Photo London 2024 May 16-19 Somerset House.

May 20, 2024 Bill Allen

This years Photo London exhibition was well worth a visit. 120 exhibitors from 55 countries.

If like me you know what you like but find the scope of photographic talent out there daunting, exhibitions like these are invaluable . So much talent and knowledge under one roof, not just the image makers but the galleries to.

We are all individuals, and you are going to walk into some of the rooms and say “nope”, but the chance of turning a corner and finding something new that tickles your fancy and fires up your mojo in a collection of artists such has been put together here is very likely.

It’s all very well swiping through images on your phone or clicking on pictures on a screen but in my opinion the framed printed piece stands out head and shoulders above all.

I’ve added some of my favourites below, even Gordon Ramseys depiction of Christ , which I thought was hysterical, his must be made of brass!

Markus Klinko David Bowie Instagram Gallery

David Yarrow "Pride Rock" Exhibition & Book Signing

October 6, 2019 Bill Allen

David Yarrows latest book Pride Rock and exhibition currently showing at the Maddox Gallery’s in Mayfair & Notting Hill is one you’ll not want to miss.

I was recently at a book signing in the aforementioned Maddox Westbourne Grove Gallery where David gave a short talk about his latest work and travels.

As you would expect he spoke of his commitment to animal conservation, his work with Tusk Trust, Wild Ark and many other worthy charity’s and organisations.

If you get the chance to go to attend one of his talks he really does have a way with words, he’s informative, emotive and engaging on a subject that so often is cloaked in the horror that humans are capable of.

I’ve loved his work for a number of years and his commitment to animal preservation is truly inspiring and encouraging.

Below is a press release from Maddox Gallery which details the exhibition.

Maddox Gallery is pleased to present ‘Pride Rock,’ a major exhibition of David Yarrow’s latest photographic works.

For more than two decades, legendary British photographer David Yarrow has been putting himself in harm’s way to capture immersive photography of the world’s most revered and endangered species. Now, carefully curated for the first time, ‘Pride Rock’ will offer a compelling retrospective of Yarrow’s spectacular work in the wild, as well as his elaborate storytelling portraiture.

Featuring over 40 of Yarrow’s most iconic photographs, ‘Pride Rock’ highlights the beauty of the endangered planet and the art of narrative as conveyed by one of the most relevant fine art photographers in the world. Yarrow says: “The balance now suits my personality and has no doubt helped my creativity. Both genres can play off each other and spark ideas.”

Coinciding with the release of his second book – a compendium of some of his greatest works published by Rizzoli – the exhibition will take place at both Maddox Gallery Mayfair and Maddox Gallery Westbourne Grove; offering unprecedented access into Yarrow’s stunning archive.

“There are no universal rules in photography—only personal ones. My central premise is that if photography was a language, then focus would be the most important word in that lexicon. Focus deliberately includes or it deliberately excludes, and it should be emphatically clear what the photographer is trying to say.”

With his images heightening awareness of these species and raising huge sums for charity and conservation, ‘Pride Rock’ celebrates one of the most relevant and evocative photographers in the world today.

Kevin Cummins - So It Goes

February 10, 2019 Bill Allen

I had the pleasure recently of meeting the legendary Kevin Cummins when he exhibited at the Lucy Bell Gallery in St Leanards, East Sussex while promoting his latest book “So It Goes - Punk And The Aftermath “

Punk music played a massive part during my teenage years in the late 70’s.

One of my weekly rituals was to buy the music papers that would hit the news shelves on a Thursday morning, always Sounds & NME, (New Musical Express was for the dinosaurs).This would be our guide to what gigs we would travel to over the next week or so, (this was the pre-internet age).

The music press was my introduction to Kevin’s work. Living in the south, the northern scene was unreachable to me, those superb Manchester bands where rarely within my reach, but the reviews of these gigs where often published along with Kevin’s photographs.

So It Goes encapsulates the the northern punk scene, the author was in a unique position, working so closely with The Buzzcocks and several other pivotal bands, he was totally imsersed within that scene.

As I mentioned the punk movement had a big influence on me as it did many others of mt era, talking to Kevin and reminiscing about this time was great.

Congratulations Kevin on the publication of your latest book, in my opinion a great piece of work well worth a few quid!

As for my copy and the B’dum B’dum annotation, if you weren’t there you won’t get it!