All Things Considered

Harry Cory Wright
Posted by Simon Lewin

Photographers can be a funny breed. A few years ago I went to a workshop with landscape photographer Harry Cory Wright. It was a sort of ‘audience with’ out on the North Norfolk coast.

I’ll confess I took a camera – though didn’t take a single photo. To me, the day was more about looking and seeing, rather than taking.

But I shouldn’t have been surprised that the majority of those attending were simply itching to get snapping from the minute we arrived, with more of an interest in f-stops and shutter speeds than the creative process behind Harry’s work. The important bit.

Of course, there’s an element of me that does enjoy the business end of photography – but it’s the (relative) simplicity of Harry’s set up that appeals. A big wooden box on a big tripod that takes big negatives which allow you to produce very big prints. But it's a process that means you think about the photos you're taking - with the cost of the film and processing, you simply can't sit there snapping away and hoping that you'll get one good shot.

You’ll find out a bit more about this on Harry’s website. He spent last year touring the UK preparing a book called ‘Journey through the British Isles’ which will be published later in the year. Harry logged the journey in this excellent blog.

Posted by Simon Lewin on April 4th, 2007

William Morris Gallery closure
Posted by Simon Lewin

As there are just two weeks left to convince the decision makers, I wanted to post a quick entry about the possible closure of the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, London - the world's only museum specifically devoted to the Life, Work and Influence of William Morris. Housed in the beautiful 18th century family home of William Morris (who was born in Walthamstow in 1834), the internationally renowned collection includes:

- Decorative art by William Morris is and his circle and by his followers in the Arts & Crafts Movement
- Pictures and sculpture donated by Sir Frank Brangwyn, R.A .A.
- An archive of manuscripts and other material relating to Morris, his family and associates

Please take a minute to sign the online petition and find out more about the closure by visiting www.keepourmuseumsopen.org.uk

Posted by Simon Lewin on April 1st, 2007