Deadman Update

A couple of years ago I came across some of the best street photography I'd ever seen, by a mysterious character named Johnny Deadman, later revealed to be filmmaker John Brownlow. John was kind enough to let me use a choice selection of his work to illustrate one of my articles.

Now he's up to something very--well, almost perversely--different. To check it out, click the title above, which is a link.

Personally I have to say I don't care for some of his latest work quite as much, decaying woods and random building fronts in color being subjects most photo teachers have seen quite enough of, but I guess man cannot live by street photography alone.

"Umbrellas," above, taken with a Noblex, has John going back to his roots on the street. It's a picture that's like an accordion, going in and and out, up and down, coming at you and then receding again, and I love the "virtual frame break" created by the nearest lamp-post, and the quasi-stochastic smattering of umbrellas broadcast across the frame holding the whole thing together. A stunningly great shot, I think. By the way, you can click on these images to make them larger.

Posted by: MIKE JOHNSTON (with a nod to O.G.)