News of a photographic exhibition just opening.
Richard Battye, a Birmingham-based photographer and longest-standing tenant of the Custard Factory, has his celebrated dance photography exhibition Still Dancing at Kidderminster College from 22nd October until 21st December. The exhibition, a celebration of dance, is Richard’s second major touring exhibition and to date has secured him three shoots with Birmingham Royal Ballet. This has culminated in a dedicated website www.balletinbirmingham.co.uk
Previously, Richard toured This England, an exhibition which was on the road for over three years to 14 galleries, travelling as far as Los Angeles. He also became a visiting lecturer with Kodak. Richard shoots a great deal of the Creative and Performing Arts in and around Birmingham, had shot major marketing projects for the CBSO and works with all manner of musicians from Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi to reggae star Apache Indian. He has shot, Blur, John Peel, Rick Wakeman, the Fratellis and works with dance and theatre companies photographing people such as Jasper Carrot and Don McClean plus many more.
On the exhibition Still Dancing Richard says; “Of all the artists I have worked with dancers are the ones who use their bodies to express their art. It is the shapes and forms created by the act of dancing I have aimed to capture in this exhibition.
Volunteers were sought and everyone gave up their time in exchange for pictures. It was exciting meeting a total stranger, often not knowing their dance background and then, between us, creating the shots from scratch. Sometimes in a few minutes, or perhaps over a few hours and two or three sessions. All the images were taken in my studio or on rooftops around the city of Birmingham.
“During the project I met the most fantastic people, very dedicated and passionate about what they do. This has inspired me to try and capture this passion and work with them to produce the images you see in the exhibition.”
Still Dancing can be seen at www.richardbattye.com and at Kidderminster College, Kidderminster from Monday 22nd October- Friday 21st December.
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