So, why the dogs? I’m not some dog-obsessed nut, but my long-standing commercial background in still-life led me to photograph these extraordinary animals in a monumental, still-life fashion. From there came the flowers (who doesn’t think flowers beautiful? – especially these. Long, hot days in dahlia fields in Cornwall produced these photographs), and of course the budgies. “I have never seen so much personality in a bird” was how one art-director described them. Commercially, I have spent years doing, among other things, corporate portraits. The link is neither conscious nor obvious, but, with all their ‘personality’, perhaps the budgies are something of a wry look at what it means to photograph a board of directors for endless annual reports…
The 'Pedigree' series has won international awards, including International Color Awards and IPA.All the images in the Pedigree folio are available to use.
Check out Design Canteen's 'Pedigree' review.
News
Jan 2010.
This year brings the completion of my ethiopia portraits. Shot in South Omo, a region bordering Kenya, these portraits are the result of an off-the-beaten-track adventure. I hadn’t prepared myself for the reception a camera invites: a line-up of the most beautiful, extraordinary people from various tribes – Karo, Hamer, Mursi, - clamouring to be photographed. We set up a studio of sorts in the heat and dust of far-flung villages, and photographed the old and the young, the fierce and the gentle, girls full of attitude and boys shocked in to peals of laughter by the rarely-seen gaps in their teeth revealed by the camera.
'ethnographs' my new set of work is now online at www.philipgatward.com.
April 2010
Another free print offer will be happening in the spring. Please email me if you wish to be included in the mailing list.
2009
Perhaps I am referencing my past, as the folio I have just completed entitled ‘Stable’ is a set of studies of white, sliced bread. I was born in a bakery, and the delight of sitting by the slicing machine scooping tiny mountains of crumbs from all over the white cast iron frame with my 4 year old hand, is a memory that remains strong. Of course that was well before ‘Health & Safety’ and wheat intolerance.
The ‘Pigeon I’ folio is a further set of portraits that are not people. I have been all over England to shoot these strange beauties. And trust me, the as-yet unfinished ‘Pigeon II’ set get weirder and more beautiful. Thanks to Gary Eaton from the Corringham Fancy Pigeon Club.
Recent clients include.
Nike, Conde Nast, Elle Decor, Phillips, Cadbury, Boosey & Hawkes, Coca-Cola, Heineken, V&A, Design Council, Heals, Easy jet, Nat West, CinVen, Premier foods, Compass, Wrangler, SES, Sky, Thorn, Lloyds, DSGI.