#391 PHOTOWALK: LEARN TO READ PEOPLE!
Celebrated American sports photographer Jean Fruth joins us while we walk today, to talk about how to 'read the game' for better pictures on the field and in life. Jean is known for her love and photography of baseball, plus mentoring new photographers, though we also talk about the perfect snack, pizza, missed shots and The Rolling Stones. Also this week, WISH YOU WERE HERE, authenticity, why imperfection can be perfect and Mali Davies joins me with the 'feature roughly in the middle of the show' to talk about photographing through the chaos of trees in woodland.
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REFERENCES AND GALLERIES FROM TODAY’S SHOW
This month’s assignment, by Alys Tomlinson.
Jean Fruth’s latest book, Grassroots Baseball, Where Legends Begin.
Debra Dolan has spent four decades sending postcards to herself from her travels around the globe as featured on CNN.
Charlie Philips, the greatest photographer you may never had heard of? A Guardian feature.
Paul Sanders walks with me for a special photowalk edition (371), referenced by Marilyn Davies’ letter into the show.
Michael Zagaris is an American sports and rock and roll photographer known for his work on the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco 49ers, and the 1970s Rock & Roll scene.
Baron Wolman was an American photographer best known for his work in the late 1960s for the music magazine Rolling Stone.
Neil Leifer, one of America’s greatest sports photographers whose career has spanned over 50 years since becoming a professional while still in his teens.
Lizzie Shepherd, a professional landscape photographer, speaker, teacher and writer, based in North Yorkshire, mentioned today on the show by Mali Davies.
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JEAN FRUTH
Jean Fruth talks to me today about her photographic life on the road.
MALI DAVIES
Mali Davies goes in search of chaos within the ‘Feature roughly in the middle of the show’.
YOUR ‘MALI’S TREES’
CRAIG WILSON
After hearing your chat with Mali I thought I’d share a few photos to a group of trees I visit on a regular basis. Craig Wilson (above).
DREW BROWN
Loved the chat regarding lone trees and I have been inspired by Mali to look more closely at trees. Before photography I admit I would walk past and not notice the beauty of some of the wonderful trees that surround us. The attached tree I found in the Yorkshire Dales near Ribblehead Viaduct. I have actually sent you a story fairly recently about my trip to the Dales and included a shot of this wonderful lone tree. Drew Brown (above).
WISH YOU WERE HERE: PAUL FRIDAY
This is our bridge. I say ‘our’, but it is the only bridge in the village. The river here is tidal with a range of around three metres. So someone from the Council has the job of sitting in the cabin for two hours either side of high tide to swing the bridge and let boats through. As the tide changes the river flows upstream, then stops, and then runs back to the sea. The man from the Council is deeply tanned and well-read. The land round here is pretty flat – there are no contour lines on the OS map – and the river has the combined might of many Dales torrents. So it can flood a bit. The village has a wall, but the far side of the bridge, as far as the horizon, fills up to around two metres deep. At such times, perhaps once a year, we become an island community. There is usually one road still passable, but that just serves for runs to the supermarket for more wine. The village has around 1500 people and we have four pubs. I believe there used to be eight, but in those days we also had a railway station and a chocolate factory. We had a castle too, which still forms part of my garden wall. I live next door to one of the pubs in an Elizabethan shack that was formerly a butcher’s shop. Our lounge was the slaughterhouse. The timbers in the house were recovered from the ship-breaking business by the river, so nothing is straight or level. But it’s part of a compact and friendly atoll on the Ouse. Think of us as Hawaii with a Yorkshire accent. And duffel coats in place of grass skirts. Wish you were here, Paul Friday.
MARILYN DAVIES
Marilyn Davies (above and below) shares the beauty of finding the perfect in the imperfect.
NEALE JAMES
Sketchbookers in square today, as I tread the path during recording.
VIDEO LIBRARY
The following videos/subjects are referenced within today’s show.
Sinéad O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares’ cover from 1990 and obituary in The Guardian.
