The Flash of The Camera; Captured for Eternity

Pope Francis said, “Where there is truth, there is also light, but don’t confuse light with the flash.” Flash concedes a deeper meaning: Trapping a significant moment of life. It might be a camera flash marking a memory to be remembered a gun flash marking the end of a life or a lightning flash causing complete destruction. All these instances are the product of a flash- Powerful, transformative, and eternal. Find out more in The Flash of The Camera; Captured for Eternity

British photographers have been using the power of flash to trap moments in history and cultural or unconventional narratives. Some of the latest exhibitions of March were by Jill Hilton and Bert Hardy.  

Pate Meinzer – Image by Jane Hilton

Explore the controversial topic of gun ownership through the lens of Jane Hilton in “LA Gun Club” at Palo Gallery, New York. Hilton, a London-based British photographer and filmmaker has been captivated with the American culture for the past 25 years. Her work tells tales of a modern America, particularly The West. Her widely acclaimed art embraces cowboys, working girls, burlesque dancers, and circus people.

Arms keeping has been a prevalent part of American culture from the beginning of the first settlers of the country. Guns were used for hunting animals and protection against wildlife. These days, the possession of a gun is not only a legal right, but also a culturally acceptable stipulation as 300 million guns are owned by Americans.

In her latest show, “LA Gun”, Hilton experimented with the controversial topic of gun ownership. Hilton found inspiration for this project in 2016 when she had a fascinating experience at the LA Gun Club in Los Angeles where members target practice from a hundred target posters ranging from animated bad guys to minimalist human forms. She interviewed the shooters and photographed them along with their shot target posters. She met all kinds of interesting subjects from a couple on a date night, a brain surgeon and a biology teacher who came for stress relief.

Target C – Firearms: 50-calibre pistol & Lunger 9mm Pistol Occupation: Brain surgeon (father), High school student (son). Father shot at the brain, and his son shot at the body. Image by Jane Hilton

Last year, there were a number of mass shootings. President Biden has been asking Congress to pass more stricter gun ownership laws.

In her exhibition, Hilton focused on the American obsession with gun ownership and the overlapping line between social responsibility and legal boundaries. Through raw images and a fresh perspective, LA GUN CLUB articulated the inner thoughts of American gun owners.

Target I – Firearm: Glock 19 9mm pistol. Occupation: General Manager of a hotel in Beverley Hills. ” A friend introduced me to the club and showed me the ropes.” Image by Jane Hilton

Guns can be seen from a very different perspective in “Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace” the latest exhibition at The Photographers Gallery reflecting mainly on war and post-war imagery.

Bert Hardy was a self-taught photographer from Blackfriars. He started his career as a lab assistant and later became a news and sports photographer, a combat cameraman, alongside being an advertising entrepreneur. Most of his influential work was produced while he was working for Picture Post magazine.

Gorbals Boys, 1948. Images provided by Getty Images Archive, home of the Picture Post collection, in support of Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace.

Two boys in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. The Gorbals tenements were built quickly and cheaply in the 1840s, providing housing for Glasgow’s burgeoning population of industrial workers. Conditions were appalling; overcrowding was standard and sewage and water facilities inadequate. The tenements housed about 40,000 people with up to eight family members sharing a single room, 30 residents sharing a toilet and 40 sharing a tap.

By the time this photograph was taken 850 tenements had been demolished since 1920. Redevelopment of the area began in the late 1950s and the tenements were replaced with a modern tower block complex in the sixties. Original Publication: Picture Post – 4499 – The Forgotten Gorbals – pub. 1948 (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The exhibition flashes Bert Hardy’s photojournalistic career of over 40 years. It is a unique photography treasure which navigates through press passes, diaries, and correspondence and is also curated from various publications. Hardy was always imaginative, and his ingenuity lies in capturing important and timeless world events, war stories and cultural happenings.

Passers-by speak to US boxer Sugar Ray Robinson (1921-1989) in his car in Paris. Original Publication: Picture Post – 5350 – Sugar Ray – pub. 1951 Photo by Bert Hardy/Getty Images

Hardy was always passionate about bringing the social conditions and working-class life to light. His creative flair can be seen in his photographs of everyday British life. His single-toned images of children playing on the streets and 1950s seaside are reminiscent of mid-century Britain. He has also taken pictures from his trips to Liverpool, London, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Tyneside. His general interest in normal people signalled the essence and continuity of life which was brilliantly captured in his work. Hardy was the first British photographer who used compact cameras and Leica cameras as well as 35 mm film for sports photography.    

US Marines in amphibious assault craft moving towards Inchon in the first counter-attack of the Korean War, during a heavy bombardment of coastal defences by warships and aircraft. Original Publication: Picture Post – 5086 – Korean War Series – pub. 1950 Photo by Bert Hardy/Getty Images

Described as “The nearest to an all-round cameraman” by Tom Hopkinson, the Editor of Picture Post, Hardy was sent to various international destinations to document significant world affairs. He was the official photographer in the Army Film and Photographic Unit (1942- 1946). In June 1944, he shot glimpses of a post-war Paris, the liberated Bergen–Belsen concentration camp and saw the Korean War. Hardy also became an award-winning photographer of the Inchon Battle. He worked at Picture Post until 1957 until the publication closed. He then decided to try his hand at advertising photography and became a successful commercial photographer. He retired in 1965 and became a farmer. 

Two women chatting on the railings in Blackpool. The picture was taken by Bert Hardy using a single-focus box camera. The women are former Tiller Girls Pat Wilson (right) of Bridgend, mid Glamorgan, and Wendy Clarke of Southall in London. Original Publication: Picture Post – 5358 – Bert Hardy’s Box Camera – pub. 1951 (Photo by Bert Hardy/Getty Images)

His exhibition which finishes on 2^nd June 2024 hosts his historic work from Picture Post and other snapshots from his photojournalistic career which revolutionized British photography and takes the viewer back in time of war and peace.

These days with the advancements of technology and the far-reaching media effects, photographers want to flash their expertise in other forms of media. RSA (Ridley Scott Associates) is one such name which believes in uniquely empowering photographers with their creative vision.  Susie Babchick has been working at RSA Films as a photography consultant. Her vast experience of 10 years has seen many moving images and photography campaigns within the photography division also known as RSA Films Photo & Art.

RSA Films Photo & Art takes a keen interest in collaborating with photographers experimenting with filmmaking and has already flashed names like Simon Cave, Meji Alibi, Amalie Gassmann, Alyssa Boni, Antony Crook, David Hughes, Micaela McLucas, Marie Schuller, Paul Scala, Violeta Sofia, Somayeh, Eva Vik, Leonn Ward and Ian Winstanley.

Combining all forms of media under one umbrella for talented and risk-taking photographers made perfect sense to Babchick. She promotes the work of artists turned directors while always on the hunt for new talent. Names like Polly Nor, Rebecca Strickson and Mishka Westell are already listed in the agency’s portfolio.  Babchick is confident that RSA Films Photo & Art is the only photo agency in the world which offers photographers state-of-the-art production and film direction.

LA Gun Club will run at Palo Gallery, New York until 6 April palogallery.com, .janehilton.com

Bert Hardy: Photojournalism in War and Peace at The Photographers Gallery 23 February – 2 June 2024

If you enjoyed reading The Flash of The Camera; Captured for Eternity why not read What is Truth in a Post-Truth World?

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