator, is an english play and screenwriter who (I think) is approaching being a 'national treasure'. A good voice and interestingcharacter. He explains somewhere that he is not really interested in photography, but his writing is all about people as is James' work.

I completely agree with you about James' approach. He photographed the community that he was a part of of. He was known by and friends with his subjects, a far cry from the voteuristic approach of much dicumentary and street photography. He was fortunate to receive a small stipend from beaford Arts until around 1990, so he could spend his life taking pictures (albeit earning only a small wage and living in a house that he and his wife had been given by her grandfather), but he continued working with a slightly different focus after the end of his association with Beaford Arts.

I also picked up on the lady turning and saying 'Poor James', with a tear in her eye and a catch in her voice. She clearly liked and trusted him in spite of the battles thay had had. Again, he was a full member of his community and not just an observer. As you rad about him it is clear that he was a generous man, who was always rady to share time and kowledge with others.

Mike

 

[charjohncarter]

Yes I keep watching this over and over. I had known about Ravilious for a few years and enjoyed it whenever I saw one of his photos. But it was only recently that I became aware of this video which is aided in setting the tone for a retrospective on Ravilious by the wonderful voice of the narrator and the beautiful string music used as a theme. I think it says something about immersing yourself in the place where you are taking photos - you would never get many of the shots that Ravilious got if people did not trust you. How many of us have THAT kind of commitment.

I especially liked that moment in the video when the lady who had been one of his subjects and had been happily chatting about how she walked backwards when she saw him to avoid being photographed suddenly went all quiet and reflective and quietly said "Poor old James!" in a soft voice as she gazed at one of his photos. You could tell she liked him.

I have to agree I watched many more times than I can count.

 

[Haigh]

Marvellous. Thanks for this moving vidoe.