So...as I am laid up with a broken leg ( a long story I will go into later) I thought I may as well use the time to my advantage and do something constructive. So ..my first BLOG. My initial thoughts were..why do this? Well, my working life as a photographer is pretty eclectic and I get up to all sorts of things that usually end up in a story, or two or three...so why not share them. So, I'll mainly talk about my work..people seem to want to know, as I get on average 2-4 letters/ emails/calls a week from people wanting to work with me or get involved..so if they can't all come in to the studio..they can find out along with clients and friends..what is going on here...along with photo's of the stuff I get up to.
I am not going to be able to shoot for a while, do may as well TALK about photography! So here goes my blog that will give you an insight into what I get up to at RIVER STUDIO the business I set up almost 20 years ago!
So a mini CV for people who don't know me or the full story; I graduated in 1986 with a degree in BA(Hons) Visual Communications, worked as an assistant full time at a busy commercial and advertising studio in Birmingham. After that was studio manager for a year at a different studio and finally went freelance in 1990 and set up River Studio. I didn't want the word 'photography' in the title, as I always wanted to do 'other things' and have along the way worked with video; music and corporate, run lighting workshops (which I still do) mentored young photographers,
been on The Gadget Show twice, hire the studio and kit to photographers and video companies, including BBC, Channel 4 and many independants. Plus several other bits and pieces. All photography based.
One BIG one of these was a photo exhibition THIS ENGLAND which toured the UK for over 3 years. It showed at 14 UK venues and half of it went out to LA where I showed the work to some galleries and Ad agencies. This England was a BIG thing for me..I'll write about it here a little later..but briefly I championed the underdog..the sub title to the show was 'Don't judge a book by its cover, or a man by the cut of his cloth' I spent a year shooting 'underground England' fetish clubs to Morris Dancers (never both at the same time ..sadly)
This exhibition was a turning point of sorts in that it got me more recognised as a 'people photographer' I do other things of course..food to Harley Davidson..but I do like shooting and meeting people. I now do quite a lot of work with the city council which is all people based and it can be people with learning difficulties to Royalty (sometimes at the same time!) My people work has led to shoots with very varied and interesting people and meeting/shooting the likes of Jermaine Jackson, Willard Wigan, Rick Wakeman, John Peel (bless him) Princess Anne, lots of rock/pop stars from Lemar to U2 and over the last couple of years..lots of DANCERS. Which will be my next exhibition, currently a work in progress entitled Still;Dancing. More details of which no doubt will be heavily featured here.
All images copyright ; Richard Battye River Studio
