bio
Richard Bailey Photography
"Darwin's Pigeons'
Fancy Pigeons played an important part in helping Darwin prove his theories and as last year, 2009, was the 150th anniversary since the publication of the 'Origin of Species' and also the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, Richard decided to photograph some of these exotic breeds and at the same time see if he could come to love the pigeon. After all, we are all used to the ‘London Pigeon’, which some would call the ‘flying rat’.
Charles Darwin set out to prove that all fancy pigeons are descended from the common pigeon known as Columba Livia or Rock Dove and this particular research, would in turn help him with his theories towards the 'Origin of Species'.
In 1855 Charles Darwin became a pigeon fancier and set up a breeding loft at his home in the village of Downe, Kent.
The images were intended to celebrate the pigeons which played such an important part in Darwin's work, but then the project became more than that. The photographs became ‘portraits’ of the birds and they took on an anthropomorphization. Some pigeons looked into the camera with an unflinching gaze testing the viewer in a malevolent manner, whilst others looked on benignly, almost compassionately. The different breeds took on unusual characteristics, some looked a little bit naive, others have a conceit about them, an air of self-importance as they puff up their chests and present themselves to the camera.
Photographed in such a way that the abundance of colours on the different pigeons are brought out and emphasised, this series of weird and wonderful pigeons that Darwin worked with carries on the great tradition of classical animal iconography.
Currently available as limited edition prints, and with a book on the way, these astonishing portraits have a universal appeal.
Richard Bailey has been a freelance photographer for over fifteen years, working primarily in the advertising, corporate and editorial sector.
EXHIBITIONS:
As part of and as Curator of ‘SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES’
2005 London metropolitan University
2005 The Gallery@OXO, London
2005 The Knowledge Spa, Truro, Cornwall
2006 Norwich Arts and Media Centre
2006 The Gallery@OXO, London
2006 The Langdon Down Centre, Teddington.
On permanent display.
2007 GlaxoSmithKline HQ, London
2008 University of Cardiff. On permanent display.
2008 The Gallery@OXO, London
2008 The Lamplight Arts Centre, Co. Durham
2008 GlaxoSmithKline HQ, London
2008 South Devon College
2009 Edinburgh Filmhouse, Scotland
2009 GlaxoSmithKline Headquarters, Scotland
2009 The gallery@oxo, London
2009 The Proud Gallery, London
2009 The Dean Clough Gallery, Halifax
2009 Dublin City University, Dublin
2009 Leeds University, Leeds
2010 Hereford Art Museum
2010 One Exchange Square, Hong Kong
2010 Istanbul, Turkey
2010 Pelham House, Lewes
2010 The gallery@oxo, London
2011 The gallery@oxo, London
2011 The Reading Room, Soho, London
2011 Cumbria
2011 Budapest, Hungary
2011 Dublin Arts Council, Dublin, Ohio, USA
www.shiftingperspectives.org
‘The Road to Glory’ – Portraits of Britain’s Paralympians was published in 1996 just before the Atlanta games.
The book won the William Hill best sports book for that year and a portfolio of images were also winners of the Sports Council Photographer of the year awards.
The images were exhibited at venues around the country.
A number of the images were part of an exhibition and book entitled:
‘Britain’s Sporting Heroes’ held at the National Portrait Gallery.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Road to Glory – Portraits of Britain’s Paralympians.
Published by Quiller Press 1996.
‘To be a dad’ - 2007
‘To be a mum’ - 2008
‘Simply Knit Hats’ - 2008
Part of:
The Book of British Sporting Heroes
Published by National Portrait Gallery 1998
Raising the Bar – New Horizons in Disability Sport
Published by Umbrage Editions 2002
Commercial Photo Series – Children
Published by Rotovision 2001
Professional Photography – Location Portraits
Published by Rotovision 2001
Various ‘Shifting Perspectives’ catalogues.
Fancy Pigeons played an important part in helping Darwin prove his theories and as last year, 2009, was the 150th anniversary since the publication of the 'Origin of Species' and also the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, Richard decided to photograph some of these exotic breeds and at the same time see if he could come to love the pigeon. After all, we are all used to the ‘London Pigeon’, which some would call the ‘flying rat’.
Charles Darwin set out to prove that all fancy pigeons are descended from the common pigeon known as Columba Livia or Rock Dove and this particular research, would in turn help him with his theories towards the 'Origin of Species'.
In 1855 Charles Darwin became a pigeon fancier and set up a breeding loft at his home in the village of Downe, Kent.
The images were intended to celebrate the pigeons which played such an important part in Darwin's work, but then the project became more than that. The photographs became ‘portraits’ of the birds and they took on an anthropomorphization. Some pigeons looked into the camera with an unflinching gaze testing the viewer in a malevolent manner, whilst others looked on benignly, almost compassionately. The different breeds took on unusual characteristics, some looked a little bit naive, others have a conceit about them, an air of self-importance as they puff up their chests and present themselves to the camera.
Photographed in such a way that the abundance of colours on the different pigeons are brought out and emphasised, this series of weird and wonderful pigeons that Darwin worked with carries on the great tradition of classical animal iconography.
Currently available as limited edition prints, and with a book on the way, these astonishing portraits have a universal appeal.
Richard Bailey has been a freelance photographer for over fifteen years, working primarily in the advertising, corporate and editorial sector.
EXHIBITIONS:
As part of and as Curator of ‘SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES’
2005 London metropolitan University
2005 The Gallery@OXO, London
2005 The Knowledge Spa, Truro, Cornwall
2006 Norwich Arts and Media Centre
2006 The Gallery@OXO, London
2006 The Langdon Down Centre, Teddington.
On permanent display.
2007 GlaxoSmithKline HQ, London
2008 University of Cardiff. On permanent display.
2008 The Gallery@OXO, London
2008 The Lamplight Arts Centre, Co. Durham
2008 GlaxoSmithKline HQ, London
2008 South Devon College
2009 Edinburgh Filmhouse, Scotland
2009 GlaxoSmithKline Headquarters, Scotland
2009 The gallery@oxo, London
2009 The Proud Gallery, London
2009 The Dean Clough Gallery, Halifax
2009 Dublin City University, Dublin
2009 Leeds University, Leeds
2010 Hereford Art Museum
2010 One Exchange Square, Hong Kong
2010 Istanbul, Turkey
2010 Pelham House, Lewes
2010 The gallery@oxo, London
2011 The gallery@oxo, London
2011 The Reading Room, Soho, London
2011 Cumbria
2011 Budapest, Hungary
2011 Dublin Arts Council, Dublin, Ohio, USA
www.shiftingperspectives.org
‘The Road to Glory’ – Portraits of Britain’s Paralympians was published in 1996 just before the Atlanta games.
The book won the William Hill best sports book for that year and a portfolio of images were also winners of the Sports Council Photographer of the year awards.
The images were exhibited at venues around the country.
A number of the images were part of an exhibition and book entitled:
‘Britain’s Sporting Heroes’ held at the National Portrait Gallery.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Road to Glory – Portraits of Britain’s Paralympians.
Published by Quiller Press 1996.
‘To be a dad’ - 2007
‘To be a mum’ - 2008
‘Simply Knit Hats’ - 2008
Part of:
The Book of British Sporting Heroes
Published by National Portrait Gallery 1998
Raising the Bar – New Horizons in Disability Sport
Published by Umbrage Editions 2002
Commercial Photo Series – Children
Published by Rotovision 2001
Professional Photography – Location Portraits
Published by Rotovision 2001
Various ‘Shifting Perspectives’ catalogues.