SNOWDON ON STAGE

by Simon Callow (Introduction), Antony Armstrong-Jones Earl of Snowdon (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1999

  $3.25

  Encouraged by his uncle to start taking theatre photographs, Snowdon''s style was suited to the new generation of British theatre which emerged in the 1950s, and he soon became popular. This book presents a selection of his work.'

• Used

  Hardcover
  1997

  $3.25

  Snowdon (then Tony Armstrong-Jones) started taking photographs professionally when he came down from Cambridge in 1950. It was his uncle and mentor, the stage designer Oliver Messel, who encouraged him to take theatre photographs. At that time theatre photography was dominated by Angus McBean and Houston Rogers, whose work he greatly admired. However, theatrical productions were moving from the drawing rooms of the home counties to the kitchen sink and angry young men . Snowdon used a small camera, using available light, and often worked during performances. He printed huge twenty-foot enlargements outside the theatre. This fresh approach was favoured by directors like Peter Hall and Peter Brook as it took up less rehearsal time. For over 40 years Snowdon has been commissioned to photograph virtually everyone in the theatre, and this collection includes portraits of Helen Mirren, Alan Bennett, Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, Lord Olivier and Harold Pinter.