Friday, 3 February 2012 Yesterday I attended the opening of the Sunday Times 50th Anniversary Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. One of my photographs of Keith Richards (detail above) is included in the show.
When I originally responded to the request to be included many months ago, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I've been in a lot of group shows over the years and some are more worthwhile than others. I didn't know whether my photograph would be one of many thousands, flicked past quickly in some sort of audio visual presentation. I need not have been concerned on that score at all. I didn't count them but it was it was in pride of place among a selection of about fifty photographs and the way they were all displayed - in huge light boxes - was very impressive. I don't know if it was a coincidence or what, exactly, but standing right next to my photograph when I first saw it was eminent music business PR Alan Edwards, Keith Richard's press officer back in 1985 and the man that did much to help set up the photograph itself all those years ago. It was slightly weird to see him in that context, since I don't believe we've met since that night.
But I really had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming (actually the word "gobsmacked" would not be too strong) when I saw what exalted names I was on show with - Richard Avedon, Eve Arnold, David Bailey, Don McCullin, Arnold Newman. I don't for a nanosecond categorise myself with photographic icons like that but it would nevertheless be a shame if I couldn't at least mention it here, on my own blog.