The people of Merseyside, celebrated in photographs by award-winning photographer Barry Male. A spontaneous glimpse of real people living real lives, being who they are and doing what they do, captured with empathy and affection by a native who has rediscovered his roots.
Merseyside is a place where no-one is truly a stranger: people are happy to be who they are and to accept you as you are, with humour and good heart. I wanted to capture something of that spirit and then to hand it back in a way that says 'Thank you for being who you are - you're great!'
This book emerged from what became a three year project to celebrate, in photographs, the people of Merseyside. It's not been a sentimental journey: my approach has been simple - I would spend time in an area or place I was drawn to and be as open and aware as I could be to what was happening around me . Occasionally, something speciaI would happen - often for only a fleeting moment - and I'd take the shot before it was gone - or not, if I'd missed it.
What I've put into the book is really a collection of stories: if you spend time with each picture, you'll see a moment in the real-life stories of real-life people living their lives as I encountered them; not always flattering, but true and real and always seen through the eyes of a kindred spirit.
Male, Barry: - "I began in what is now the London Film School, spent two years in the labs to get my union ticket and then started out working on documentaries, eventually became an award-winning cameraman. Times changed, life changed, and I eventually ended up in York but my first love was always stills photography and, after many twists and turns, that's what I've returned to, what I work in, and where I feel most at home. I'm interested in the spirit of the person, the place and of the occasion - whether it's a performance on stage, a full moon rising, an unusual event or a single person sitting for a portrait. Having been fortunate to have been able to travel the world during my documentary period, I'm comfortable working almost anywhere - on stage, in a studio, at a workplace or in a more intimate setting. These days I'm based in York but happily travel to an interesting event. My standards are always high but I'm relaxed and friendly and totally committed to producing results that delight my clients by having exceeded their expectations in every way. I've recently been producing work that I dare to call Fine Art photography: the Art Photo Gallery tab in the menu takes you to my gallery pages where you can browse images that are for sale and available to order."
