The Street Photographs of Roger Mayne

The Street Photographs of Roger Mayne by Roger Mayne. First edition (1993). First impression. Large format hardback in fine condition. Signed by Roger Mayne to title page. 

Artist Bio

Self-taught, Mayne took up photography while studying chemistry at Oxford University in the late 1940s. His student days saw him open up artistically, assimilating the photography of Walker Evans, Paul Strand. As well as absorbing the work of Matisse and watching ‘serious’ films by such figures as Akira Kurosawa. Later, in 1952, he would acquire Henri Cartier-Bresson’s new and hugely influential book The Decisive Moment. Which then ignited the humanist direction of his work. It was also during this time that he met Hugo van Wadenoyan, one of the most enduring influences on his work. Almost forgotten today, Dutch born van Wadenoyan was a professional studio photographer and author of practical ‘how to’ photography books. In 1951, Mayne had made his debut in Picture Post with a photo essay in colour on the making of a ballet film. Wadenoyan encouraged him, recognizing his talent and so providing Mayne with perhaps the single most important and liberating lesson of his career: to respect the camera’s “candid, detached vision”. As well as to develop “a photographic imagination – the ability to visualise the world in "photographic terms”. -Anna Douglas, The Photographers' Gallery