Shirley Baker's guest appearances

Shirley Baker

Street Photography Magazine

The Great Women Artists

Thought Pieces

Eileen Myles

Lou Stoppard

Agnes Martin

Marina Abramović

Laura Smith

Ali Smith

Olivia Laing

Alyce Mahon

Ben Lerner

Marina Warner

Deborah Levy

Anne Truitt

Cornelia Parker

Lynne Tillman

Sarah Lucas

OwlTail

Jason Figgis

Jason Figgis is an Irish film director and writer who began his career working for Murakami-Wolf Animation Studios on the TV series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Soon after he worked for Steven Spielberg at his London based Amblimation Studios on the feature An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.Since then, over the past 20-years he has written and directed a wide range of indy films, television programs.Recently Jason turned his attention to creating a documentary about the compelling work and life of British social documentary photographer Shirley Baker (1934-2014).  Shirley’s street photography of the working class inner city areas, taken from 1960 until 1981 in Salford and Manchester as they experienced years of ‘slum’ clearance, came to define her vision. Her engagement with the everyday world resulted in several different strands of work, many of which have not been exhibited. Although Shirley’s work is not well known outside the UK her work has been exhibited at the Tate Britain,  Barbican Art Gallery, London,  The Photographers’ Gallery London, James Hyman Gallery and The Louvre to name a few.This quote of Shriley’s best describes her body of work: “I love the immediacy of unposed, spontaneous photographs and the ability of the camera to capture the serious, the funny, the sublime and the ridiculous. Despite the many wonderful pictures of the great and famous, I feel that less formal, quotidian images can often convey more of the life and spirit of the time.”    – Shirley BakerShirley’s work is a must-see for any serious street photographer so be sure to listen my conversation with Jason as he tells the story of Shirley, her influence, work and the making of the film  Shirley Baker: Life Through A lens A selection of Shirley Baker’s  photosPhotographs by Shirley Baker / Courtesy the Estate of Shirley BakerLinks from the show Jason Figgis’ Wikipedia Shirley Baker Website Shirley Baker Instagram Shirley Baker: Life Through A lens Premiere Announcement The New Yorker article – Shirley Baker’s Half Century of Street The post Shirley Baker:  Life Through a Lens with Jason Figgis first appeared on Street Photography Magazine.

Jason Figgis is an Irish film director and writer who began his career working for Murakami-Wolf Animation Studios on the TV series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Soon after he worked for Steven Spielberg at his London based Amblimation Studios on the feature An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.Since then, over the past 20-years he has written and directed a wide range of indy films, television programs.Recently Jason turned his attention to creating a documentary about the compelling work and life of British social documentary photographer Shirley Baker (1934-2014). Shirley’s street photography of the working class inner city areas, taken from 1960 until 1981 in Salford and Manchester as they experienced years of ‘slum’ clearance, came to define her vision. Her engagement with the everyday world resulted in several different strands of work, many of which have not been exhibited. Although Shirley’s work is not well known outside the UK her work has been exhibited at the Tate Britain, Barbican Art Gallery, London, The Photographers’ Gallery London, James Hyman Gallery and The Louvre to name a few.This quote of Shriley’s best describes her body of work: “I love the immediacy of unposed, spontaneous photographs and the ability of the camera to capture the serious, the funny, the sublime and the ridiculous. Despite the many wonderful pictures of the great and famous, I feel that less formal, quotidian images can often convey more of the life and spirit of the time.”   – Shirley Baker Shirley’s work is a must-see for any serious street photographer so be sure to listen my conversation with Jason as he tells the story of Shirley, her influence, work and the making of the film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Figgis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Shirley Baker: Life Through A lens </a><h2>A selection of Shirley Baker’s photos</h2>Photographs by Shirley Baker / Courtesy the Estate of Shirley Baker<h2>Links from the show</h2><ul> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Figgis" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jason Figgis’ Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="https://shirleybakerphotography.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Shirley Baker Website</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/shirleybakerphotography/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Shirley Baker Instagram</a></li> <li><a href="https://shirleybakerphotography.com/life-through-a-lens-northern-premiere-on-may-23rd/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Shirley Baker: Life Through A lens Premiere Announcement</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/shirley-bakers-half-century-of-street-photography" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The New Yorker article – Shirley Baker’s Half Century of Street</a></li> </ul>The post <a href="https://streetphotographymagazine.com/shirley-baker-live-through-a-lens-jason-figgis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shirley Baker: Life Through a Lens with Jason Figgis</a> first appeared on <a href="https://streetphotographymagazine.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Street Photography Magazine</a>.

Shirley Baker:  Life Through a Lens with Jason Figgis

In Ep.6 of Thought Pieces, writer, editor and curator Lou Stoppard discusses the incredible – and much overlooked – work of Shirley Baker, considering her place in the male-dominated history of photography, together with the compassionate and attentive ways in which she captured everyday life in Salford, London and beyond. 

In Ep.6 of Thought Pieces, writer, editor and curator Lou Stoppard discusses the incredible – and much overlooked – work of Shirley Baker, considering her place in the male-dominated history of photography, together with the compassionate and attentive ways in which she captured everyday life in Salford, London and beyond.

Ep.6 Lou Stoppard reads from 'Shirley Baker' 

In episode 38 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the brilliant London-based writer LOU STOPPARD on the ICONIC and TRAILBLAZING street photographer SHIRLEY BAKER (1932–2014) !!!![This episode is brought to you by Alighieri jewellery: www.alighieri.co.uk | use the code TGWA at checkout for 10% off!]And WOW! This was such an insight into one of the greatest street photographers of the 20th century. A woman who captured 6+ decades of change in post-War Britain: from Manchester in the ‘50s and ‘60s, to the heights of Thatcherism in the ‘80s, and New Labour in the 2000s. A self-proclaimed “idler with a camera”, the fearlessly socially and politically engaged Shirley saw beauty, character and absurdity in the everyday. Documenting those often overlooked or on the outside – much like the artist herself who wasn’t recognised with a major solo exhibition until right at the end of her life at The Photographer’s Gallery – Shirley captured unnamed people who shaped our cultures, as opposed to the places themselves. Highly sensitive to change and the ageing process, Shirley Baker was skilled at observing modernity, whether it be through the rise of industrialism and technology, altering eating habits, or the abandonment of terraced houses in the North between 1955–1973 (after the Housing Repairs and Rents Act), which were abruptly replaced by large looming tower blocks. Always on the frontline of change, she captured moments that felt still amongst a fast-paced world: "I did know that fundamental changes were taking place and nobody seemed to be interested in recording the face of the people or any- thing in their lives. My interest grew into a compulsion even though the notion of someone wandering the unpicturesque streets of Manchester and Salford with a camera seemed quite crazy to most people then."But she also captured the imperfections in people – people who tried to live up to society’s expectations with whom she caught moments when their mask slipped. Wow. So much to unpick here!!! I am in awe of Shirley and Lou's brilliant take on her. An INCREDIBLY aware photographer with a fascinating story which we discuss in depth!ENJOY!!!Further reading: Lou’s fantastic book! https://mackbooks.co.uk/products/shirley-baker-br-lou-stoppard-ed https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/shirley-bakers-half-century-of-street-photographyThis episode is sponsored by Alighieri https://alighieri.co.uk/@alighieri_jewelleryUse the code: TGWA for 10% off! Follow us:Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hesselSound editing by Amber Miller (@amber_m.iller)Artwork by @thisisaliceskinnerMusic by Ben Wetherfieldhttps://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/

In episode 38 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the brilliant London-based writer LOU STOPPARD on the ICONIC and TRAILBLAZING street photographer SHIRLEY BAKER (1932–2014) !!!! [This episode is brought to you by Alighieri jewellery: <a href="http://www.alighieri.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.alighieri.co.uk</a> | use the code TGWA at checkout for 10% off!] And WOW! This was such an insight into one of the greatest street photographers of the 20th century. A woman who captured 6+ decades of change in post-War Britain: from Manchester in the ‘50s and ‘60s, to the heights of Thatcherism in the ‘80s, and New Labour in the 2000s. A self-proclaimed “idler with a camera”, the fearlessly socially and politically engaged Shirley saw beauty, character and absurdity in the everyday. Documenting those often overlooked or on the outside – much like the artist herself who wasn’t recognised with a major solo exhibition until right at the end of her life at The Photographer’s Gallery – Shirley captured unnamed people who shaped our cultures, as opposed to the places themselves. Highly sensitive to change and the ageing process, Shirley Baker was skilled at observing modernity, whether it be through the rise of industrialism and technology, altering eating habits, or the abandonment of terraced houses in the North between 1955–1973 (after the Housing Repairs and Rents Act), which were abruptly replaced by large looming tower blocks. Always on the frontline of change, she captured moments that felt still amongst a fast-paced world: "I did know that fundamental changes were taking place and nobody seemed to be interested in recording the face of the people or any- thing in their lives. My interest grew into a compulsion even though the notion of someone wandering the unpicturesque streets of Manchester and Salford with a camera seemed quite crazy to most people then." But she also captured the imperfections in people – people who tried to live up to society’s expectations with whom she caught moments when their mask slipped. Wow. So much to unpick here!!! I am in awe of Shirley and Lou's brilliant take on her. An INCREDIBLY aware photographer with a fascinating story which we discuss in depth! ENJOY!!! Further reading: Lou’s fantastic book! <a href="https://mackbooks.co.uk/products/shirley-baker-br-lou-stoppard-ed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://mackbooks.co.uk/products/shirley-baker-br-lou-stoppard-ed</a> <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/shirley-bakers-half-century-of-street-photography" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/shirley-bakers-half-century-of-street-photography</a> This episode is sponsored by Alighieri <a href="https://alighieri.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://alighieri.co.uk/</a> @alighieri_jewellery Use the code: TGWA for 10% off! Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Sound editing by Amber Miller (@amber_m.iller) Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Music by Ben Wetherfield <a href="https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/</a>

Lou Stoppard on Shirley Baker