Agenda

Bill Jay recalls the Creative Camera days in Ag51

In the first part of a two-part feature, Bill Jay writes about photography in Britain, Europe and The USA during the 1960s and about his time in the editor's chair at Creative Camera, in the new issue of Ag. Here he is writing about his first meeting with an influential young photographer pictured here by Jay, posing in a New York cafe in 1968. Jay writes: “I was under pressure to get off the next issue of the magazine, and struggling with layout sheets over my desk, when a stranger barged in. He was bedraggled with unruly reddish hair and a Fu Manchu moustache. He carried an 8x10in yellow box under his arm. His first words were: “Your magazine’s shit! But I can see you’re trying, so I’ve come along to help.” Offended, I replied: “Then you had better put your pictures where your mouth is, because I don’t know you or care to. Show me what you have to offer.” He gave me the box, full of magic prints. I said: “OK, I’m convinced. You do have something to teach me. Who are you?” “Tony Ray-Jones,” he replied." Portrait of Tony Ray-Jones © Bill Jay, from Bill Jay's Album, published by Nazraeli Press.

Ag51 Out Now!

The Spring 2008 issue of Ag magazine is in the shops now and there is plenty of superb work to enjoy. The cover story explores high dynamic range imaging, written by Adam Woolfitt and illustrated with fine examples from Dave Mullany. The Roma Journeys is remarkable work from Joakim Eskildsen, and Tim Daly demonstrates making photobooks from prints created with digital contact negatives. Bill Jay recalls the salad days of Creative Camera and David Lee's childhood is evoked by John Davies' work. Gerry Badger harks back to the 1960's photo renaissance and David Ward describes his use of 'mystery' in landscape photography. Check out the details at the Ag website which has also just been updated with more readers' websites.

The Roma Journeys, by Joakim Eskildsen

Joakim Eskildsen is a young Dane who graduated with an MA from Helsinki’s University of Art & Design in 1998; as you will see from his website, he has already completed several bodies of exceptional work and published a number of books, including hand-made artist’s books and short-run editions. His latest, and most ambitious to date is The Roma Journeys. A huge body of work it is too.
Like Josef Koudelka before him (Gypsies, published in 1975), Eskildsen has spent six years following his subject, but unlike Koudelka he has divided his time – and that of his collaborator Cia Rinne – more evenly between the seven countries whose Gypsy travellers feature in the work. Also, most of Eskildesn's work – and the most striking – is in colour. The Roma Journeys is published by Steidl and there is a 10-page portfolio from the work in Ag51. Image © Joakim Eskildsen.

Ag magazine launches new PDF download service

Ag magazine is creating a library of downloadable articles, issues and books at Lulu.com to offer readers a low-cost alternative to ordering the printed products, and in the case of individual articles the opportunity to purchase just a single feature rather than the whole issue. Further, we have gathered together articles published over more than one issue into a single download, so you can order just those pages you want instead a batch of printed back issues. Details of this growing library resource can be found by clicking here.

Landscape Beyond at the Oxo Tower Gallery

Landscape Beyond is the title of a new book by David Ward (published by Envisage Books in limited edition and in softback by Argentum) and he has teamed up with Anna Booth for an exhibition of the same name at the Oxo Tower Gallery in London SE1. The show runs from 23-27 April. Both photograph the land in large format; the image here © David Ward is of Vikspollen, Norway. Ward writes about his philosophy of landscape photography in Ag51 - out soon.

How to Make and Publish a Photobook

Every photographer’s must-have accessory!
In this new and unique little book Chris Dickie guides the reader through the various stages and decision-making processes involved in the making of a photobook. He offers advice based on over 30 years’ experience in publishing, during which time he has been professionally involved in every aspect of the publishing process: from writing and editing to art direction, from typesetting and design to print buying. For the past 25 years he has been publishing photography, in magazines and books. To date he has racked up almost 1500 photography publications.
How to Make & Publish a Photobook takes the reader step-by-step from image selection to selling your finished book. The way in which digital technology has revolutionised the publishing process is explained in depth: the costs and merits of the various print production options are compared and contrasted, and advice is offered on which route to take according to the scale and nature of your project.
How to Make & Publish a Photobook is published by Picture-Box Media at a mere £15. For more information or to place an order visit www.picture-box.com, or you can telephone on 020 8941 0249. UK postage is free. The book is also available as a pdf download at just £10 (no postage!) - click here for details.

Männikkö wins 2008 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize

Esko Männikkö (born 1959, Finland) has been awarded the 2008 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize. The £30,000 award was presented last night at The Photographers’ Gallery where all the shortlisted contenders are on show until 6 April 2008. The other shortlisted photographers in this year’s Prize, each awarded £3,000, are: John Davies (1949, UK), Jacob Holdt (1947, Denmark) and Fazal Sheikh (1965, USA).

Ag at Focus On Imaging - Free Seminars

Once again Ag magazine will be at Focus On Imaging, forming The Hub with Linhof & Studio, BJP and Land & Light, and helping present a series of free seminars. Focus is held at Birmingham's NEC from Sunday 24 February until Wednesday 27 February. Ag editor & publisher Chris Dickie will be giving a talk on How to Make & Publish a Photobook on the Sunday afternoon, and copies of his new book on the subject will be available on the stand (Q26). You can download a pdf of the full 4-day seminar programme by clicking here.

Rhubarb-Rhubarb 'Cultivates' London

Rhubarb-Rhubarb, organisers of the UK’s International Festival of the Image, is putting on a series of three Saturday events at London College of Communication, London SE1, for photography graduates and others beginning in the business, under the heading Cultivate. The aim is to provide information and advice for those embarking on a career in the field. The seminar series will be held on the 9th and 16th of February, and there is an all day portfolio review session on 1st March.
For full programme and booking details click here.

Ag reader makes an exhibition of himself

For a recently completed project Mick Davidson undertook to make at least one self-portrait a day for a year. He’s ended up with 425 shots, all of which can be found at his website. A selection of the work, along with studies of Spanish graffiti, will be on show throughout February at Fotoacademie, Korte Prinsengracht 33, 1013 GN Amsterdam, Netherlands. To visit Davidson’s website click here, and for the gallery site click here.