A Photographic Life

In episode 22 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering unexpected events, inspirations and situations, the responsibility of Instagram takeovers and the importance of collaboration.  Plus this week photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen is a Finnish photographer who has worked in Britain since the 1960s. Intending to pursue photography as a career, she was apprenticed to a fashion photographer in Helsinki for a year before studying photography in London in the 1960s, and co-founding the Amber Collective in Newcastle in 1969. From 1969 Konttinen lived in Byker, and for seven years photographed and interviewed the residents of this area of terraced houses until her own house was demolished. This work resulted in the book Byker. Konttinen's next project was a study of girls attending dance schools in North Shields, their mothers, and the schools, resulting in the book Step-by-Step. The book was an influence for the film Billy Elliot. www.amber-online.com/collection/byker The image discussed (Girl on a Spacehopper, 1971. From the series Byker, 1970's) in this podcast can currently be seen in the Women by Women exhibition at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead until the 30th of September, 2018. http://baltic.art/whats-on/exhibitions/idea-of-north

In episode 21 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott introduces a new feature to the podcast in which photographers recall 'Photo Stories' from their careers and considers the setting of achievable expectations for projects, work and careers, informal mentorships and the building of useful archives. Plus this week legendary photographer Burk Uzzle recalls making the iconic image at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 that became the cover for the album of the event, the poster for the film of the event and the defining image of a cultural phenomenon. Initially grounded in documentary photography when he was the youngest photographer hired by LIFE magazine at age 23, Burk Uzzle's work grew into a combination of split-second impressions reflecting the human condition during his tenure as a member of the Magnum Photo agency. For 15 years, Uzzle was an active contributor to the evolution of the organization and served as its President in 1979 and 1980. During the 16 years he was associated with Magnum, he produced some of the most recognizable images we have from Woodstock to the assassination and funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. to the experience of Cambodian war refugees.  www.burkuzzle.com You can also access and subscribe to these podcasts at SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/unofphoto and on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-photographic-life/id1380344701 Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer in Professional Photography at the University of Gloucestershire, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Focal Press 2014) and The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Focal Press 2015). His next book #New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography will be published by Bloomsbury Academic in January 2019. His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay will be screened across the UK and the US in 2018. © Grant Scott 2018

In episode 20 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the differences between personal, commissioned and commercial work, the importance of personal projects and how he approaches projects to ensure successful outcomes. Plus this week London based photographer Emma Blau takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Emma Blau is an award-winning British photographic artist, curator and commentator; her photography is held in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London and has been exhibited both internationally and in the UK as well as featuring in leading publications including British Vogue, Wallpaper* and The Sunday Times Magazine. www.emmablau.com

In episode 19 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering portrait photography competitions, a recent editorial commission to photograph a photographer and commenting in online photo-forums.  Plus this week photographer Rob Hudson takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Rob Hudson, is based in Cardiff, Wales. That latter fact is more important to him than it might initially appear, because as he struggles towards some form of personal philosophy for his landscape photography he finds himself increasingly focusing on his immediate environment. In fact, for the past few years Hudson has rarely traveled beyond a 15 minutes drive from his home and during his whole life as a landscape photographer he has rarely stretched beyond 30 miles from the landscape of his youth around the town of Abergavenny where his grandparents lived and where his appreciation for the landscape of Wales was first nurtured. He believe's that "the photographic series is essential not only to give space to develop ideas, but also to communicate them to my viewers. If I were to draw out one thread in all my recent work, it is this relationship that is paramount. And this continued search for a unity of representation, that is local, honest, un-romanticized and yet allowing for the personal relationship that drives me forward." www.robhudsonlandscape.net You can also access and subscribe to these podcasts at SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/unofphoto and on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-photographic-life/id1380344701 Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer in Professional Photography at the University of Gloucestershire, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Focal Press 2014) and The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Focal Press 2015). His next book #New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography will be published by Bloomsbury Academic in January 2019. His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay will be screened across the UK and the US in 2018. © Grant Scott 2018

In episode 18 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering memory in photography, the practice of photographers swapping prints, printing your family photographs, and the David Hurn exhibition at the Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol. Plus this week photographer Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert grew up in Scotland, where on his 13th birthday he received the gift of a camera. A few years later he began working as a UK based freelance photographer for editorial, corporate and NGO clients. His work has appeared in magazines such as Time, National Geographic, Italian Geo, Le Figaro, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and many others. For the past decade Jeremy has been one of the principal photographers for Greenpeace International. Recently based in Japan, he has now relocated back to his home country of Scotland. His work has taken him to over 100 countries, from Antarctica to Outer Mongolia. His personal and commissioned work, has been recognised through a number of photojournalism awards, and he has been widely published and exhibited in Europe and in the USA. https://jeremysuttonhibbert.com You can also access and subscribe to these podcasts at SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/unofphoto and on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-photographic-life/id1380344701 Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer in Professional Photography at the University of Gloucestershire, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Focal Press 2014) and The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Focal Press 2015). His next book #New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography will be published by Bloomsbury Academic in January 2019. His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay will be screened across the UK and the US in 2018. © Grant Scott 2018

In episode 17 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering mentoring, advice and support for and within the photo community and the creation of a database of those willing to offer that support for free. Plus this week London based photographer Jenny Lewis takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Jenny Lewis grew up in, Essex and moved to Hackney over 20 years ago. She has made her living as an editorial photographer, but continues to pursue a range of personal projects. Many of which centre on her experience of living and working in East London. Alongside her project One Day Young, that captures mothers within the first 24 hours after having a baby, she has been photographing the network of creatives who live alongside her in the borough of Hackney. This body of work was published as Hackney Studios by Hoxton Mini Press in April 2017. http://jennylewis.net You can also access and subscribe to these podcasts at SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/unofphoto and on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-photographic-life/id1380344701 Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer in Professional Photography at the University of Gloucestershire, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Focal Press 2014) and The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Focal Press 2015). His next book #New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography will be published by Bloomsbury Academic in January 2019. His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay will be screened across the UK and the US in 2018. © Grant Scott 2018

In episode 16 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the importance of communication and inclusivity when writing about photography and why Instagram is not a bad thing! Plus this week London based photographer Brian David Stevens takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Although he does not meet the brief! Born in 1970 Brian David Stevens works as a commissioned photographer and on self-initiated personal projects that have been widely published and exhibited worldwide. His portrait work is held in the National Portrait Gallery and the National Galleries Of Scotland Collection. www.briandavidstevens.com You can also access and subscribe to these podcasts at SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/unofphoto and on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-photographic-life/id1380344701 Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer in Professional Photography at the University of Gloucestershire, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Focal Press 2014) and The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Focal Press 2015). His next book #New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography will be published by Bloomsbury Academic in January 2019. His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay will be screened across the UK and the US in 2018. © Grant Scott 2018

In episode 15 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the cost of a Magnum photo course and the importance of expectation when considering any form of photo education including workshops. Plus this week photographer Marc Vallée takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Marc Vallée was born in 1968 and works as a London-based documentary photographer whose work focuses on contemporary youth culture within the context of the neoliberal city. Marc’s work has been published and exhibited worldwide and Tate Britain, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Museum of London and the Martin Parr Collection hold his zines and photobooks in their collections. The Museum of London also holds a selection of Marc’s prints in its photographs collection. www.marcvallee.co.uk You can also access and subscribe to these podcasts at SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/unofphoto and on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-photographic-life/id1380344701 Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer in Professional Photography at the University of Gloucestershire, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Focal Press 2014) and The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Focal Press 2015). His next book #New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography will be published by Bloomsbury Academic in January 2019.

In episode 14 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the art of publishing when sharing work and thoughts online and in print with particular reference to the recent Alessio Mamo/World Press Photo Instagram debate and the VII Agency response to the CPR report. Plus this week Vancouver based photographer Kitt Woodland takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which she answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Raised in a family of brilliant musicians and accomplished performers, it is no surprise that Kitt found herself an artist moved by music, inspired to travel, and working in the film, television and fashion industries. She describes her photographs as possessing a calm strength, with great imagination and values the collaborative process, taking pride in working alongside visionaries with similar excitement for their craft. Based in Vancouver, BC, Canada she creates images from intimate artist portraits, to small business campaigns and CGI texture photography for top box office movies. Kitt has earned industry recognition winning the 2015 Applied Arts AACE Award for The Alone Series and the 2015 International Photography Awards - honourable mention for both The Alone Series and juxtPOSE Series. www.kittwoodland.com

In episode 13 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the recent RPS Hundred Heroines initiative and the CPR report by Kristen Chick Photojournalism’s Moment of Reckoning.  Plus this week photographer Tom Stoddart takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Tom Stoddart began his photographic career on a local newspaper in his native North-East of England. In 1978 he moved to London and began working freelance for publications such as The Sunday Times and Time magazine. During a long and varied career he has witnessed such international events as the war in Lebanon, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the election of President Nelson Mandela, the bloody siege of Sarajevo, the wars against Saddam Hussein in Iraq. In 1997 Tony Blair gave Stoddart exclusive behind the scenes access to his election campaign as the Labour Party swept to victory after 18 years of Conservative government in the United Kingdom. Over the years Tom has worked with charities and NGO’s such as Medecins Sans Frontieres, Oxfam, Christian Aid, Care International and Sightsavers. His extensive work on the catastrophic AIDS pandemic blighting Africa has been widely published and exhibited. His photography has been honoured with awards from World Press Photo, Visa pour l’image, Pictures Of The Year and the Eddie Adams Workshop. In 2012 his Perspectives retrospective outdoor exhibition was displayed at London’s South Bank and attracted 225,000 visitors. Now established as one of the worlds most respected photojournalists, Stoddart is represented by, and works closely with Getty Reportage, to produce powerful photo-essays on the serious world issues of our time. www.tomstoddart.com You can also access and subscribe to these podcasts at SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/unofphoto and on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-photographic-life/id1380344701 Grant Scott is the founder/curator of United Nations of Photography, a Senior Lecturer in Professional Photography at the University of Gloucestershire, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Focal Press 2014) and The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Focal Press 2015). His next book #New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography will be published by Bloomsbury Academic in January 2019. His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay will be screened across the UK and the US in 2018. © Grant Scott 2018