A Photographic Life - 302: Plus Michael Robert Williams

In episode 302 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed reflecting on selling houses with a smartphone, whether a there is such a thing as a 'real' photograph and more concerning the long form photographic project. Plus this week, photographer Michael Robert Williams takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ You can find out more about the webinar mentioned in this episode here www.brookes.ac.uk/open-days/postgraduate/ma-professional-photography-webinar Photographer Michael Robert Williams grew up in the small town of Congleton, just south of Manchester in North West England. He moved to London with his camera, a photography degree, enough money to live on for a few months, and whatever would fit in the back of the car. Still based in London, today Michael is known for his portraits of musicians including The Killers, Oasis, Damon Albarn, Ian Brown, and Interpol as well as other celebrities and figures from the worlds of music, film, sport, and politics. His portraits have featured in many publications, including Clash, Filter, Time, Die Zeit, and NME. In addition to portraits for magazines Michael has produced artwork and promotional images for record labels, artist management, and commercial clients including adidas, Microsoft, Philips, JCPR, and American Rag Clothing. www.michaelwilliams.co.uk Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby’s, art directed foto8magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott’s next book Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories, Orphans Publishing, is now on pre-sale. © Grant Scott 2024