Thank you for your film about Fay Godwin. I have always had the upmost respect for Fay's work. There was always an honesty and integrity about her work. I have nearly all her published books including the charming 'This Sceptere'd Isle' based on William Shakespeare. Bill Brandt and Tony Ray-Jones together with Fay helped shape my work. Much missed.
It was she that inspired my photography. She may never be credited as Britains greatest, but she influenced more than we know. I will forever owe her respect and gratitude. Thanks for a great overview of her work. :)
Thanks Justin for sharing a great insight into Fay Godwin’s work. I saw her ‘Land’ retrospective exhibition at the Media museum some years ago and went on to buy the book and its successor. I think she’s often seen as underrated photographer but in truth her work is deeply inspiring. I have several favourite images of hers, but ‘four trees’ stands out for me.
After living four years in an English town near the Peak District, I crossed the Atlantic to land in Chile, my home country. In the mid of lockdown, these pictures of Fay Godwin took me back.
Thanks for this. A good slide show of her work. I am pleased to say there has recently been released a full length documentary on her life & work. (Don't Fence Me In.) Also very worth watching if you are seriously interested in quality photography.
She was very passionate about the state of the land. If she could see the mess of the planet today, through greed and massive over population she would be so unhappy and disappointed.
I really enjoyed the video, thanks. I'd only been aware of Fay Godwin's work in the book Our forbidden land, which I have. I was wondering about the magnificent photograph of the walled in caravan at 11.37 in your video. Is that an image from one of her books? If so which one? Cheers.
A superb analysis/presentation of Godwin’s work, and I thank you for that. Have you thought about getting some help in producing your videos as your ideas and message are great but the production is pretty woeful, though I’ll grit my teeth and keep watching as I love what you say, but really dont like how you are saying it!
Not so well known because she was a woman?!? What on earth do you mean?! It's the other way round! She's so well known because she was a woman. As is the case with many other female artists - they get celebrated for work which in most cases doesn't possess the qualities of their male colleagues. Exemplary case being Frida Kahlo - during her life she was basically just a wife of the great painter Diego Rivera. It was only with the third wave feminism that she was made a great painter as well. Even thou all she ever produced was a few shabby self portraits. If it's another male producing such work it's just another male who's produced it and the art world is not amused. When a woman does the same thing - it gets celebrated because now it's a woman who's done it - ain't that fantastic - let's celebrate it! Just like the universities - the art world perhaps even more so suffers from reversed sexism and racism - if the artist is a woman or "ethnic" or "aboriginal" they always get recognition - no matter what they've produced. Because had they not lived in this so called patriarchy - they would have certainly done better. Not so well known because she was British?!? What on earth do you mean?! The British are the most privileged nation on the face of this earth. It's just that the author of this video wouldn't know because they happen to be British. How many say Serbian photographers can you name? Or do you think there are none?! No - I'm sure there are plenty of talented photographers in Serbia but none of them will ever be world famous for the simple fact that such status is reserved for the British and American. That's the simple fact of the matter. So wake up and stop speaking utter nonsense!