Now and Then Portraits from the Free Photographic Omnibus, 1974 and 1995-2000

National Portraits, Now and Then

Vital to my research was the help I received from the editors of regional newspapers in three towns where my 1974 sessions had been particularly fruitful, Barrow-in-Furness, Hartlepool and Southampton.

They ran prominent spreads of the portraits I'd made in their town, along with an invitation to anyone who recognised themselves, or indeed anyone else, in the pictures to make themselves known so that I could make some new, comparison portraits. I also made a lot of audio recordings. And so, bit by bit, the Now and Then series came together.

During the year 2000 the work was exhibited in Australia, Ireland, France and Italy. Here is an unsolicted email from Italy, Wednesday, July 17, 2002:

Compliments
Dear Daniel, in theese simply portraits there is the poetry of life with all his sweetness and difficulties. You did very well. Probably you maked me feel for a while like an angel or a God thet can look at us from far away.. from a long distance.. form a place where centuries are only weeks.. And there every weakness and sin can be taken with love and comprehension.
friendly
Franz Campi

I financed the making of this work by selling each part of it for publication as I went along. Living Like This (1996) was a BBC Radio 4 documentary; Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1997) a Guardian Weekend cover feature; Then and Now (1998) a chapter in Granta. The completed project was published as a book The Bus by Harvill Press (2001).

Living Like This, BBC Radio 4. Reporter Alan Dein. Producer Mark Burman. Transmitted 10 June 1996, r/t: 29 min., 52 sec.