Thanks for the heads-up Rob,
Always a reassurance and pleasure that there was a time when things happened so well.
I think a lot of the interest in Duffy is a result of his son's involvement in what survives of his archive. Bailey, of course, is a master of his own PR. But what a shame so little is seen or heard in the present era of Terence Donovan.
That's right; he was possibly even more successful in financial terms because he did a lot of commercials early on (this is only from reading - never met him) and even had a foray into movies. Perhaps the most
general public publicity he had was when he topped himself, as also happened with Bob C-C who managed to do some books; he (Bob) had a long interview in the BJP about the huge difficulties he faced with his last book attempt, and I think it never flew.
The thing that really clicked with me on the latest link I posted (Duffy) is that
he felt it was all going south as early as the late 70s; that’s very interesting for me, because it was the 70s (early) when I realised – via harsh reality – that much of the Scottish fashion business was sliding into oblivion or being serviced – more cheaply! – down in London! That’s what pushed me to try calendars, which saved the business from extinction and opened the door to stock.
Several younger posters here have argued that this is still a ‘golden age’ for photography; Cooter has also pointed to the fact that budgets are lower and you have to do more for the same return. In my own experience, the slide is very real and not simply a matter of the keeper calling time on the hire of my particular little rowing boat. Because some are still working doesn’t mean that the business hasn’t deteriorated; it only means that some are doing what’s currently still left to be done. Okay, digital had a huge accelerative effect on things, and the reports of excellent London processing labs closing their doors filled the BJP; camera firms collapsed with the times; but beyond that tragedy of lost jobs, photography also lost its mystique: there really was a time when being a fashion or calendar snapper gave you a cache that being an accountant or surgeon did not. I enjoyed all that. Do as many have it today, I wonder?
But perhaps it’s the same with music now; electronic dissemination has taken the place of hard copies and the tactile and visual buzz of a beautiful piece of LP art will probably never be experienced again. Prided myself with my LP collection, keeping the things in plastic sleeves (still have most of them) and there’s no way that clicking onto Youtube produces the same excitement, and neither does listening in front of the monitor. What has happened is that we have traded convenience for the experience.
Say what anyone will, a lot has truly been lost in the march forward, a lot that wasn’t dross but really a source of much personal pleasure.
Rob C