(Left to Right): Beach Ball, Palm Springs California 2002; Dice II, Norfolk 2004; Some Like it Hot, Bisbee Arizona 2001

The Photographers Lounge is pleased to present the latest exhibition of limited edition photographs by acclaimed photographer Richard Heeps.

This widely-anticipated exhibition follows Richard’s highly-successful solo exhibition at the gallery last Summer and showcases a number of new works, as well as his stunning new 30″ x 40″ format prints.

All Richard’s images are C-type hand-printed from negative and are available for purchase as signed limited editions (framed or mounted), along with a selection of books and postcards.

The exhibition runs from Saturday July 25 until Sunday September 20.

Richard Heeps’ photography is both art and documentary, and his seductive, highly-saturated colours and sophisticated pictorial structures demonstrate a true love and empathy for his subject matter. Be it cool, descriptive interiors, still life, character studies or landscape, his distinctive style pushes the limits of lens-based photography without the need for digital manipulation. Hand-printed by the artist to heighten the colour saturation, Richard’s c-type photographs are all printed from negative in ‘full frame’ which gives the distinctive ragged-edge look.

Las Vegas Pool Supplies, Nevada 2001.

Richard has been exhibiting his work for 20 years, including shows at The Photographers’ Gallery in London and Les Rencontres d’Arles. Recently profiled in ‘The Independent’ and ‘British Journal of Photography’, he has constantly published his work as part of an extension of his artistic boundaries, and three – ‘A Different Light: Images of Thurrock’, ‘Man’s Ruin’ and ‘Rolled Out’ – are available at this exhibition.

This latest exhibition at the Photographers Lounge showcases not just a range of new images, but also brings to public display his impressive new 30″ x 40″ prints: genuinely best appreciated at first-hand. An extensive range of framed or mounted prints are available are various sizes, each individually signed, numbered and certificated.

For more information, contact www.photographerslounge.co.uk

Philip Townsend by Kate Cross

Words such as “awesome” and “genius” are, in my opinion, used a little too freely. So I have given much careful consideration before using the word “genius” to describe Philip Townsend. For the moment you are going to have to trust me on this, but I intend to back it up – the man is pure genius!

As a child of the Sixties and the youngest of four siblings, I recognize many of Philip’s images and recall the excitement they brought about; my sister going all dizzy over The Beatles; my elder brothers getting all rebellious and growing their hair like the Rolling Stones. Having been fortunate enough to be invited to the launch party of Philip’s new book “Sorry You Missed the Sixties” at the Photographers Lounge in Swanage, I relished the opportunity to study some of these original prints up close. I spent a lot of time (and money!) honing my own darkroom skills, but it still gives me the shivers to see the product of a true master.

I converted to digital quite a few years ago and confess to being completely happy with the qualty I can achieve (although I didn’t confess that to Philip when we were chatting – sorry). However, there is undoubtedly a quality, a warmth and a depth to silver gelatin prints from film that just isn’t there with digital. Digital is, perhaps, a little too perfect sometimes; a little too clinical. Philip’s prints are not all technically perfect (it’s okay, this is something we did discuss!) and I feel this is a big part of what makes them so brilliant; they are real and warm and deep and fascinating and packed with charm, life and character.

Then there is the man himself. As Kate Cross of the Photographers Lounge put it:

“And what an incredible man he his… full of the most unbelievable anecdotes… we are trying to persuade him to write his autobiography, it would be one of the most informative, entertaining and colourful memoirs ever..! Was there really anyone he didn’t meet/photograph in the 60′s?! “

I couldn’t agree more. I only got to speak to Philip for quarter of an hour or so, but what a privilege. My favourite moment was when I asked him how it feels to have photographed the Rolling Stones before they made it big:

“It was interesting. I had to drive them everywhere in my car. And buy them chickens.”

All without a hint of irony.

I am really pleased that Kate managed to secure the book launch – on the surface it would seem surprising that a small, ordinary gallery in a little seaside town in the south of England should be able to host such an event. However, spend ten minutes in the gallery talking to Kate and you will know that it may indeed be small, but it is in no way ordinary.

I believe there are still some signed first editions of Philip’s book at the Photographers Lounge so get along there and get one if you can.

Best of all is that Philip and I discussed the possibility of an exclusive interview for The Decisive Moment and he agreed it should happen. I really, really can’t wait.

I managed to sneak away from the beach during Easter’s family visit to Swanage and popped round to the Photographers Lounge. After fifteen minutes or so of chatting with Kate, apart from leaving with the usual inspiration to grab the camera and go be creative, I also learned some exciting news…

The Philip Townsend Archive, a collection of photographs taken by celebrated 60s photographer Philip Townsend, documenting Sixties London in full swing and capturing some of the most iconic faces of the era, will make a rare public appearance at the Photographers Lounge in Dorset throughout June and July 2009. His unique collection of shots includes rock stars, society darlings, models and the political movers and shakers of the day. The rescued works, hidden for forty years, are now being sought by magazines and newspapers throughout the world, by galleries like the National Portrait Gallery, and by collectors. The reason is simple: Philip Townsend’s pictures are the Sixties.

While other photographers took portraits, often closely cropped, Townsend instinctively widened his frame to include backgrounds, landscapes and the sheer feel of the period. A fine example is his portfolio of the fledgling Rolling Stones, including their first ever photo sessions in March 1963, when they were broke and hungry, without a recording contract: a band not yet on the run. Townsend bought the young band barbecued chicken and set about fostering the semi-delinquent image which they still cultivate today: through his percipient lens, we see the Stones slouching in an underpass, unsmiling and menacingly backlit, or tilted at a surreal angle against a wall, or inhabiting beer benches outside a pub in Earls Court.

As the Sixties swung and Britain subverted the old order, Townsend continued to record all the prime people of the time. He moved effortlessly into this nascent world, photographing the Beatles many times, most memorably their first encounter with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1967. He documented the peacock gear they wore, the sleek cars they drove, and the aeroplanes that flew them to fresh horizons.

At the age of 20, based in the South of France, Townsend photographed the beautiful people who wintered and watered on the Riviera: Prince Rainier and his Hollywood wife, Princess Grace; a rare photo of Sir Winston Churchill with Aristotle Onassis; Marlon Brando and Joan Fontaine. Years later, when the sixties were losing their swing, he returned to capture a memorable shot of a visibly out-of-love Richard Burton at a party with Elizabeth Taylor. Other celebrities of the era who received the Townsend treatment were Twiggy, then a very young ingenue model in the hands of her manager and boyfriend Justin de Villeneuve; Charlotte Rampling, cool and miniskirted; Princess Alexandra dancing with Marlon Brando; comedian Frankie Howard on a skateboard, and Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

The exhibition of limited edition silver gelatin prints is also timed to co-incide with the release of Townsend’s first published book, ‘Sorry You Missed the Sixties: A Collection of Limited Edition Photographs from The Philip Townsend Archive 1960 – 1970′. The book chronicles much of Townsend’s archive, and is an impressive reflection of not just his work but an observation on the 60′s pioneering optimism.

The photographer will be present from 12.00 noon at The Photographers Lounge on Saturday May 23rd for the launch of the exhibition and book-signing.

The exhibition reinforces the growing reputation of the Photographers Lounge, a commercial gallery situated on the Dorset coast in Swanage. The Photographers Lounge is established as one of the UK’s foremost photography galleries, and it exhibits work by both emerging and established photographers, as well as stocking a wide range of photographic prints, cards and books. It also curates and hosts the Open Shutter competition, where upcoming photographers can win the opportunity to have their work exhibited in the Photographers Lounge gallery.

For further information view the website at www.photographerslounge.co.uk or email info@photographerslounge.co.uk.

“A treasure trove of rock history” The London Times

“An amazing archive of evocative images that have been hidden for 40 years” Sunday Express

“One of the World’s most celebrated showbiz photographers”
The Daily Mirror

“Philip Townsend, one of the era’s most acclaimed photographers” Yorkshire Post

“Philip Townsend, world class portrait photographer” GQ

Last week was half-term and on Friday I decided to take my boys to one of our favourite places – Swanage, on the Dorset coast. When we were last down there I found myself drawn to a place I had not seen before (it turned out this was because it wasnâ??t there before, not because I just hadnâ??t noticed) called the â??Photographers Loungeâ?. Although not the biggest of galleries I have visited, it was probably the most welcoming!

The exhibition at the time was of images by Richard Heeps, whose work I had seen published before. There is nothing quite like seeing the real thing to make you appreciate the quality and skill and, in my case at least, to inspire you to get out there and do some work yourself. Anyway, I purchased a couple of Richardâ??s books and asked Kate (the gallery owner) if she could hang on to them and get them signed for me. Richard had been due to be in the gallery the week I was in Swanage, but had had to postpone or I would have tried to blag an interview!

Back to last Friday and Iâ??m collecting my books and having another enthusiastic conversation with Kate which lead to her telling me about a competition they are going to run.

The press release has just come through:

Make an Exhibition of Yourself!

Open Shutter Photography Competition

Open Shutter, a photography competition for photographers of any experience or ability, has been launched by the Photographers Lounge gallery. Every six months, an experienced panel will select three winning photographers to have their work exhibited and for sale in a month-long exhibition at the Photographers Lounge. Each exhibition will be launched with an Open Shutter Showcase evening and successful photographers will also receive continuing exposure on the galleryâ??s website.

Open Shutter will provide a unique opportunity for photographers to have their work presented in a dedicated gallery and for sale online, as well as being appraised by independent, well-respected panellists. Each biannual competition has a deadline in order to view the entries and choose the winners for each exhibition, but as soon as one competition closes, the next one opens, allowing photographers a continuing opportunity to submit their work.

The Photographers Lounge, based in Swanage on the Dorset coast, was set up just over a year ago by photographer, Kate Cross, and is already established as one of the countryâ??s foremost galleries dedicated exclusively to photography.

â??The Photographers Lounge and now Open Shutter came about as a direct response to the shortage of dedicated photography exhibition space in the UK.â? explained Kate. â??Whilst the USA and the rest of Europe have embraced photography as an art form, here in the UK, it seems that photography still takes a back seat in terms of exposure.â?

â??Open Shutter now provides emerging photographers the link with the gallery and the opportunity to see their work exhibited, which Iâ??m really excited about.â?

In its relatively short lifespan,The Photographers Lounge has rapidly become synonymous with the promotion of photography, and its growing reputation has meant that it is now a must-visit gallery for art-lovers and photographers alike. In its first year it has helped promote several emerging and established photographers. Richard Heeps, the internationally-acclaimed photographer, is a permanent member of the Photographers Lounge portfolio, as well as an Open Shutter panellist.

â??I have been impressed with the Photographers Lounge dynamism and enthusiasm from the word go,â? commented Richard. â??As a photographer looking to get as much exposure as possible, they have continually supported and promoted my work, and Iâ??m happy that they are now a permanent outlet for my work. I think the Open Shutter is a great concept, because I know how much they will be behind the chosen photographers, and Iâ??m delighted to be one of the panellists.â?

The Open Shutter competition only accepts submissions online at www.openshutter.co.uk.

For further information view the website at www.openshutter.co.uk or email info@openshutter.co.uk.

Additional Information

Open Shutter is a photography competition for all photographers run by the Photographers Lounge gallery in Swanage, Purbeck, Dorset. The competition is a rolling competition with two six-monthly deadlines a year. Three photographers will be selected by a well-respected panel to have a month-long exhibition in the Photographers Lounge, as well as to have their work permanently on sale on the Photographers Lounge website. Each exhibition will be launched with a showcase evening, and all works will be for sale.

The Photographers Lounge was established in January 2008 and is one of the few galleries in the UK devoted exclusively to photography. It has exhibited work by both emerging photographers and established photographers. The gallery also offers hi-resolution scanning, fine art printing (up to A2 on a range of media), promotional printing, website design and mounting & framing services.

Contact Kate Cross by phone on 01929 424414 or email kate@photographerslounge.co.uk.

The Photographers Lounge is based at 38 High Street, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2NX