Press Release

REALISING PERSONAL TRUTHS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

by William Bishop, published by INSCAPE, London 1997, ISBN 0-9530290-0-X. 104pp including 16 plates, PB £1 0 (includes postage). Obtainable from lnscape, 22a Gladwell Road, London N8 9AA. [Cheque payable to lnscape].

This inspiring book will soon become required reading for anyone wishing to acquaint themselves with the rebirth of photography in Britain during the 1970s and the essential features of a particular approach to photography which surfaced then.

The two basic intentions behind the book are equally important and complimentary. The first intention is to be practical - to be an inspiration to practice, and the second intention is to chronicle the prominent features of the revival in creative photography in 1970s' Britain in order to set the background against which this particular approach to photography - realisation of personal truths - developed into a movement. The first part of the book deals with the historical background, leaving the remainder to explore the theme of realising personal truths.

This book does not pretend to be a full history of photography in Britain from 1970 to 1997, but it does attempt to identify one particular approach to photography and provide the historical context in which this personal approach to photography arose. It is therefore deliberately limited in its coverage of photography in general in Britain because of its focus on a particular theme. As far as this theme is concerned it explains the background and the philosophy and provides the theory on which current and contemporary practice can be based. The book is therefore art-historical and practical - a reflection of its author who is an art-historian and photographer as well as a writer. This book is an extremely good read and so can be read merely for pleasure rather than as obligatory text book reading.

Reaction so far has been very positive, a typical reaction being as follows:
"I can't tell you how impressed I am. Your writing is telling and very personal while it chronicles the history of 'INDIE' photography in Gt. Britain. You really speak of the subject with fluid clarity, more importantly, with the passion you poignantly speak of." - Tammy Ziotnik, Mass,USA.


Sept 97 Index page