Fay Godwin
Fay Godwin
Fay Godwinwas a British photographer known for her black-and-white landscapes of the British countryside and coast...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPhotographer
Date of Birth17 February 1931
colour continue explored exploring general land landscapes needed produced public series theme turned urban work
After Land I wanted to continue exploring the theme but I needed a new challenge so turned to colour. I explored Bradford and produced a series of urban landscapes that I liked, but because Land had made such an impact on the general public my colour work wasn't reviewed.
contribute enables enjoy including learn process
I enjoy being part of a process which enables photographers to contribute to a workshop. We all learn in this process, including myself.
enjoyed paying turn using
I enjoyed using a camera, and thought that I could do something more with it. To turn photography into a paying hobby, you could say.
believe breathing changes definitive fact land love picture second
And in fact I don't believe there is such a thing as a definitive picture of something. The land is a living, breathing thing and light changes its character every second of every day. That's why I love it so much.
photography mother children
Born Berlin 1931, Germany, father a British diplomat, mother an American artist. Educated at various schools all over the world. 1958 Settled down to live in London. 1966 Became interested in photography through photographing my young children. No formal training.
photography technique photographer
I don't get wrapped up in technique and the like.
country avid trying
I had no aspirations to become a landscape photographer at all. In fact it was portraiture that was my beginning, I suppose. I have always been a very keen walker, though, and I often took a camera with me on my walks. But I was, and still am, an avid reader and so when I first started I chose to photograph many of the great writers in this country to try and earn a living.
believe character simple
I don’t get wrapped up in technique and the like. I have a simple rule and that is to spend as much time in the location as possible. You can’t expect to take a definitive image in half an hour. It takes days, often years. And in fact I don’t believe there is such a thing as a definitive picture of something. The land is a living, breathing thing and light changes its character every second of every day. That’s why I love it so much.
book inspire magazines
It was 1966 by the time I started taking pictures seriously and books, newspapers and magazines of the time were full of great pictures that helped to inspire me.
views photograph viewers
The viewer must bring their own view to a photograph.
photography country avid
But I was, and still am, an avid reader and so when I first started I chose to photograph many of the great writers in this country to try and earn a living.
responsibility aggravation greed
What I loathe is the multi-national conglomerates who must take responsibility for the degradation and pollution of so much of our landscape with their factory farming and greed.
cameras walks walkers
I have always been a very keen walker, though, and I often took a camera with me on my walks.
years digital possibility
I had been working in colour for ten years or so and looked at digital and liked the possibilities it gave me.