Photography

Broomfield, Maurice. (5 of 5). Oral History of British Photography.

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    01:57:11

  • Shelf mark

    C459/194

  • Subjects

    Photography

  • Recording date

    2007-01-10, 2007-02-08

  • Recording locations

    Interviewee's home, Emsworth, Hampshire

  • Interviewees

    Broomfield, Maurice, 1916-2010 (speaker, male)

  • Interviewers

    Barnes, Martin (speaker, male)

  • Abstract

    Part 5: End of working with Yvonnde. Set up a studio independently on Lady Crossfield's Whitten Hurst Estate, Highgate, London. Meeting with and photographing Yehudi Menuhin. Worked on a series of portraits of people of Highgate for the Literary and Scientific Institute, Highgate. Designed his own exhibition to tour Holland at the invitation of Phillips for whom he had worked. [12:14]: Discussion of vocation in industrial photography and responsibilities to workers and the promotion of industry. Use of pictures in company reports and newspapers such as the Financial Times. [23:32]: Discussion of translation of photograph into print and use of lighting. Mention of influences in photography and competitors. [29:58]: Description of the life of his wife and children and early death of his wife through cancer and the sadness and emotions that followed. [35:15]: Discussion of MB's participation as representative of the UK in the category of industrial photography and an exhibitor in the World's Fair held in America. Commission for a documentary project in America the following year. Description of problems in photographing subjects of interest in the USA because of censorship of his chaperone. [48:42]: Working for Swan Hellenic on lecture cruise tours of photography applied to archaeology. [50:57]: MB looks through a selection of his own industrial work made in British factories in the 1950s-1970s (prints donated by Broomfield to the Victoria and Albert Museum photography collection in 2007) describing each of the images in detail. Reveals technical facts about the industry depicted and anecdotes on devising and shooting the pictures. [1.32:25] Exhibition of industrial photographs with fashion designer Paul Smith to promote contemporary fashion in the mid 1990s. Discussion of last large exhibition of his work in the late 1960s on the gas industry, held at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall and of when Broomfield finished in industrial photography. Subsequent 're-discovery' and new appreciation of Broomfield's work from the mid 1990s and preparations for an exhibition at the Science Museum, London, 2007. [1:38:30] Met his second wife Suzy, in early 1980s. MB's present use of digital camera and computer. Work in photography for local community and charities in his present home, Emsworth. [1:42:54] Discussion of his children's involvement in the arts. Anne Broomfield, an art restorer, and Nick Broomfield, documentary filmmaker. Discussion of the present republishing and reassessment of Maurice Broomfield's work and contemporary perceptions of the work. Current aspirations for computer work.

  • Description

    Life story interview with photographer Maurice Broomfield (1916-2010)

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