Reading the Manplan series can be a rather sobering view on how little seems to have really changed in the last 50 years. In this photography workshop, explore some of the themes discussed by Manplan and then photograph what you see as the ongoing realities facing us today. A new exhibition in the Manplan series, is Wide-Angle View. Opening 13 September 2023 to 24 February 2024.
Led by photographer Anthony Palmer, the workshop will begin by browsing the original Architectural Review journals in which Manplan was published. Look through images made by Tony Ray-Jones, Patrick Ward, Ian Berry and understand how they articulated the issues, whether traffic in grid lock or the dull uniformity of the built environment. Then, on a two hour photo walk, you will go out on a group assignment to bring back the images that show your critique of the city, your own Manplan point of view.
By studying the work and techniques of the Manplan photographers participants will understand how these images powerfully articulated issues with the built environment. The learning outcomes are to understand what techniques were used by Manplan photographers and then put these into practice on a photo walk by making a short assignment on a Manplan theme. For photographers and architects who are (mostly) concerned with photography representing buildings in the best light possible, this critical urbanism approach offers the chance to learn new skills and methods.
Please bring your phone or digital camera to use during the workshop.
Anthony Palmer is a photography tutor working with adult education and community groups and an educator leading architecture tours and photo walks exploring London. Interested in urbanism, he completed the MA in Photography and Urban Cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London in 2013 and his research interests continue to include the role of the image in architecture, urban regeneration and housing. Anthony regularly contributes photographs to the RIBA online collections database, RIBApix.
