Book Research - Julia Margaret Cameron and Jane Bown

Luckily I've got a local library which has a very helpful librarian who does her best to get hold of the books recommended for the assignment I'm working on.

Julia Margaret Cameron

This time Lorraine managed to get hold of an out of date paperback on Julia Margaret Cameron - Criticism and Interpretation, by Amanda Hopkinson, published by Virago Pioneers in 1986.  The book gives a detailed review of Cameron's life and how she developed as a society photographer.

Whilst I've been aware of Cameron for several years, I was surprised to find she had dabbled in photographer before her daughter gave her a camera to give her an interest in her later years.

It's also reassuring to hear that the mistakes she made in the processing and printing she considered a bonus and learning curve.  She felt that fingerprints and smudges enhanced her images and gave them a depth that was previously missing.  A bit like myself when I was processing my own films in the 1980s.


 Jane Bown

I've looked into Jane Bown's work since my work was compared to her's when I was working on the module People & Place for Level 1.  I admire her strong images and forthright uncompromising attitude.

I managed to get hold of two of her books including Exposure, (22 Oct. 2009);

A Lifetime of Looking (15 Oct 2015) – both published by Guardian Faber Publishing. 

I get real inspiration looking at these books and the videos available on YouTube where Jane was interviewed on her approach and techniques.  The fact that she worked for the Guardian and Observer for over 50 years shows how well respected she was, my idea of someone to emulate in my own work.