In this episode, Simon Murphy shares his Photographic Memory: an image of The Beatles by Linda McCartney. Simon is a portrait photographer based in Scotland and seeing this photo as a young man when he worked as a postman, set him on the path to become a professional image maker. Simon is known for his arresting street portraits from travels to exotic locations around the world like Bangladesh, Rwanda and Cambodia. He has also photographed a number of familiar faces over his 20 year career including the Dalai Lama, Noel Gallagher and John Hurt. We discuss his working process, his latest project documenting the most ethnically diverse neighbourhood in Glasgow and finding career success during the pandemic.
Instagram: @smurphy77
Timestamps
2:30: Jonathan & Daniel, Les Garçons de Glasgow 2008
05:20: Simon’s photographic Memory: The Beatles at the Abbey Road Studios
13:54: Bobby Gillespie
16:28: Lennon & McCartney by David Bailey
18:30 Govanhill Project
21:09: Glasgow by Raymond Depardon, 1980
24:35: Zane with shotgun, part of the Govenhill Series
Gun 1 by William Klein, New York, 1955
38:00 Woman in Bar, Paris
38:53: Seamus, part of the ‘Artist’ Series
39:33: ‘Biba Behind Glass’ Hold Still Exhibition, National Portrait Gallery.
44:04: Image from the ‘Lost’ Negatives
Further Reading
Street Level Exhibition 2021
