Neil Libbert

I visited the National Portrait Gallery recently to see the Taylor Wessing exhibition and I discovered that there was a Neil Libbert exhibition on too.  I hadn't come across Libbert before but I am really glad I saw his work.

This solo display of photographs by Neil Libbert celebrates his 55 years as a photojournalist and focuses on key works from 1958-1984.

Libbert was born in Salford and studied art before opening his on studio.  He started his working life at the Manchester Guardian moving onto the London version in 1961.

His reputation has been built on his reportage and street photography.  He is probably best known for his coverage of the Brixton Riots in 1981 and more recently (for me) the bombing of the Admiral Nelson pub in Soho which won him a World Press Photography award.

He still works on assignments for the Guardian but his work mainly focuses on the performing arts now.

The exhibition consists of a series of black and white images which were in the main taken for the Guardian.  The subjects are the rich and famous.  The opening image is of Jayne Mansfield and TUC leaders (1959) which appeared on the front of the Guardian newspaper.  It was taken at the opening of the TUC congress in Blackpool.  The image is almost surreal - we see this beautiful woman surrounded by three unattractive old men.  The contrast is stark and kind of makes for uncomfortable viewing.

I particularly like his portraits of George Best, Francis Bacon, Edward Burra and Patrick Lichfield.  They are very honest and almost blunt showing the characters as they really are.

He also shot a very glamorous and youthful Helen Mirren.

I like his use of light which can be seen especially in his image of Harold Pinter.  I also like the way he captures the person in their environment whatever that may be.

I think looking at Libbert's images have given me some food for thought in relation to how I ask my subjects to pose or not to pose.  It is clearly evident in his work how important the environment and surroundings are - it tells a story all by itself.  I would like to work this more into my images.  I feel at the moment my work is not clear or frank.  It lacks a true sense of purpose and I feel working on meaning and narrative more will help me find and show meaning in my work.

A collection of Libbert's images from the exhibition can be viewed on the Guardian website.