Visual Arts section: art photographers 2012

This page is part of the the visual arts section

This page is about Leicester photographers in 2012

On this page: | Pablo Bartholomew | Photography club |

Our new page celebrates the work of Leicester photographer Scott Choucino.

Pablo Bartholomew: internationally acclaimed photo journalist

By Harjinder Ohbi

He may just be another person walking down the street but this quiet, 56 year old man has a tale to tell as long as your arm. Pablo Barthlomew is a world renowned photo/journalist from New Delhi, India who has captured award winning images from around the world.

His work includes looking at Asians in their chosen environments, be they at home, working or at leisure, in many cities. He recently finished an assignment to create three billboards across Leicester called Side by Side, a public art project organised by Autograph ABP and Leicester Arts and Museums Service.

Photo © Harjinder Ohbi

The Billboards can be seen on the Clearchannel billboards on Gypsy Lane, two on Humberstone Road and finally the Old Bus Depot, Abbey Park Road.

Being the son of a famous photographer and an artist mother perhaps played a part in his work. Dedicated to looking at life in the cities across the world, his work has a difference. His photo images capture people suffering alongside those of the norm - pictures of family life, and portraits. Pablo has had images published in the likes of Newsweek, The Telegraph and many international newspapers across the world.

He was one of the first photo/journalists to cover the Bhopal gas disaster in 1984. His imaginative work features Outside In - a tale of three cities, Morphine Addict in India to Mother Teresa, a photo tribute, and many more.

All have earned him numerous awards. Pablo has a long history of photographing Asians from all religions across the world which he imparts in his photography. It is reportage, yet simple, without any two images being alike. He uses a mix of medium, a Hassleblad camera, alongside a Nikon D300, walking around capturing images as he goes along.The self taught photographer said "I was a naughty boy at school and this is the only trade I know."

Harjinder Ohbi asked Pablo about this work.

Harjinder: Pablo what kick started your career?

Pablo: I am a self taught photographer that learnt at home the craft of photography from a very young age. So when I chose not to finish high school, I knew that I could fall back onto photography. That was the kickstarter.

Harjinder: I know you are the son of Richard (Burmese), was it your mother - who is half Punjabi, half Bengali - an artist in her own right?

Pablo: Yes both my parents were in the arts. My father a writer, poet, painter and photographer but best known as an art critic and my mother founder of two theatre companies, an actor, director and translator of plays from Bengali into Hindi etc. So yes, I did have great cultural collateral at home.

Harjinder: Your parent's expertise within the arts obviously impacted on you as a child. Did your father teach you the fine art of black and white photography and use of the darkroom?

Pablo: No my father never formally taught me. I learnt a lot from just watching ... the books were there and photography eventually is all about trial and error.

Harjinder: I read, you went through very hard times and became involved in drug abuse at some stage in your early life. I don't know that is correct, but I just want to clarify. and your work in the 70s to 80s, in a tale of three cities, focused on people on the streets, deprived of dignity through no fault of their own?

Pablo: Well, let's say that socially intellectual parents never had bucketfuls of money but we were OK. My involvement with drugs was a slice of the period. The 70s was the hippie era, the end of the Vietnam War and resulted in Westerners coming to India to look for Nirvana. This was also as rock music was exploding and it was the period that you could say Turn on, Tune in and Drop out. All the things that I did. Outside in is my teenage diary of my friends and family and more about it can be found on my web site (see below.)

This body of work was buried and forgotten for 30 years, as I went into hardcore photojournalism. In early 2005, I started to relook at my old work and resurrected this. When I premiered this work at the important photo festival in Arles (in 2007) I was told that my work historically was between the work of Larry Clark (Tulsa) and Nan Goldin. There is yet a third body of work that will come out later this year and then I will be finished with the archive.

There are other bodies of my work that I am bringing out from the same period of work. The street photography from Bombay is one of them, that I brought out in early 2011. It is a kind of companion OUTSIDE IN. The Bombay show is my external world.

Harjinder: You have worked for major magazines the world over and exhibited also;
what do you think is your best work over the years that has helped changed,
if at all, peoples lives?

Pablo: I don't think photography changes peoples lives. At best it informs. Those days, when photography changed peoples lives, ended in the 70s. Too much media has made people insensitive.

Harjinder: You have a different way to photograph unlike other people. It is photo reportage? How did you develop your technique?

Pablo: Again, I have no formal training, so I look and see ... your influences come from painting, other photographers ... the masters in Europe or America. There is no special technique as such but just a heart and feeling.

Harjinder: I know you use both stills and digital and enjoy using long exposures at
night, using tripods. What works best for you? The stills from your Hassleblad or your digital images?

Pablo: Different mediums and processes are used for different reasons. Today, clients need and want things instantly, so I have to comply to that. Film is something that I love and continue to do. So it's like slow cooking or fast food.

Harjinder: You have won many awards over the years, including the coverage of the
Bhopal tragedy What are they and when did you win them, over the years and
which stands out best?

Pablo: I first got my award for the work I produced around the world of a morphine addict at the age of 19. When I got the World Press Award in 1976, I was very young and it was an affirmation that I was doing something right. Then, by the time I joined the Photo agency Gamma Liaison in 1983, I won the big award as the picture of the year in 1984 from the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It helped, as it put my name in to every photo editor's head. I think both these works stand out as important markers in my work and career.

Harjinder: What advice would you give to a budding young photo/journalist trying to break into a very competitive arena, today?

Pablo: Today, photography is in a very strange position. With all the automation, just about anybody can be a photographer. So, if there are young talented photographers, I fear that they may not be able to survive by earning from photography. So if they have another career that can earn them money, then they should pursue that to have their financial safety and practice photography as their love.

Pablo is set to give an talk at the Lord Mayor's room, New Walk Museum, on Wednesday 11th April between 7 to 8.30 pm. It is a free entry event. I think you will enjoy this. Get the details of this event.

His website is www.pablobarthlomew.com.

Club for photographers

Leicester's newest Premier Photographers Club meets every Thursday from 7 pm to 9.30 pm. Come down and join the fun At FABRIKA, 68 - 70 Humberstone Gate, Leicester, LE1 3PL

They offer you full training in photography to get the best from your camera. We also can offer you a digital gallery were you can get you images showed all over the world for free.

They will be also be doing location shoots to get you out and about, from landscapes to wildlife, night work and urban landscapes. Plus loads of other things that we will be doing. Plus when you join you with get a discount card from Jacobs giving you a range of discounted good just for members.

There is also a gallery space just for members to hang there work up totally FREE. So if you want to come and join our group of friendly photographers, then don't forget the name LEICESTER'S Photography Club and come and join the fun. Membership is ONLY £5 PER YEAR and £2 on the days you come to the club night. Let's keep the faith of photography going.

Other pages you might like:

Leicester Live Photographic Exhibition

Asian arts in Leicester